/ 4 November 2011

Breaking free

Since hearing I had won the Standard Bank Young Artist award for drama, I have been trying to take it all in. I have been ­writing Trapped, a production I am ­taking to Austria next year. So when I was called about the award I was busy preparing for that — writing and communicating with Austria. It really came at a perfect time because I can showcase it at the National Arts Festival before taking it to the Salzburg Festival.

The play is set in a fantasy world. It is about characters trapped in an abandoned museum. They come to life to tell the stories of a common struggle, of searching for freedom, whether it is a battle for identity or for family.

In theatre I have been ­working with a lot of community groups and I am always inspired by the new works youngsters write — people who share the same struggles as me.

One writer, Themba Mahlangu of TX Productions, based in Tembisa, did a play called Two Sides of the Same Coin at the recent Zwakala ­Festival. It was about a young man who found himself in a situation during the xenophobic attacks. He was involved in the killings and he told a story about how his life changed direction when he found himself ­killing one of his own.

I am a huge fan of director James Ngcobo’s work, his style and the ­freedom he possesses. I also loved ­Sylvaine Strike’s play The Table.

I am a huge fan of those who push the limits and present new stuff. I worry about how my work will be received and all I can rely on is the freedom to present what is close to my heart.

I am a very soulful girl and so, when it comes to music, I love ­Nigerian singer Asa. I recently watched her at Jazz on the Lake.

I also love Freshlyground and the Kwani Experience. I have always wanted to work with the Kwani Experience’s lead vocalist Nkoto ­Malebye and I will be working with her on Trapped. She is an actress but the play will be mixed with music.

There is a new acapella group called The Soil that has just released an album called The Soil. I worked with them two years ago when I organised a mini festival and it is so special to be able to ­support new voices by buying their work.

When it comes to international stars, I am a huge James Blunt fan. I love Nina Simone and on some days I go into Bob Marley as well, although I don’t listen to new reggae. I was influenced by my two older brothers.

I am a slow reader. At the moment I’m reading Dog Eat Dog by Niq Mhlongo. I love the way he writes, his humour. I relate to the book because it is about a young man ­trying to survive in two worlds — the university world and his ­township. He struggles to get somebody to pay his fees and to find different ways of doing it. There is always that fear of going back to the township and being trapped in a cycle.

I went to watch the local film Skeem and the storyline made me wonder: “What if that situation really happened?” In the film, there was a whole lot of stolen loot in a box. The film showed how everyone wanted a better financial life, how people started plotting to get hold of the money, how suddenly everyone became a thief.

My better half is a filmmaker — I will not say who he is — and I am learning a lot from him. Having him around means getting to know the filmmaking process and discovering how different work is put together.

Princess Zinzi Mhlongo is the Standard Bank Young Artist award winner for drama in 2012.