This September, the Mandela Stage at Joburg Theatre will host one of the most powerful and significant productions in South Africa’s cultural history: the stage adaptation of Fred Khumalo’s award-winning novel Dancing the Death Drill. Running from 9 to 28 September 2025, the production blends theatre, music, and movement to illuminate a forgotten chapter of South Africa’s wartime legacy — the tragedy of the SS Mendi.
Set in Paris in 1958, the story opens with a chilling crime inside a fine restaurant. As a journalist digs into the investigation, he unearths the extraordinary journey of Pitso Motaung, a South African soldier whose life was forever shaped by the First World War. The narrative unfolds across decades, tracing Pitso’s resilience, loss, and love — culminating in the catastrophic sinking of the SS Mendi in 1917, which claimed the lives of more than 600 black South African soldiers.
“This work is a reclamation of black history, of voices that were silenced,” says James Ngcobo, Artistic Director of Joburg City Theatres and co-adapter/director of the production. “We are proud to present a production that speaks deeply to who we are, to our past, and to the legacy we owe our ancestors.”
A Story of War, Memory, and Legacy
The novel, adapted for the stage by Palesa Mazamisa and James Ngcobo, is more than a work of fiction — it is a living testimony. Khumalo’s book, which won the Best Fiction Single Authored Volume in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (2019), is celebrated not only as literature but also as an academic and historical resource.
Through this adaptation, Joburg Theatre honours the soldiers who perished at sea and those who carried their memory across generations. It is a production that redefines remembrance, ensuring the story of the SS Mendi is neither forgotten nor confined to history books, but felt viscerally by every audience member.
A Cast and Creative Team of Excellence
Bringing this monumental story to life is a world-class ensemble:
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Clint Brink as Pitso Motaung – A commanding presence, Brink captures the resilience and humanity of the soldier at the heart of the story.
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Jose Domingos as the Investigator – Unraveling the mystery with quiet intensity.
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Thokozani Nzima as Jerry, Sharon Spiegel as Marie-Thérèse, and Thuli Thabethe as Matshidiso – each lending depth, warmth, and gravitas.
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Sibusiso Mkhize & Lerato Gwebu as Wind – embodying spirits of the fallen through breathtaking physical storytelling.
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Rising stars Ontiritse Manyetsa (Tlali) and Kwenzo Ngcobo (Ngqavini) inject youthful passion and determination.
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Charlie Bougenon as Portsmouth – a nuanced portrayal of history’s complexities.
Behind the production, a visionary creative team elevates the story to unforgettable heights:
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James Ngcobo – Director & Co-Adapter
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Palesa Mazamisa – Script Adapter
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Msaki – Composer & Music Director, weaving a haunting, soul-stirring score
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Luyanda Sidiya – Choreographer, translating memory into powerful physical expression
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Nthabiseng – Costume Designer, bringing eras and identities to life through fabric
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Nebo Mafabatho – Soundscape Creator, crafting the unseen world of echoes and storms
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iComplete Ensemble & Nakedi “Ace” Phenyo (Violinist) – providing live, evocative music that breathes through every scene
Performance Details
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Dates: 9–28 September 2025
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Venue: Mandela Stage, Joburg Theatre
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Tickets: Available via Joburg Theatre or Webtickets
Click here to watch Fred Khumalo’s interview about the novel: https://youtu.be/6DmjYN9UZ5g
A Living Memorial on Stage
Dancing the Death Drill is more than a play — it is a living memorial, a song for the lost, and a celebration of resilience. Through music, movement, and narrative, it honours the men of the SS Mendi while opening a space for reflection on the enduring power of storytelling.
This September, audiences are invited to witness history reimagined on stage — where sacrifice, love, and remembrance echo across time.
