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On the inspirational power of exceptional women in the wake of Winnie Mandela. Power up! Be unapologetic! 

What’s it like to be a womanan activist, and black? When do you rebel and seize your rightful place? In Dear Winnie, stories by nine actresses, singers and performers with African roots (from among others South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Cape Verde, Suriname and the Caribbean islands) are interwoven with that of Winnie Mandela, activist against the apartheid regime. Stories about shared history, connected to those of the Netherlands, filled with power, ruthless honesty and the seeds of inspiration and hope. 


Nine voices, nine bodies, in a a set of self-created musical instruments, truthful stories and infectious energy. Power up! 

After a successful cooperation with writer Fikry El Azzouri for Salam (for which Guy Weizman won the director’s award in 2018), the NNT invited El Azzouri along with his makers-collective for a follow-up. He brought along director Junior Mthombeni and composer/musician Cesar Janssens to Groningen for Dear Winnie.

Rehearsals Dear Winnie,

“This collective is an inspiring group of makers that create accessible, energetic, moving and important productions.”- Guy Weizman 

During the battle against apartheid, ANC-member Maurice Mthombeni (father of director Junior Mthombeni) wrote to Winnie Mandela. The letter was intercepted and placed in the national newspaper by the South African pro-apartheid-government to create division within the ANC. Maurice Mthombeni then escaped to Europe to continue the battle there. 

For director Junior Mthombeni, the son of an ANC-warrior, Winnie Mandela has always been a symbol for the progressive forces within South Africa, a country divided by apartheid. In modern times, where people seem to understand each other less and less, and the grey area between right and wrong is increasingly shrinking, he believes the time is right to show Winnie Mandela as a source of inspiration.

The production isn’t just about Winnie, who, despite humiliation, abuse, mistakes, and exile, continued to resist apartheid with determination. Dear Winnie focuses on the people who are currently undergoing their own battle. Where do they find their sources of strength?

Language no Problem

This performance is multilingual with Dutch and English surtitles in every venue. So language is not a problem.

 

Co-production with the KVS (Brussels) and collective Jr.cE.sA.r.

COPRODUCTION Théâtre De Liège, Perpodium WITH THE SUPPORT OF Passa Porta, Tax Shelter van de Belgische Federale Overheid

"The complicated legacy of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is fearlessly transformed into a radical and rousing musical"

the Guardian

"These nine women do not become Winnie, never fade in front of the icon but transmit their force, carry their own voice - individual and choral - fiercely overturning the white, masculine, Eurocentric canon."

La Libre

"In a joint effort, this very talented ensemble pays homage to both Mama Winnie and their African origins through text, song, dance and rap. All of this in Zulu, English, Flemish and Dutch"

de Standaard

“After the weighty opening image, Dear Winnie unfolds as a turbulent theatre event, a collage of images, movements, and words. It’s not Winnie: the Musical or a biographical, documentary play, but rather an associative performance about Winnie Mandela as a figurehead and heroine of the black women’s movement.”

De Volkskrant

“For starters, the cast dazzles from every angle with vivid and infectious acting, striking choreography, and fantastic songs."

Dagblad van het Noorden

“Dear Winnie is a statement, an eruption of commitment and dedication- it is 100 percent energy. This impressive collage-like performance begs for recognition and gets under your skin.”

Friesch Dagblad

“What the performers achieve particularly well is embodying and making tangible Winnie Mandela’s proud and uncompromising resistance against the monstrous system of apartheid.”

NRC Handelsblad

"Nine black women taking the stage is, in itself, a welcome statement in the snow-white world of Dutch theater.”

Dagblad van het Noorden

“Dear Winnie not a musical or a play but rather a very original montage in which borders are transcended and the women can consistently shine.”

Scènes

“A varied performance in which all kinds of styles and genres."

NRC Handelsblad

“The initiative of Dear Winnie is deserving of praise. Winnie Mandela is certainly more relevant than the upteenth book or movie adaptation. Added to that is the desperately-needed innovation which artistic director Guy Weizman has already been supplying in the Grote Zaal of the Stadsschouwburg for some time now. This works anew for Dear Winnie.”

Scènes

“An original and at times dazzling performance, which is in some moments fittingly uncomfortable in terms of its content.”

De Volkskrant

credits

Junior Mthombeni

Regisseur

Fikry El Azzouzi

Schrijver

Cesar Janssens

Muzikale leiding

Robbert van Heuven

Dramaturg

Gerardo Salinas

Dramaturg

Stef Stessel

Decorontwerper

Lieve Pynoo

Kostuum ontwerp

Alesandra Seutin

Movement

Tutu Puoana

Vocal Coach

Tijdens de uitverkochte openbare repetitie op 23 september is er genoten van de sfeer.

A peek of the atmosphere during the sold out public rehearsal on September 23rd.

Photography: Sjoerd Knol

tourlist

Jul
Thu 15 Jul 20:30
Agenda

Dear Winnie,

Teatre Lliure Montjuïc
Wed 14 Jul 20:30
Agenda

Dear Winnie,

Teatre Lliure Montjuïc
Sep
Sat 19 Sep 20:00
Agenda

Dear Winnie,

OLT Rivierenhof Antwerpen
Fri 18 Sep 20:00
Agenda

Dear Winnie,

OLT Rivierenhof Antwerpen
Fri 11 Sep 20:00
Agenda

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Thu 10 Sep 20:00
Agenda

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Mon 7 Sep 20:30
Agenda

Dear Winnie,

Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
Mar
Thu 12 Mar 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Turnhout,Cultuurhuis De Warande
Feb
Fri 21 Feb 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Stadsschouwburg Utrecht
Wed 19 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Leidse Schouwburg
Tue 18 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Schouwburg Het Park Hoorn
Mon 17 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Stadstheater Arnhem
Sat 15 Feb 20:30
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Chassé Theater Breda
Thu 13 Feb 20:30
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Stadsschouwburg De Harmonie Leeuwarden
Wed 12 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Theater de Voorveghter Hardenberg
Tue 11 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Koninklijke Schouwburg Den Haag
Sat 8 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

SPOT Stadsschouwburg Groningen
Fri 7 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

SPOT Stadsschouwburg Groningen
Thu 6 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

SPOT Stadsschouwburg Groningen
Wed 5 Feb 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

SPOT Stadsschouwburg Groningen
Sat 1 Feb 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Jan
Fri 31 Jan 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Thu 30 Jan 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Wed 29 Jan 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Tue 28 Jan 12:30
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Sat 25 Jan 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Fri 24 Jan 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

KVS, Brussel,Brussel
Thu 16 Jan 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Parkstad Limburg Theaters Kerkrade
Mon 13 Jan 19:30
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
Sun 12 Jan 15:00
Agenda
Event
Sat 11 Jan 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
Fri 10 Jan 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Schouwburg Rotterdam,Theater Rotterdam
Thu 9 Jan 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Theater Rotterdam,Schouwburg Rotterdam
Wed 8 Jan 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Theater aan het Vrijthof Maastricht
Dec
Wed 18 Dec 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

De Nieuwe Kolk Assen
Tue 17 Dec 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Stadsschouwburg Haarlem
Sat 14 Dec 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Theaters Tilburg
Thu 12 Dec 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Schouwburg De Lawei Drachten
Wed 11 Dec 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Theater Geert Teis Stadskanaal
Sat 7 Dec 20:00
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

Wilminktheater Enschede
Nov
Sat 30 Nov 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

SPOT Stadsschouwburg Groningen
Fri 29 Nov 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

SPOT Stadsschouwburg Groningen
Thu 28 Nov 20:15
Agenda
Event

Dear Winnie,

SPOT Stadsschouwburg Groningen
Sep
Mon 23 Sep 20:30
Agenda

Dear Winnie,

Theater de Machinefabriek Groningen

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