Tin Bucket Drum is a South African Theatre classic which speaks powerfully to a wave of protest, resistance and change sweeping across the globe. Described by one reviewer as the sort of tale Ben Okri and George Orwell might have contrived had they put their imaginations together, Tin Bucket Drum seamlessly weaves together elements of magical realism, African storytelling, shadow puppetry and live percussion. The play, in its close and minutely explored world, takes a broad swipe at age-old global systems of restriction enforced for personal gain by those in power, and the way these restrictions affect the man or woman on the ground. Above all, it celebrates the transcendent power of creativity. Through a lyrical and deceptively simple script and the creative use of lighting and sound, one woman, the Narrator, succeeds in evoking a host of characters as this allegorical tale of oppression and liberation plays itself out. It is a story that offers a host of lessons for many places and many times Special thanks to Ntando Cele for her contribution to the production.

This show is the second instalment of a long term musical project by Cape Town-based musician Tankiso Mamabolo. Tankiso has made it her business to take protest and turn it into educational and engaging material in the form of original music, spoken word and the use of projected imagery and comedy.