By Karabo Ntanzi
In his quest to tell Kimberley stories, Moagi Modise, a theatre doyen, informs us about a mine disaster in July 1818, when the Big Hole caved in and 245 black miners and 45 white miners died.
Modise chose to tell the story by illustrating the different life stages of some of these miners, “this is not about the men coming to town because their names were not written. How do you tell their story if you don’t even know their names? These men who died were not statistics; they had families and dreams”, lamented Modise.
“The big hole exists philosophically and metaphorically. Our humanity and dignity was ripped off at the mines. Family units were broken down, women were transformed into heading families and children grew up without their father’s guidance. All because men went to work at the mines”, said Modise.
The story revolves around six ladies who went to the mine looking for their loved ones. A young girl, whose lover (Tshilo) went to work to marry her, an old lady who lost her only child, a widow (forced into customary marriage n order to settle her father’s debt) encouraged the “husband” to look for a job at the mine, a sister looking for her brother (she’s taking care of orphans) and the prostitute who service both Africans and Whites.
These are ladies who narrates the story:
Multi-talented artiste Thato Phirisi who was born and bred in Kimberley, is a performer, actress, singer, police officer and a mother of a five-year-old girl.
Her voice was discovered in grade ten at Tshireleco High School and was nurtured by Kholofelo “Skroef” Kola after matriculating in 2008. Phirisi’s first stage appearance was with the “Amber Sisters” production at the Northern Cape Theatre, where she also did poetry.
In 2009 she went to Pretoria to work on “A world of dreams”, where she gained confidence in her capability. She worked with Paul Grootboom in “Cards” as well as with Martin Koboekae in “Kholo”.
Phirisi returned home in 2010 when her wells ran dry and continued doing plays. Phirisi was part of the cast of “Galeshewe on fire” directed by Tshepo Gaborone. The cast traveled throughout the Northern Cape doing industrial plays.
As a veteran of the “Big Hole” she toured extensively. “I have now been doing the play the “Big Hole” four times. Twice at Grahamstown, once in Mafikeng Mmabatho and now in Kimberley.
“I take after my mother when it comes to singing although I’m the only actress at home. I grew up singing for the youth choir at church. My talent spilled over to my daughter, a drama queen and a performer. She recently had a concert at her crèche and she warmly received it. She also loves singing”, Phirisi, beaming with pride.
Phirisi has been a member of the South African Police Service since 2005 as a detective. An artist at heart who took special leave for rehearsals and to work on the production. “Because I was a performer before I became a police officer. It is for the first time that I took this type of leave since being in the employment of SAPS. The absence of regular income in the arts compelled me to join the SAPS”, she explained.
Her career aspiration was to be on stage in front of the camera. She intends to share her passion between her performances and her detective responsibilities.
Acting started at an early age for Bonolo Nteo from Vryburg, North West province, due to her marital status, was born in Kimberley and has been professionally involved in the industry since 2011.
The mother of three teenagers indicated that her family supports and understands the dynamics of her art. She recently stayed in Kimberley for four weeks doing what she likes, rehearsing for the “Big Hole”.
She said her children have learned to ‘move with the flow’. “I move around to wherever I am needed. My husband, an artist himself, understands that’s the requirement of this art. Hence, he does not have a problem with me moving around. I think that’s why he chose me”, explained the actress.
“When it comes to talent, my daughters are like me. My son is a dancer. I am happy they want to take after me. It’s fine and I’ll support them in whatever career they choose”, said the proud mother.
Nteo said she is honoured to have been spotted by playwright Moagi Modise. She has acted in “Badimo ba rona ba kae” and “Clues” as well as other productions directed by different artists.
“As artists, we have a tendency to underestimate ourselves, but at the end of the day acting is a gift”. Some of us didn’t go to school for it but were born with it”, she remarked.
Acting is a happy place for us as actors. You pour out your heart when you get on stage. It is where we express ourselves whether happy or feeling down”.
Nteo plays the role of the prostitute in the “Big Hole”. “It’s a beautiful piece. It was very challenging in the beginning. I did not expect to play such a role but I’m enjoying it”, she said tweaking her fingers just like in the production.
Nteo remarked on her role as a prostitute: “Because her job is to service the Africans and Europeans, the prostitute is the one who knows everything that is happening at the mine. She is illuminating what it looks like beyond the high fence, including inside the compounds where she often practices her trade”.
Although there are those occasional “dry seasons”, the enthusiastic Nteo knows that something will come up.
Boipelo Mokaila was born in Mahikeng 30 years ago. Her acting ability was discovered while she was in Middle School where she attended part-time classes at Mmabana Cultural centre in Mmabatho.
She furthered her studies at City Varsity School of Media and Creative Arts and graduated with a Diploma in Professional Acting.
Her talent was elevated in 2016 when she performed at the South African State theatre in Pretoria. She has worked alongside industry gurus such as Sello Maseko, Mduduzi Nhlapo, Zakhele Mabena and Aubrey Sekgabi. She also played lead roles in “Rocks and Roses”, “Isambulo”, “Askabe” and “Sephiri sa Kgosi” at the Northern Cape Theatre.
She dabbled in the big screen when featured in “The River” where she played a nurse.
“I enjoy being in Kimberley more than in Johannesburg, even though there are more opportunities in Gauteng. Yes, there are more theatres and a lot going on, while Northern Cape has only this theatre. But given a choice, I’ll choose Kimberley over Johannesburg because of the sense of peace”, said Boipelo.
She plays the role of a young, beautiful, heartbroken girlfriend to her stage boyfriend Tshilo. He promises to go “quickly” to the mine, make enough money and return to marry her. “I am happy to be in this production. Narrating a real story is fulfilling”, explained Boipelo.
She prays that God opens other doors for her. Though she has started with another local production, she might return to Johannesburg thereafter. However, she will always avail herself to Kimberley should the need arise.
Jemima Julius Setlhabi is a mother of three daughters and a grandmother to a nine-month-old boy.
An actress and musician who was spotted by renowned stage director Kholofelo “Skroef” Kola in 2002 when she auditioned for “Amber Sisters” at the Northern Cape theatre.
Thereafter Setlhabi worked with other legends in the industry, including Mokeke Kemba in 2005 at the State Theatre performing for “52 Seasons”. She stays in Pretoria, where she did a few productions, including three musical shows and an album titled “Isikwe”. She also acted on “Amandla” in Kimberley and “Once a woman” in the North West.
“Singing is close to my heart than acting. It has always been my first love since I started at church as a child. Acting is my second love”, said the woman with a powerful voice.
“The Big Hole production was a humbling experience. I play the role of “Nkgono” an old lady looking for her son. We all know grandmothers are known as carers of households. I am honoured and privileged to play this role as it relates to my mother”.
“Nkgono” is seen on stage begging the other ladies to read her a letter written by her son six months before the mine disaster. But everybody is afraid to read it to her fearing how she would react to the letter’s content.
What if it’s bad news and something happens to the old lady? Remember, they are all strangers from different villages. The only thing that brings them together is the loss of their loved ones”.
The letter was never read and no one knows what the boy wrote to his mother.
Setlhabi commented on the bond that their art has formed for the cast. “Reconnecting with the other cast members has been a beautiful journey. Five of us performed in the first season of “Big Hole” in 2013. We are not just cast members. It’s beyond that. We are sisters trusting each other. We share our lives and help each other”.
Although her daughters take after her by singing in church and the firstborn is a dancer, Jemima would not advise them to take the acting route as she knows the industry’s difficulties.
Twenty-nine-year-old Kimberley born Naledi Mokoko is a people’s person. An Emang Mmogo High school alumnus who after matric, enrolled for a nursing course at the Northern Cape Further Education and Training college but dropped out to start a beauty spa business instead.
Mokoko’s singing talent was discovered at high school when she participated in “Sarafina” the musical for a Heritage Day event. “I enjoyed the play so much . That’s when the shy and reserved high school girl got her confidence”, she said.
Mokoko did not pursue acting after high school. “Because my thoughts at that time were that I had to study and get a permanent job in government. Hence, I tried nursing but unfortunately failed two subjects and dropped out”, she explained. However, she realised that she could still help people through her art.
In 2014 Mokoko joined the Galeshewe Theatre Organisation (GATO). She said her first production with the organisation was a pleasant experience. This has assisted her in honing her craft and she hopes to do more stage production.
She will also be launching her gospel album soon.
Her role in the “Big Hole” is that of a mother of four children who is taking care of her sister-in-law and her husband (The lost man), who acts as the breadwinner who came to the mines. This makes it necessary for her to go and look for the head of the family.
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