By TDN
Mahikeng-The powerful and shocking story of SkierIik, based on the tragic events that made news headlines in South Africa in 2008, comes under the spotlight for a theatrical re-run in Mahikeng for one week only.
Hosted in partnership between Mmabana Arts, Culture and Sports Foundation, Lentswe Arts Projects and the National Arts Council; Skierlik will be shown at Mmabana Head Office, Studio 1 from 24 to 28 September 2013 at 7pm every evening.

Written and performed by Phillip M. Dikotla who received the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) Impact Award for theatre last year; Skierlik, produced by Karabo Kgokong was originally staged at Mmabana Studio 3 in 2011. This year, the production drew much public attention and has thus been staged on various stages across the country.
“The play’s genesis evolved from the horrific incident that shook South Africa on 14 January 2008, in the informal settlement called Skierlik, just outside Swartruggens in the North West Province. On that fateful day 17-year-old Johan Nel went on a shooting spree killing four people including a three-month old baby and wounding eight others. Nel was sentenced to four life sentences for the murders” Mmabana spokesperson Trinity Bogosi said.
The devastating massacre left tragic effects on survivors and on families who had lost their bread-winners. Determined to try restore what had been lost, by re-telling the tale of Skierlik on stage, Dikotla set out to write the play with hopes that the communities and audience members would relate to it.
Bogosi said the play sees Dikotla seamlessly embracing characters that represent the different faces of the people in Skierlik and his honest performance successfully draws the audience into fully experiencing the emotional journey of the incident.
“After I matriculated I wanted to be a theatre-maker so I joined the Market Theatre Laboratory. During my studies there, the terrible news about the Skierlik shootings broke and I was determined to write about it and so started my journey with this play,” explains Phillip Dikotla.

After winning Best Production at the Zabalaza Theatre Festival in March this year, the production got a full two weeks mainstream season at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. At the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, Skierlik got awarded the Standard Bank Ovation award for its innovation and artistic excellence.
The production was also invited to the Wits University 969 Festival and Sasol Gauteng Schools Festival.
Production is scheduled as follows:

Venue: Mmabana Head Office, Studio 1
Time: 19H00pm
Writer: Phillip Dikotla.
Ticket price: R 50 (sold at Mmabana Head Office every day)

Details
Duration: 60 minutes
Language: Mix (English, Setswana & Afrikaans)
Age Restriction: 12+ (L)-TDN
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