On the couch: Manje Manje hits the Baxter Theatre
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In this episode of 'Lunch with Pippa Hudson,' host Pippa Hudson profiles 'Manje Manje an Epic,' a bold new theatrical production by Magnet Theatre Group making its debut at Cape Town's Baxter Flipside from April 17–25. The show reimagines the Greek myth of Daedalus and Icarus as a powerful allegory for modern humanity’s hubris and obsession with transcending natural limits. Through a fusion of dance, spoken word, music, projections, and choral performance, the piece weaves ancient myth with contemporary themes while reframing the stories through an African lens—highlighting marginalized perspectives like Icarus’ mother or Europa’s shepherd. Lead performers Jenny Resnick and Mwenya Kabwe discuss the collaborative, organic development of the work, which began as a 12-minute incubation project and evolved over years into a multidimensional epic. The production, directed by Mark Fleischman and featuring a South African score by Nia Muyunga—winner of the Fleur de Coupe for Best Original Composition—blends operatic and traditional African musical elements, creating a uniquely resonant theatrical experience. Pippa urges audiences to book early, as performances are already sold out, and expresses hope for a national tour, particularly to the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Reimagine familiar myths through underrepresented perspectives—especially African and female voices—to challenge dominant narratives.
Use interdisciplinary art forms (dance, music, spoken word, projections) to create layered, immersive storytelling that reflects complex human truths.
Prioritize collaborative, organic development over rigid scripts—let writing, movement, music, and visuals evolve together in real time.
Support local theatre by booking early and advocating for sustainable funding to enable national touring and broader access.
Theatrical innovation thrives when artists embrace risk, vulnerability, and the tension between human ambition and natural limits.
Introducing 'Manje Manje an Epic' at the Baxter Flipside
“A show for our time.”
Daedalus as a Symbol of Human Overreach
Jenny Resnick explores how Daedalus embodies the modern scientist’s ambition to conquer nature, linking ancient myth to contemporary anxieties about technology, mortality, and the limits of human control.
Reframing Myth Through an African Lens
“You don't know it, you only know it from one person's perspective or the main character perspective—and here's another way of looking at it.”
The Epic Form and Musical Innovation
The structure of the piece as a 13-track epic is explained, with each story encapsulated in a song. The fusion of operatic vocals, South African choral traditions, and traditional instruments creates a unique sonic identity.
From Incubation to Full Production
The origins of the piece are traced back to a 12-minute experimental project at the Center for the Leske, with the work evolving organically through collaboration between writing, movement, music, and visual art.
“You don't know it, you only know it from one person's perspective or the main character perspective—and here's another way of looking at it.”
“A show for our time.”
“It's a crying shame that there isn't more funding to tour productions like this.”
Host
Guests
Manje Manje an Epic
other
Jenny Resnick
person
Pippa Hudson
person
Mwenya Kabwe
person
Magnet Theatre Group
other
Daedalus
other
Baxter Flipside
other
Icarus
other
Nia Muyunga
person
Mark Fleischman
person
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