Mpume Mthombeni plays Zenzile Maseko, an IFP assassin from the 1980s. Image: Instagram via @mpumemthombeni
Mpume Mthombeni stopped eating meat for new role: ‘It is taxing’
Seasoned actress Mpume Mthombeni, stopped eating meat for three months for her role as a female assassin
Mpume Mthombeni plays Zenzile Maseko, an IFP assassin from the 1980s. Image: Instagram via @mpumemthombeni
Seasoned actor, Mpume Mthombeni, 51, stopped eating meat for three months to prepare for her role as a female assassin in the play ‘Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater.’
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MTHOMBENI THE INKABI
In what promises to be a tour de force performance, Mpume Mthombeni takes on the challenging role of Zenzile Maseko, an IFP assassin from the 1980s. The play is based on a true story and will open at the esteemed Market Theatre in Newtown, Johannesburg from 20 July to 6 August 2023 following its triumphant premiere at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, Eastern Cape, in 2022, where it garnered rave reviews.
To prepare for the demanding role of an ‘inkabi’, or assassin, Mthombeni embarked on a rigorous mental and physical journey three months prior to the show’s opening. The actress immersed herself in understanding the complexities of her character and the play’s narrative.
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NO MEAT FOR MPUME
The intensity of the role required Mthombeni to live a vegetarian lifestyle during her preparation.
“Physically and emotionally, it is taxing. I speak for one hour and forty minutes alone. So, it was important to be fit and healthy.”
Mpume Mthombeni
This profound commitment to her craft speaks volumes about Mthombeni’s dedication and passion for the art of acting. Mthombeni was not only drawn to the character’s dark past but also to her resilience and survival. Despite being captured and left for dead, Zenzile Maseko managed to overcome immense odds and seek revenge against her attackers.
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MPUME MTHOMBENI THE ISIDLAMLILO/THE FIRE EATER
Directed and written by Neil Coppen, Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater aims to offer an insightful exploration of the cyclical nature of violence and vengeance, which echoes through generations. This one-woman show, starring Mpume Mthombeni, promises to be a gripping exploration of a complex character and a captivating narrative that will linger in the hearts and minds of theatregoers long after the final bow.
So, come with an open heart, and get ready for a master class in acting from one of South Africa’s finest talents.
