Kenan Ennie Klopse
Physical Theatre | Spiritual Realism
Written by Alyssa JACOBS | Directed by Jeanne-Marié KOEKEMOER | Performed by Jasmine MADUNA, Wyatt AFRIKA and Alyssa JACOBS | Set Design Jeanne-Marié Koekemoer | Costume design by Jeanne-Marié KOEKEMOER and Alyssa JACOBS | Lighting Design by Jeanne-Marié KOEKEMOER and Jairus FRITZ | Composed by Mia GROENEWALD | Sound Design by Alyssa JACOBS and Jeanne-Marié KOEKEMOER | Stage Managed by Jairus FRITZ | Choreographed by Alyssa JACOBS
PG 13+
n Storie oor belonging. Kenan stands on a threshold. His people whisper what he must be, but inside him burns another rhythm – the whispering of his dreams that can only be heard when all falls silent. He carries the heavy stories of his ancestors in his body: every step weighted with pain, every breath a reminder of a history of oppression. Through dance, he begins to move through time – from darkness to light, from captivity to freedom. How will he answer the ancient call of the ghoema?
Kenan’s journey is an important one to follow, in the heaviness of exploring his lineage – his decisions and battles shed light on the importance of finding your own voice in your community as well as honouring your roots. The show is portrayed through the lens of spiritual realism, and this gives the audience members insight into the seen and unseen parts of Kenan’s world. The play also uses physical theatre, a language that the audience gets to learn and understand deeper as the play progresses.
’n Storie oor belonging. Kenan staan op ’n drumpel. Sy mense fluister wat hy moet wees, maar binne-in hom brand ’n ander ritme -die stem van sy drome wat slegs gehoor kan word wanneer alles stil word. Hy dra die swaar stories van sy voorvaders in sy liggaam: elke tree gelaai met pyn, elke asemhaling ’n herinnering aan ’n geskiedenis van verdrukking. Deur dans begin hy deur die tyd beweeg - van duisternis na lig, van gevangenskap na vryheid. Hoe sal hy die antieke oproep van die ghoema beantwoord?
Kenan se reis is ’n belangrike een om te volg, in die swaarheid van die verkenning van sy afstamming -sy besluite en stryd stel lig op die belangrikheid om jou eie stem in jou gemeenskap te vind, asook om jou wortels te eer. Die vertoning word uitgebeeld deur die lens van spirituele realisme, en dit gee die gehoor lede insig in die sigbare en onsigbare dele van Kenan se wêreld. Die toneelstuk gebruik ook fisiese teater, ’n taal wat die gehoor lede dieper leer en verstaan namate die toneelstuk vorder.
Awards
2025 Best Production (Premiere Teaterfees)
2025 Best Ensemble (Premiere Teaterfees )
2025 Best Upcoming Actress ( Woordtrofees)
2026 Bronze Ovation Award (National Arts Festival)
Nominations
2025 Best Script (Première Teaterfees) | 2025 Best Actress(Première Teaterfees) | 2025 Best Actress (Première Teaterfees) | 2025 Best Actor (Première Teaterfees ) 2025 | Best Director (Première Teaterfees) 2025 Best Stage Manager (Premère Teatrefees)
CREATIVE TEAM
ALYSSA JACOBS - Producer, Writer, Performer and Choreographer
Alyssa Jacobs is an award-winning theatre maker from Kimberley, Northern Cape. She completed her honours in Physical Theatre at the University of Stellenbosch. Her play Kenan Ennie Klopse earned her awards for Best Production and Best Ensemble (Première Theatre Festival 2025). Jacobs also won the Best Upcoming Artist award at Woordfees 2025 and recently won a Bronze Ovation award at the National Arts Festival. Her play also earned her nominations for Best Actress and Best Writer at the 2025 Première Theatre Festival. These accolades highlight her love for what she is passionate about - writing , choreographing and acting.
WYATT AFRIKA - Performer
Wyatt is an up-and-coming theatre practitioner, actor, and choreographer from Stellenbosch with over two decades of theatrical experience. He holds an Honours degree from Stellenbosch University, specializing in Physical Theatre, with a focus on the embodied practices of South African theatre makers. His previous works include the political satire Hie Gaan Ôs Alwee? (2020 Woordfees Fringe) as co-producer, performer, and choreographer, Ek, Eva (Winner of the 2020 Zabalaza Festival's Most Innovative Play and Best Supporting Actress, Best Text for the 2018/2019 DCAS Awards, Best Actress at the 2020 Suidoosterfees Nati Jongsterre Awards) as a choreographer, and Kenan Ennie Klopse (Winner of Best Production and Best Ensemble at the 2025 PremiêreFees) where he was nominated for Best Actor.
JASMINE MADUNA - Performer
Jasmine Maduna is a Stellenbosch University graduate, where she completed her BA in Drama and Theatre Studies. Her previous work include Ode to Earthworms, Winter’s Tale and Kenan Ennie Klopse. She is particularly drawn to physical theatre, exploring storytelling through embodied performance.
JEANNE-MARIE KOEKEMOER - Director
Jeanne-Marié is a young, emerging artist whose creative practice spans directing, writing, acting, stage management, production management, and design. Her recent work includes directing Kenan ennie Klopse (winner of Premiére Fees 2025; performed at Woordfees 2025); acting in Die Olifant (Woordfees 2025; Suidoosterfees 2026); and co-writing and acting in Die Koning en sy Bruid (winner of Premiére Fees 2024; performed at Vryfees 2024 and Woordfees 2024 & 2025).
She has also worked as stage manager and co-director on The Old Man Who Thought He Had a Dog (winner of Premiére Fees 2023; performed at Woordfees 2023, KKNK 2024, Toneelhuis 2023, and Vryfees 2024), and appeared as an actress in ID, Asseblief? (Suidoosterfees 2024).
Jeanne-Marié is a celebrated artist who was nominated for Best Upcoming Artist at Woordfees 2025, awarded Best Actress and Best Writer at Premiére Fees 2024, and nominated for Best Director at Premiére Fees 2025. She completed her undergraduate degree in Performing Arts and her Honours degree in Creative Writing at the Drama Department of Stellenbosch University. She believes deeply in collaboration, hard work, imagination, and curiosity, and continually seeks out new opportunities to grow and evolve as an artist.
MIA GROENEWALD - Musician
Mia is a BA drama and Theatre Studies student at Stellenbosch University, currently completing her 3rd year with Psychology. She loves to completely emerse herself in the arts in any way she can. She plays double bass, piano and drums. She performed at Woordfees 2025 as part of Kenan Ennie Klopse, which won Premierfees 2025. Mia is also performing at the Klein KKN-teater, 2026 in Kattekwaad en Koekeloer.
KGAHLISHO MATLOGA - Musician
Kgahlisho is a Stellenbosch University student finishing his theatre studies and drama degree. He is a actor who enjoys creating new worlds through theatre and film. He is also a musician who played guitar and djembe for Kenan Ennie Klopse at NAF 2026
Photograph by Nardus Engelbrecht