Minced is a dynamic multimedia one-person theatre show that explores the poignant and often humorous journey of a spirited university student navigating the complexities of identity and connection in a digital age. Freshly matriculated from high school, our protagonist turns to a dating and networking app in search of community, romance, and ultimately, a deeper understanding of themself.
As they embark on this digital adventure, we witness their excitement and hopefulness. The app initially appears to offer a vibrant world of potential connections. However, as they delve deeper, the stark reality sets in: the socio-sexual hierarchies and challenges they faced in the “real” world are merely replicated within this virtual landscape. Disappointment and disillusionment seep in, forcing them to confront the often superficial and dangerous nature of online interactions and the complexities of intracommunal rejection. Utilizing innovative multimedia elements, Minced blends live performance with projections, soundscapes, and interactive technology to create an immersive experience that mirrors the protagonist's internal struggles. The audience will journey with them through the highs and lows of his quest for connection and self-discovery.
Through humour and heartfelt storytelling, Minced offers a reflective lens on the paradox of modern communication—how it can both connect and isolate us. The play invites audiences to examine their own relationships with technology and the often elusive search for genuine connection in an increasingly digital world. In doing so, it becomes a timely exploration of what it means to come of age in a landscape where authenticity is often overshadowed by the curated personas we present online.
Minced promises to be a thought-provoking and engaging theatrical experience, leaving audiences reflecting on their own journeys of self-discovery and connection in the digital age.
Sboniso Thombeni
Sboniso Thombeni is an award winning theatre-maker, performer, writer and educator based in and around Johannesburg. With a background enriched by extensive training at the National School of the Arts and Rhodes University, Thombeni's artistry encompasses theatre and live-art, film and television, site-specific work, movement/ choreography, performance coaching, and arts writing.
Over the past decade, he has made significant contributions as a performer, theatre maker, and reviewer at several theatres and arts festivals , participating in a wide array of productions and artist incubator programs. Notable works include e=mc²(squared) (Nondumiso Msimanga), Twist Playwriting Series (Emma Durden), Skinned (Siphesihle ‘Ceecee’ Ndaba), Of Poetry, Of Prose, Of Plays (Jefferson Tshabalala), The Art of Facing Fear (Rodolfo Garcia Vázquez), A Raisin in the Sun (Jerry Mofokeng waMakhetha), and the Naledi Award-winning Peeling Shadows (Kwasha! Theatre Company). These diverse productions reflect the dynamic and fluid nature of his creative practice.
Currently, Thombeni is a guest artist on the popular television soapie Generations: The Legacy. His independent practice emphasizes inquiry and experimentation, particularly regarding themes of identity and counter-hegemony. This exploration is epitomized in a trilogy of dramatic movement pieces: Tikkun Olam (2014), Ctrl.Alt.Delete (2017), and uButana neNtwana (2018). The last iteration won the Geronimo Theatre Award – Best Physical Theatre Performance at the Kopanong Theatre Festival. Each work delves into the complexities and nuances of growing up as a black queer individual within the church, employing conventions of physical theatre and Afrosurrealism.
Thombeni’s artistic interests lie at the intersection of arts education, performance as research, and the representation and preservation of the experiences of sexual and gender minorities within popular culture. Through his work, he seeks to illuminate and celebrate the rich tapestry of identities and narratives that shape our world.
Upile uThixo Bongco
Upile uThixo Bongco is a Naledi award-winning actor, writer, director, vocal artist and dramatic arts facilitator who graduated with her BHons in Drama in 2018 and her BA in Drama and Psychology in 2017 at Rhodes University. This multifaceted young artist fell in love with storytelling at the early age of six, where she played the lead role in the classic fairy-tale, Alice in Wonderland. Since then, she has performed in many award-winning theatre productions both locally and internationally. In 2021, Upile made her television debut on eTV’s primetime soapie, Scandal. She has since appeared on DurbanGen, What About the Boys, Gqeberha The Empire and most recently, Isiphetho. Upile is a patriotic storyteller who is concerned about the mental and psychological health of black, queer South Africans, who are not only affected by the country’s political landscape, but also its long-standing queerphobic climate. As such, she is dedicated to using her skills in acting, writing and directing to tell untold stories and to facilitate healing through education, performance and drama therapy.