Petticoat Princess
dance theatre
Concept, Choreography and Performed by Thami TSHABALALA | Directed by Khutjo GREEN | Music Composition by Nik SAKELLARIDES &Thami TSHABALALA | Technical Director Mandla MTSHALI | Costume byThamsanqa THSABALALA & Khutjo GREEN | Audio Visual Design by Sizwe NDABANA | Co-produced by Thandekile COKA--TSHABALALA, Thamsanqa TSHABALALA with support from Morris Issacson Centre for Music (MICM), Soweto.
PG 13+ language
Petticoat Princess is a reimagination of a captivating woman in contemporary-athletic history. Sabina Chebichi. A former Kenyan middle-distance runner and the first women of colour to triumph at the Commonwealth games marathon in 1973. Chebichi was barefoot and wearing nothing but a petticoat.
Post making headlines as Kenya’s new athletic sensation and model to aspirant athletes in her hometown, the future of her career hauled as nature called. Chebichi bared the fruit of her womb. This ended her career and future participation in the sport. Several global female athletes, primarily of colour who’ve achieved success in their careers concurred that their partners, organizations, and the heavy blanket of guilt from the world hindered their ability to pursue themselves into fulfil existence.
A turbulent format that was cultivated to cease the success of comparable women on the rise, Tshabalala sets the tone for a conversation that is sparking globally, paying homage to the figures of women in sports, both celebrated or dimmed.
Legendary stories are told of great athletes, but none beats that of Sabina Chebichi. The baton has been tainted and shifted, yet still the voice is present. We are to purify ourselves from the smear of the oppressor.
Petticoat Princess performed at the Joburg Moves Dance Season, University of Johannesburg in April 2024 and at the innovative TX THEATRE for Tembisa Theatre Week in February 2025.
Photo by Thokozani Arthur Dlamini
For more information on Thami, visit www.thamitshabalala.co.za
Jozi Audience Responses
Just LOVED the work!! Massive congrats Thami! - Mark Hawkins
A very important work, grounded in alot of research and time spent interrogating gender roles, women in sport and perceived ideals of beauty - Tammy Ballantyne
It is an awe-inspiring and awe-mazing piece - the sheer energy! And the superb use of subliminal messaging leading to the denouement was sheer excellence - Farooq Gardy-Minty Mangera
CREATIVE TEAM
KHUTJO GREEN
Khutjo Green is a highly sought after performer, writer, director and TV and screen actor. She has performed in multi-award winning productions which include The Princesses of Askies Shem Street which she wrote and directed,Tartuffe directed by Sylvaine Strike, Gcina Mhlophe's Have You Seen Zandile? , Neil Coppen's Animal Farm, and The Line , directed by Gina Schmuckler. In 2014 she won The Justice Cameron Award for Human Rights and Social Justice for her work in Human Rights Activism.
THAMI TSHABALALA
Thami Tshabalala is a seven-time Naledi Theatre Award nominated choreographer, dancer and producer, having worked with theatre industry doyens such as Kelsey Middleton, Mamela Nyamza, Willie Venter and Dada Masilo to name a few. He performed the lead in Christopher Kindos ME & YOU at the 25th Dance Umbrella celebration, the black swan in Dada Masilo’s Swan Lake, and was understudy to the lead role of Giselle in the acclaimed choreographer’s rendition of the classic. In 2023 he took on the principal role of the healer in the world premiere of Mzansi Ballet’s The Gold Rhino of Mapungubwe at the annual Kucheza Afrika Festival 2023 under the directorship of Dirk Bardenhost. Currently he is on a European tour with Mamela Nyamza's Hatched Ensemble.