‘Romeo’ revisits stage roots in Pass Over
Star explores deejaying after quitting Scandal!
After leaving Scandal! to pursue some of his many talents, including deejaying, Hungani Ndlovu has resurfaced in the theatre production Pass Over.
During the lockdown Ndlovu, who portrayed the role of Romeo in Scandal!, kept himself busy by learning the skill of spinning discs. Now a DJ, the actor is hoping to take clubs by storm as soon as they reopen.
Speaking to Time Out while rehearsing for Pass Over, Ndlovu says he deejayed at a few places when lockdown regulations were relaxed. The 26-year-old also explained why he took a break from Scandal!
“It is not like I was killed off, it is just that I was looking for other things to do. There is so much that we can do as actors. I just wanted to diversify my talent and pursue other things. So far it has been difficult to get gigs due to Covid-19 but I have a few gigs lined up in the [next] couple of months. I am a fan of commercial house because I love to dance.”
Ndlovu portrays the role of Kitch in Pass Over, which is on at the Market Theatre in Newtown until March 28. It is his fourth theatre production.
The play is written by Antoinette Nwandu and directed by James Ngcobo.
The story is told through the eyes of Moses (Khathu Ramabulana) and Kitch, who are struggling to survive on the streets of America while searching for the promised land.
Ndlovu defines Pass Over as a combination of three major stories: the Bible story of the exodus and Passover where God freed the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, a play called Waiting for Godot and the reality that black people have faced in the US from the days of slavery till the present.
“Look where we are at after 27 years of democracy... we are not far from what black people experience in the US.
We may be a majority but our struggles are very similar because we don’t own a lot of things.
We are still learning to love ourselves. There is a lot of poverty, alcohol and drugs, which is a similar situation in the US.
“We share the same history and that is what should bring us together. If you look at how we kill each other as black people, you would think that we don’t have something in common but we do, regardless of where we are in the world. Whether you are a Zimbabwean or South African you will relate to the story. The play further speaks about issues of love, hope and opportunity and we all yearn for [that].”
Ndlovu is not new in theatre. In fact, he says, this is where his career began. The TV star who studied acting in Los Angeles has appeared in plays such as A Raisin in the Sun, I See You, and A Night with Sam.
“TV space is great but it is a different environment and I always go back to my foundation just to remind myself of the basics.”
Ndlovu, who defines himself as an all-rounder, says he got into the industry through dance and developed his acting talent later.
He is a trained isibhujwa, hip-hop, jazz and contemporary dancer.