Dancing to a new tune -
Role model’s call for auditions came at the right time
Creatively I want to be doing roles that scare me, challenge me, make me vulnerable and shake me out of my comfort zones
FEISTY actress Zakeeya Patel sees herself as an agent of change and healing through the arts — and does so brightly and boldly in US playwright Eve Ensler’s new work, Emotional Creature.
Ensler is the award-winning author of The Vagina Monologues.
Said Patel: “Emotional Creature was originally a book of stories Eve collected from her travels. The play follows an ‘Amazing Girl Posse’— as Eve likes to call us, telling stories from all over the world.
“The play was workshopped at The Market Theatre Laboratory in 2011. After a sold-out season in Johannesburg, it was staged in Paris, San Francisco and New York. Emotional Creature returns to the South African stage prior to its African tour.
“Girls today often find themselves in a struggle between remaining strong and true to themselves and conforming to society’s expectations in an attempt to please.
“This play is a celebration of the authentic voice inside every girl and an inspiring call to action for girls everywhere to speak up, follow their dreams, and become the women they were always meant to be.”
Each of the actresses plays two to three roles — Patel fills the shoes of an Iranian girl whose parents give her a nose job for her 16th birthday so she “will now be a princess”, and a Bulgarian sex slave who cannot escape her brutal situation.
Patel studied theatre and performance at the University of Cape Town, but had not performed on stage since graduating in 2009.
But that changed when she saw Ensler’s name in her inbox announcing the auditions. Patel immediately wanted the part.
“Eve has been one of my role models since I was a teenager. She inspired and empowered me in so many ways — mainly to embrace my immense power and not dull my shine to make people feel comfortable around me.
“Women’s stories and issues have become a part of my day-to-day narrative, so Emotional Creature came at a perfect time in my journey as a young woman establishing myself in South Africa and my industry.
“Also, men’s voices have been dominating in the film and entertainment industry for years.”
Patel has starred in the soapies The Wild and High Rollers and was the winner of Strictly Come Dancing last year.
“Creatively I want to be doing roles that scare me, challenge me, make me vulnerable and shake me out of my comfort zones,” she said.
“Emotional Creatures is not controversial so much as current, relevant and hard hitting. I don’t think we are stepping on any toes with this production. It is a celebration of women, but doesn’t degrade men. It’s a celebration of the emotional creature in all of us — men and women.”
Patel will soon be presenting a glamorous new lifestyle television show.
But she still has her sights set on entering the larger international film and theatre industries.
“I’m not under any false ideas about how small the chances are of breaking into those giant industries, but I have the ambition, determination and tenacity to go there and give it my best shot,” said Patel.
Emotional Creature also stars Karabo Tshikube, Lara Lipschitz, Barileng Malebye, Vuyelwa Maluleke and Ratanang Mogotsi.
It will be staged at the Baxter Flipside in Cape Town from Wednesday August 6 to Saturday August 16.