Presented with support from the Swedish Embassy, Pretoria; the Swedish Author Fund; and Bilimankhwe Arts. Grateful thanks to Michaela Waldram-Jones; Goldsmiths Theatre dept, University of London; and Poplar Union.

Presented at the NationalArts Festival 2018.“Why do I have to represent a whole race when I just want to represent me?” 

The Incident is a new provocative play by Swedish playwright Joakim Daun that tackles belonging, migration, racism and power through an intimate love story spanning Sweden and Zimbabwe. The play premiered at the Harare International Festival of the Arts in 2017 where it received critical acclaim form the audience and was awarded Outstanding Zimbabwean Theatrical Production in 2018.

The Incident is directed by Zimbabwean director Elizabeth Zaza Muchemwa and stars award winning British actress Mimi Ndiweni and Swedish actor Nikola Ruzicic. 

“Enlightening. Wow, that was raw. No filter. Loved it.”  (Audience Member HIFA 2017)

How ‘progressive’ are people really, when they’re confronted with difficult choices? 

Straight out of the National Arts Festival’s main stage in Grahamstown, The Incident is brought to Alexander Upstairs by a team of international and South African theatre makers.  

The Incident explores the experience of many Southern Africans who have moved to Europe in search for new opportunities and looks at the realities of living in a different culture, far from family, and tradition. It examines what it means to “belong,” for an ambitious, black African woman in a mostly white male dominated society. 

Joakim Daun - Writer and producer

Joakim Daun a Swedish theatre maker with a background in human rights who has worked extensively in Africa and Latin America. He writes and produces intercultural theatre that question current power structures from the perspective of the individual as well as the collective. He holds an MA in writing for performance from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Elizabeth Muchemwa - Director

Elizabeth Muchemwa is a Zimbabwean theatre Director working as an associate artistic director at Almasi Collaborative Arts in Zimbabwe. She has directed a number of shows and staged readings including the premiere of The Incident at Harare International Festival of the Arts in 2017. She is also a playwright and poet and has been a playwriting residency at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in the UK.

Mimi Ndiweni - Actress

Mimi Ndiweni is a British actress with Zimbabwean descent and the 2018 Off West End award winner for best actress in London for her role as Jekesai/Ester in The Convert at Gate Theatre. TV credits include Mr Selfridge and BBC drama series Rellik and for film The Legend of Tarzan. She is currently touring with the Royal Shakespeare Company as Ophelia in Hamlet. She trained at Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama.

Nikola Ruzicic - Actor

Nikola Ruzicic is a Swedish actor whose work includes appearances in two of Sweden’s most prominent primetime tv-shows “Maria Wern” and “The Fourth Man”, the upcoming feature film “Huldra”, and the Cannes-screened provocative short film “Mannequins.” Nikola trained at Kogan Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and also has earned a BA honours degree in media/communication and English.

Zoë Guzy Sprague - Dramaturgy

Zoë Guzy Sprague is an American dramaturge based in London. She works as a freelance dramaturge, writer and creative writing facilitator and is currently a member Orange Tree’s Writer’s Collective in London. She holds an MA in Writing for Performance from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Nic Farman – Lighting Designer

Nic is an English lighting designer and Winner of The Worshipful Company of Lightmongers & ALD Award for New Talent in Entertainment Lighting of the 'Francis Reid Award' 2013. He was Nominated for Best Lighting Designer at the Offie Awards in 2016 for The Spanish Tragedy.

Cecilia Trono – Set and Costume Designer 

Cecilia is a French Set and Costume designer based in London, who has worked at the Acrola Theatre, Pegasus Theatre, Omnibus Theatre, and the Vaults. She was nominated for an Offie Award for Best Set Design at Jermyn Street Theatre in 2016.

James Ball – Sound designer & Technical Stage Manager 

James works in the UK and abroad, focusing on contemporary art, youth & community theatre and live music, working as Technical Manager for Paines Plough; Lighting Designer for Mandala Theatre Company; Sound Engineer for pop group ‘Saint Etienne’.

Thabiso Tshabalala–  Stage Manager 

Thabiso has worked as Production Manager for Sarafina! In Black and White at the Soweto Theatre and Stage Manager for the City of Tshwane’s Vision 2055 Launch. He also worked on Pamela Nomvete’s show, Ngiyadansa, and South African State Theatre’s production of Forgiveness.

Lavinia Serban – Company Stage Manager (London)

Lavinia graduated from the MA Collaborative Theatre Production & Design Programme, Guildhall School of Music & Drama. She believes theatre can bring people together to share something life changing. She recently worked as DSM on 'Of Mice and Men

LoveDale Mak (Musician) 

Lovedale was introduced to music & creativity through his father, a traditional, spiritual mbira player, and his mother - a doylist. He went on to be an award-winning musician who has operated within the Zimbabwean music industry for over 17 years as a vocalist, song-writer/lyricist, composer, producer, guitarist, film scorer, and solo performer.

Brezhnev Gueva (Musician)

Brezhnev also known as Maestrowemhanda on stage in Zimbabwe, is a gifted musical improviser. He is an actor and musician with sixteen years of experience, including stage productions of Mbira and Percussions. He has worked internationally with professional artists in Zimbabwe and beyond.

Thoriso Moseneke (Project Support/Facilitator)

Thoriso is a South African creative entrepreneur and applied theatre practitioner specialising in arts in health and arts education. She is passionate about socially engaged arts, human rights, and social justice. Working as a creative arts facilitator, workshop curator and researcher she has international and local experience.

Anton Califano (Film maker)

Anton is an English film maker with more than two decades of filmmaking experience as producer, director & cameraman. His company Movement In Media makes films for the arts, education & cultural sector. He is currently making “Killing the Law” a feature documentary for release in 2018.

Media & Reviews

"It’s a brilliant production because it forces the audience to interact.""For a country like ours that’s currently grappling with issues of social cohesion, The Incident is showing at the perfect time."'"the production, leaves the air thick with things unsaid. More importantly, they force the viewer to interrogate their own prejudice."

Review by Masego Panyane

Audience Responses

We always enjoy shows at The Alexander Bar. This show was excellent We do.t often eat there. We love the venue

particularly enjoyed the post-show discussion

My main problem with the show was the writing which I found rather one-dimensional. I did not totally believe the situation - I cannot believe a headmaster in Sweden would ever be allowed to set up and run an investigation into his wife. He would have to recuse himself. So the plot was forced to make the point. Decent performances from the actors.

I related to the matters addressed in the show. I am a Zimbabwean living in SA. Although Mo's experiences are not exactly the same as mine - I relate because finding job opportunities have been had to come by because of my nationality, the fact that I am a highly qualified in my profession does not matter

Enjoyed. Esssential subject matter and I'm sure post-show discussion will be enlightening. Nuanced view of racism and displacement. Liked structure - introducing flashbacks works. Loved look of set/floor but production a bit old-fashioned. Lots of unnecessary costume changes and some rather static staging. Would make a good radio play. For me, chemistry between actors lacking in the happier scenes.

Intense, provocative, challenging, exactly what I was hoping for. Also enjoyed the stage production and choreography.

Very moving and emotional account. Excellent acting.