THE best production of the 2015 Zabalaza Theatre Festival, the innovative one-hander Fruit, is being staged at the Baxter Masambe Theatre in Cape Town at 7 pm nightly until August 29. The carefully-layered, richly-textured play is written and directed by Paul Noko from the Soweto-based Dala Arts and is performed in English with some isiZulu by the 19-year-old Matshediso Mokoteli.

Dealing delicately and sensitively with the loss of innocence Fruit is the simple tale of a young girl Matlakala, who uses an indigenous game called masikitla to tell her story about what life is like for her growing up in the township of Diepkloof, which is ravaged by crime and poverty. In this game she uses stones to represent the 16 characters from her neighbourhood which she seamlessly portrays.

At the age of 14 Matlakala receives her first doll that she names Lucy and with whom she shares her story. Trapped in her childhood memories she is now claiming back her innocence.

Fruit beat over 45 other productions to win the best production award at this year’s festival, which was held in March. The winning production is awarded a chance to be staged as part of the Baxter’s mainstream line-up.

“There was no doubt that this would be the winner at our festival this year,” says Zabalaza artistic director, Thami Mbongo. “Matshediso Mokoteli’s performance is exemplary – the tenderness with which she approaches her multiple roles is really quite remarkable for such a young actress. The clever writing and simple direction contribute to make this production fresh and relevant and allows it to resonate universally – it could be performed anywhere in the world. This is a work that is quietly powerful.”

The Zabalaza Theatre Festival is widely regarded as one of the best development platforms in the country. Since its inception in 2011 it has grown exponentially each year as the organisers pay special attention to innovation and expanding the programme. Previous best production winners are Uhlazo by Loyiso Damoyi (2011), Worst of Both Worlds by Bulelani Mabutyana (2012), Skierlik by Phillip Dikotla (2013) and The Champion by Khayalethu Anthony in 2014.

These productions went on to be staged at various festivals and events in the Western Cape. Skierlik received two Fleur du Cap nominations and Khayalethu Anthony won the Fleur du Cap award for best performance in a review, cabaret or one-person show for The Champion.

Fruit can be seen at 7 pm nightly with matinee performances at 11 am on Wednesdays and Thursdays and 2 pm on Saturday, August 15. Tickets cost R85 with discounted block-booking tickets available for schools, charities and organisations.

Another production, Egoli, written and directed by Bongani Titana, was selected on merit as it was the best-seller at the festival and will be staged in the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from August 17 to 29.

The musical theatre production is performed by an ensemble cast of nine young actors. With music composed by Titana, this story is vibrantly brought to the stage through song.

Madlamini is a strict, God-loving woman from a rural village who travels to Egoli, the city of gold, in search of her husband. He left their home for the big city in order to find a job and make some money for his family. However, his plans were derailed when he got sucked into the fast and dangerous life of the big city and now she is on a journey to find him.

There are two evening performances at 7 pm on August 17 and 19, two matinee performances on August 22 and 29. School’s performances are at 10am and 12 pm. Booking is through Computicket.