Upon entering the ADC auditorium I was handed a West Central Johannesburg 'persoonkaart' (ID card); mine was branded with the letter 'C', my friends with 'B' and 'W'. This bold set up made it clear from the outset that Sophiatown was not going to be a show like any other in Cambridge.

When the set was revealed, so too was the tone of the show – a little bit scrappy, a bit rough around the edges, but bright, energetic and with a very serious message underneath. My description of the set is meant in no way to undermine it however, it is perfect for this production — with large colourful cut-outs of buildings at the top, contrasted with incredibly powerful black and white images below.

Sophiatown is set in a freehold township outside of Johannesburg, during Apartheid, exploring the dynamics of one particular house. The first act was utterly hilarious, something which caught me off-guard entirely. The acting was very consistent across the cast, with Jess Matsebula and Wale Awoyinka shining as the petulant school girl Lulu, and the (largely) silent and hilarious Charlie respectively. Precious Oyelade also deserves a mention for her hilarious and at times heartbreaking portrayal of Fafhee, a spirited and politicised mystic. In addition the singing throughout the show from the cast and chorus was exceptional, and broke up the action beautifully. For most of the cast this is their acting debut in Cambridge, and whilst first night nerves occasionally came across, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that this show will get better with each performance. 

The first act was great fun, and undoubtedly the most energetic and lively hour of theatre I've seen in Cambridge, but I was surprised how little the central themes of segregation and oppression came across. However, a surprise twist in the interval was a stark reminder of the seriousness of Apartheid, and skillfully established the tonal shift between the acts. I had never cried during a show at the ADC before, but I could not hold it together during the final montage, which proved to be one of the most powerful endings to a show I have ever seen. 

Sophiatown is not a polished or a slick production, and I have seen a great range of shows in Cambridge which would fall into those categories, however it is undoubtedly the best thing I have seen on the ADC stage. It is a show that we need in Cambridge, not just because it is has opened up a fascinating debate on diversity, nor because its cast are almost entirely new to the stage, but because it shows what makes a decent production: energy, spirit, and total conviction. During the final scene, it was overwhelmingly clear how much every member of the cast believed in the importance of the show, and it was this that made the production so powerful. I urge you to see this production, for so many reasons — not least of all because the show is being staged in support of the iThemba Projects. As director Justina Kehinde Ogunseitan reminded us all at the end, it has been twenty years since the end of Apartheid, and South Africa is still far from recovering.

This article was amended on 29 October to clarify that the production is being staged in support of the iThemba Projects.