| What: Hidden/Current When: November 27-29, 2025 Where: Artscape Arena, Cape Town Writers: Fatima Dikeย (Cape Town), Naghmeh Saminiย (Tehran) and Elizabeth Heffronย (Seattle) Director: Robin Lynn Smith Cast: Zikhona Jacobs, Sbuja Dywili, Sizwe Msutu and Chris Gxalaba (Cape Town),ย Emily Pike, Stefan Enriquez, Jennifer Mooreย and Newsha Farhaniย (Seattle);ย Soha Sanajouย (Vancouver, BC) and Shayan Khoshmaghamย (San Francisco) Producer: Freehold Theatre Lab – Seattle Performances: November 27 and 28 are at 7pm, November 29 at 3pm and 7pm Duration: 90 mins, no interval Age restriction: no under 14s Tickets: R50-R120. R50 for student, seniors and group discounts (groups 10 or more) Bookings: Webtickets or Artscape-dial-a-seat 021 421-7695 ย |
The Freehold Theatre Lab, based in Seattle is producing Hidden/Current, a thrilling production at Artscape, November 27-29, 2025, grappling with gender based violence. This play, with music is a multi-geographical collaboration. There are three writers: Fatima Dikeย (from Cape Town), Naghmeh Saminiย (Tehran) and Elizabeth Heffronย (Seattle). The actors are from Cape Town, Seattle, San Francisco and Vancouver. The director, Robin Lynn Smith is from the Freehold Theatre Lab which is committed to โdeepening the transformational power of theatreโ around the globe and we are privileged to have the Lab igniting this important play in Cape Town. Intrigued? Read on for more:
HIDDEN / CURRENT
Produced by
Freehold Theatre Lab – Seattle USA
Writers
Fatima Dike, Naghmeh Samini and Elizabeth Heffron
NOVEMBER 27-29 2025 – ARTSCAPE
โItโs Time. The fierce spirits of the Rusalka, acerbic supernatural adepts seeking justice, in a rage and out of patience, cross over from their water realm and compel us to see the stories of three young women, to wake us up to, and incite action against the gender-based violence across culturesโ.
HIDDEN / CURRENT a play written by Fatima Dike from Cape Town, Naghmeh Samini from Tehran and Elizabeth Heffron from Seattle will be staged at Artscape from November 27 to 29, 2025.
Produced by Freehold Theatre Lab – Seattle, this significant work includes three protagonists with vivid, unique cultural stories: a young Law student from South Africa, who is subject to her in-lawsโ Clan Eldersโ control and restrictions regarding her continued studies in an arranged marriage; an incarcerated daughter in an American prison who might not receive the help she needs because of tensions with her motherโs new husband; and an Iranian woman forced to flee Iran, living in Istanbul, assists in the escape of a 14 year old girl from an arranged marriage to a much older man. When each rooted, local story braids around the others; theyโ are an undeniable testimony to the global range of this plague.
The play unfolds in a fluid context of the real and the surreal – an amalgam of dance, theatre, and expressionism – through live music, movement and mixed media, evoking Istanbul, Langa Township, the prison, and the water realm that surrounds these three woven stories by Naghmeh Samini, Fatima Dike, and Elizabeth Heffron.
Director of the play Robin Lynn Smith states, โWhen people witness the experiences of women from outside their culture of origin, it brings it home that this is not solely their crisis and it is harder to deny what is happeningโโ.
โWhile the play is intended to be produced for a wide audience, we are particularly interested in reaching women who do not see themselves or their stories represented on stage and to offer larger audiences a catalyst to act to tip the balance back towards equity for womenโ.
Dr Marlene le Roux, CEO of Artscape, says that โThis work is a powerful testament to the universality of womenโs struggles. It is a bold and necessary work that threads together the lived realities of women across continents. Fatima Dike, alongside Naghmeh Samini and Elizabeth Heffron, brings to light the silent burdens women carry – often masked by culture, religion, and tradition. These stories, rooted in South Africa, Iran, and the United States, reveal how oppression wears different faces but shares the same weight. Artscape stands firm in its belief that theatre like this is vital. Through productions such as these, and our flagship Artscape Womenโs Humanity Festival during national Womenโs Month annually in August, it gives voice to the unheard, confronts the uncomfortable, and challenges us to reimagine a world where women are seen, heard, and free.โ
โMother of South Africaโs Dramaโ Fatima Dike, a recognised playwright, poet, director, teacher, political activist and the first African woman to publish a play, confirms: โTo me, theatre has always been the weapon used by us as a weapon to awaken the masses about issues in our society that may cause divisions, harm, injustice etc. It is always a way to create awareness. GBV is so wide spread in our societies and the victims are rendered voiceless. By putting these subjects on the stage we awaken the conscience of the offenders and give voice to the voiceless. The three stories in this production cover themes of culture; religious beliefs; power in the form of money when it is in the wrong hands and overall patriarchy. This is the kind of work that should be opened to discussion between the audience and the cast, director and playwrights.โ
In pursuit of what is grassroots and global, a cohort of international collaborators have been engaged for this production. The creative team include Director Robin Lynn Smith, Composer/Musician Gino Srdjan Yevdjevich โKultur Shockโ, Movement Director Jessica Jobaris and Scenic Designer Parmida Ziaei.
The Actors are Zikhona Jacobs, Sbuja Dywili, Sizwe Msutu and Chris Gxalaba from Cape Town; Emily Pike, Stefan Enriquez, Jennifer Moore and Newsha Farhani from Seattle; Soha Sanajou Vancouver, BC and Shayan Khoshmagham from San Francisco.
Performances are on November 27 and 28 are at 7pm, November 29 3pm and 7pm. The duration of the play is 90min with no interval.
Tickets prices range from R50 to R120. There are student and pensioner discounts Group bookings 10 or more R50 per seat. Book withWebtickets or Artscape-dial-a-seat 021 421-7695. Age Restriction no under 14s.
ABOUT
FREEHOLD THEATRE LAB/STUDIO
Mission –
Freehold engages the artist in every human, through theatrical training, experimentation, and practice, to foster a deeper connection with themselves, and with each other in pursuit of radical mutuality.
Freehold –
Since its founding in 1991 as a center for the practice of theatre, Freehold has been devoted to deepening the transformational power of theatre, and the radical accessibility to that practice where all people of all identities are welcomed, valued, and respected. The center is dedicated to research and experimentation in training and performance. The practice must be truthful, illuminate the unseen, and articulate the unspoken.
Our Lab provides a forum for ongoing experimentation where mature artists can research and develop their work. Our flagship lab program, Engaged Theatre (since 2003) has connected us to resilient, extraordinary populations that have the courage to face their wrongdoing and earnestly endeavor to make amends. They have taught us deeply about ourselves and the creation of art.
Throughout its history the Lab has taken many forms. Projects of the Lab have included investigations and productions of classic works that encouraged a richer appreciation for the works and garnered awards and accolades. The Lab has also hosted investigations and development of new works encouraging new voices and perspectives and providing our community with a safe place to push the art form forward. The Lab has expanded the horizons of the Seattle arts community by hosting collaborations between Seattle artists and internationally recognized theatre artists. It continues to meet the needs identified by our community of professional theatre artists.
Elizabeth Heffron (Playwright)
Elizabeth is a Seattle-based playwright. Her plays include Bo-Nita, which received its world premiere at Seattle Repertory Theatre, won the โBest Storytellingโ award at the United Solo Festival in NYC, and has also been produced in New York, Florida and Washington D.C. Other full-length works include Portugal, a play about nuclear energy workers, and Mitziโs Abortion (A Saintโs Guide to Late-Term Politics and Medicine in America) which premiered at ACT Theatre in Seattle and continues to be produced across the country.
Naghmeh Samini (Playwright)
Naghmeh, an Iranian-American playwright and researcher, holds a PhD in Drama & Mythology. Over 20 of her playsโexperimental in formโhave been staged in Iran, India, the US, Canada, France, and elsewhere. Her works explore mythology, women issues and socioโpolitical themes.
Fatima Dike (Playwright)
Fatima Royline Dike is called the โMother of South Africaโs Dramaโ. Fatima has been a widely recognised playwright, poet, director, teacher and political activist and was the first African woman to publish a play, The Sacrifice of Kreli, in South Africa. Her other play credits include The First South Africa, The Crafty Tortoise, The Glass House, So whatโs new?, Street Walking, Company Valet Service, and The Return which ran at Artscape and the Grahamstown Theatre Festival. Fatima works at the Guga Sโthebe Arts & Culture Centre in Langa, she has lectured at John Carroll Universityโs English Department, has travelled and worked internationally for a number years, and has directed two plays (Woza Albert by Mbongeni Ngema & Percy Mtwa and Nothing but the Truth by John Kani) as well as directing for Artscapeโs new writing program and the Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Companyโs grade 12 English drama set.
โณ Featured image: Fatima Dike (Cape Town) is one of three writers of Hidden/Current, Artscape, November 27-29, 2025, a play grappling with gender based violence. This play, with music is a multi-geographical collaboration, produced by Freehold Theatre Lab – Seattle. Sponsored content. Image supplied.
