Sauce spotlight — seven methods of killing kylie jenner by Jasmine Lee-Jones, presented by Silo Theatre
Racism, colourism, cultural appropriation, and the politics of friendships. These are themes being explored in an upcoming Silo Theatre production seven methods of killing kylie jenner. Written by award winning British playwright Jasmine Lee-Jones, the play is sure to spark thought-provoking conversations about the politics of Black identity, friendship, and culture.
Batanai Mashingaidze (left) and Grace Bentley-Tsibuah (right) photographed by Jinki Cambronero
It’s only fitting then that actors Grace Bentley-Tsibuah (Ghanaian-Pākeha) and Batanai Mashingaidze (Kiwi-Zimbabwaian), who portray the main characters Kara and Cleo, are real-life friends. This has been a huge advantage.
“It’s about being safe and comfortable in another person’s presence”, says Grace. “There is a lot of work that doesn’t need to be done … it’s really easy to get in character, to be bold, or try different techniques.”
Batanai affirms this feeling of comfort. “We always do a hug to connect before we go into the work or some sort of check in whether that be through dancing or gaging with each other or generally just been open with how we are feeling on the day which always makes it easier to say the words of the text with the truth it requires from the both of us.”
Both Grace and Batanai were drawn to the play by how it represents a global Black experience, and because the play was written by a young Black creative, who was only 20 years old when she wrote the show.
The playwright’s debut has been received with high praise since its first release in the UK in 2019. With its simple set design and quick, sharp dialogue, the play leaves the viewer with questions to ponder about some of the biggest issues facing the world right now, including how we navigate friendships during these polarizing and divisive times.
“It touches on so many topics”, says Grace. “And it's really relatable … I just think it speaks on the black experience, especially as not necessarily American blacks. But either first, second, or third generation Black people, whether they are African, Jamaican, West Indian.”
Batanai echoes this feeling, adding that in New Zealand we are still in the era of ‘firsts’, so diversity and representation in New Zealand theatre is crucial. “As a Black actor in New Zealand, we're often the first ones to be doing stuff. It feels like there's less testing ground. And so I think when I read this play, I thought it's also so current and so of-the-time now, but I also think 10 years down the road, it's still going to be so relatable and so much to talk about.”
“And it’s really relatable … I just think it speaks on the black experience, especially as not necessarily American blacks. But either first, second, or third generation Black people, whether they are African, Jamaican, West Indian.”
Batanai Mashingaidze
“As a Black actor in New Zealand, we’re often the first ones to be doing stuff. It feels like there’s less testing ground. And so I think when I read this play, I thought it’s also so current and so of-the-time now, but I also think 10 years down the road, it’s still going to be so relatable and so much to talk about.”
Not only is it relatable to a Black audience, but also to people of colour who face up against colourism and cultural appropriation within and outside of their own communities. While the play was written in the UK for a British audience, the themes and experiences of racism portrayed are universal. This is why Grace says that people from all communities need to watch the show.
“There are so many communities in New Zealand, whether it's the Pacific Island or South Asian communities that will deal specifically with colorism ... even though it is specific to Black Africans, I think it is transferable. So take what you want, and take it back to your people.”
However, tackling racism takes all of us to put in the work, so it’s not just a play for people of colour. Batanai says, “I think for white New Zealanders, the hope is that it's going to make them aware that they accept a certain type of black over another type of black. And so it talks about colorism … Even though people always put us in the same box, we're all going to have very different things to say about it. And if we're not having it here first, then it's going to feel frightening to try to start these conversations within white infrastructures.”
In a show about cultural appropriation and friendships, the name seven methods of killing kylie jenner is sure to spark some curiosity. Or not?
“I don't know how Jasmine came up with that”, Batanai says. “But I do think it does a brilliant thing of shocking people to be like, well, it feels like celebrities are untouchable. I guess her whole family has done so much cultural appropriation and they get away with it on the daily. But I think why it's so strong that it's Kylie is because she's so young. We've seen her go from very natural to very botched. And I say that with respect because of course she's putting the money. If people don't keep celebrities accountable, then they can just get away scot free, especially when it comes to race relations”.
Grace Bentley-Tsibuah
Without giving any spoilers, Batanai’s character Cleo comes up with the ‘seven methods’, which for her is a show of her own power. “Cleo’s character [says] ‘you think I'm small, but I can do a lot of damage with my words, which is one of my weapons’.”
“I think for white New Zealanders, the hope is that it’s going to make them aware that they accept a certain type of black over another type of black. And so it talks about colorism … Even though people always put us in the same box, we’re all going to have very different things to say about it. And if we’re not having it here first, then it’s going to feel frightening to try to start these conversations within white infrastructures.”
Not only is it a layered, thought provoking, and dynamic show tackling some of the biggest issues facing us right now, the New Zealand production is also led by women of colour, from the director, to sound design, to costume. “This is pretty much a mostly female representing, female driven show … so that is also important to support”, says Grace.
seven methods of killing kylie jenner is playing at Basement Theatre from 02 to 18 June. Get your tickets here
Photography - Jinki Cambronero
Words - Latifa Daud
