The film Durban Poison which chronicles the collapse, resurrection, and subsequent re-collapse of the Stable Theatre will have its world premiere at the Durban International Film Festival (DIFF) on 26 July. The screening at Kwa Suka Theatre in Durban will be followed by a Q&A with one of the filmmakers as well as artists featured in the film, and music from Madala Kunene, one of the film's stars.

This ground-breaking documentary also stars Mbongeni Ngema and features appearances by Ladysmith Black Mambazo's Joseph Shabalala.

The launch party is supported by the Durban Film Office (DFO), which also sponsored a party launching the project at DIFF three years ago.

Durban Poison was originally intended to be a happy story entitled Taking Back the Stable, in which artists and musicians from the Stable Theatre, led by Ngema, created and performed a protest musical chronicling the history of protest musicals and of the Stable. However, after a great start, the project fell apart along the way due largely to corruption, confusion, and internecine politics – the same forces that have prevented the Stable from taking its rightful place in history for the last 30 years.

Instead the film ends up as a disturbing, if ironic and darkly humorous, political farce/road movie – an examination of how activism and arts come a distant last behind self-interest, commerce and politics, an unfortunate commentary on the need for – and difficulty of – triumph of the human spirit.

“The story of the Stable parallels the story of Black Consciousness and of liberation,” says controversial media personality Deon Maas, one of the producers of the film who also serves as its narrator. “Why some people who were once united in the struggle come out as the victors, and others as the vanquished.”

This event will be preceded by a star-studded private screening in Johannesburg on 22 July, also featuring Madala as well as Albert Frost and other musicians, with many celebrities and culturati in attendance. SABC2 will broadcast a 48 minute version in September.

Director Michael Lee an American permanently resident in South Africa, underwent his own struggle, working on the film in various forms over the course of 10 years to finally get the story out. “For me, this film is not an end, it's a beginning, for it leaves the artists where they started,” Lee says. “I see Durban Poison as a catalyst to make the telling of Part 2 possible. Anyone who would like to see this fight continue, please join us in making it happen!”

A second DIFF screening will be held at the Ekhaya Arts Centre in Kwa Mashu at 6 PM on Thursday 31 July, also with the filmmaker and artists present.

For more information please contact Senele Nkosi at Mahala Empowerment Media, durbanpoison@mahalamedia.net, or 082 958 6677.