The play titled “Rituals of Violence” will be touring venues in Johannesburg and Pretoria next week, after its successful run at Grahamstown festival.
‘Rituals’ was written by Zimbabwe playwright Stephen Chifunyise after two-months of research on issues of politically motivated violence, reconciliation and justice in Zimbabwe. The play, directed and produced by Daves Ghuza of Rooftop Productions, fuses drama and dance to depict community-initiated rituals of healing and reconciliation.
The play received standing ovations when it was staged at the All Africa Dance Festival for Peace held in Nairobi, Kenya in December last year. But during its national run in Zimbabwe earlier this year, the cast was arrested in Chimanimani and charged with ‘criminal nuisance’. The entire cast spent three nights behind bars before being acquitted.
Its run in South Africa is being facilitated in part by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, who say the play is a vehicle for change. The group’s regional coordinator, Dewa Mavhinga, told SW Radio Africa that the play can provoke action.
“The issues of violence, reconciliation, justice and healing are critical issues that must be addressed. And in a play the issues are more accessible to a wider audience and it is an important that we utilise theatre in this way,” Mavhinga said.
Mavhinga described the production as a “timely, provocative and a glimpse of reality,” of the situation in Zimbabwe, which he explained is necessary for South African audiences to see as well.
“In South Africa we have serious challenges of xenophobia. This play depicts some of the issues why Zimbabweans find themselves in South Africa involuntarily, which would be useful for South Africans to see. This could go towards the elimination of xenophobia.”
The play will run for 5 shows between 12 July and 17 July 2011 and will feature post-performance discussions with opinion leaders, civic society, media, artists, students, academics, politicians, peace activists and Zimbabweans in South Africa.
The Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg, which has been a haven for Zimbabwean refugees over the years, is set to host one of the performances, which will be free to all.
Post published in: Politics