Exploring Whoonga addiction through theatre

A POIGNANT, informative, honest and incisive theatre production about drug addiction, comes to the Playhouse Loft Theatre for a short season from 5 – 9 April. Over the course of 2015, a dynamic team of story-tellers, playwrights, theatre-makers, academics and researchers, set about exploring the Whoonga (low-grade heroin) crises currently plaguing KZN communities. The result of the two year research is a powerful new theatre production titled Ulwembu (isiZulu for Spider web) which will be having a short public run at the Playhouse Loft theatre from 5 to 9 April 2016.

The creative team consists of award-winning playwright and director Neil Coppen top local actress Mpume Mtombeni, Kwa-Mashu based community-theatre group, The Big Brotherhood and educational sociologist Dylan McGarry. Ulwembu, which has been described as ‘poignant’ and ‘essential’ viewing, affords local theatre audiences the opportunity to walk in the shoes of misunderstood others: be it users, dealers, police-officers, social-workers or parents of drug users.

“With Whoonga having a catastrophic effect on communities around South Africa,” says Mthombeni, “the problem needs to be understood and addressed out in the open.” To create the script, the group set out to record oral histories and testimonials from a broad cross- section of Durbanites before transforming these accounts into an unforgettable documentary-theatre experience which is designed to change the way we see and understand each other as citizens.

“If we want to respond to drugs humanely and comprehensively in Durban, we need to first understand the interwoven and deeply connected nature of this problem. Our production strives to give this contentious issue, a more human face and perspective”, explains McGarry. Despite the serious themes, the creative team are quick to point out that Ulwembu is far from a precautionary “Say no to drugs” play. “With this productionwe wanted to create an engrossing and visceral theatrical journey for audiences, allowing the power of the story and the characters escalating dilemmas, to reveal the many complexities and facets behind the crises,” said Coppen.

Booking is through Computicket and tickets are R50 for public performances. Community groups and local organizations can contact Dylan McGarry at armadylan@gmail.com for free admission. For more information please visit the Ulwembu website: www.ulwembu.net