Alison’s story on stage

I Have Life. Alison’s Journey is the story of one woman who beat her attackers to become the real victor.

“2014 marks 20 years of freedom and democracy for South Africa. As a milestone for our country, the occasion affords us an opportunity to reflect on our progresses in the last 20 years,” said publicist Michela Tucci.

“In conjunction it is the 20-year anniversary of the well-publicised case of Alison.”

In 1994, Alison was raped, disembowelled, had her throat slit, and was left to die on a rubbish dump outside Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape. The perpetrators were Theuns Kruger and Frans du Toit.

“With the purpose of inspiring a real change, award-winning writer and director Maralin Vanrenen is taking action by bringing Alison’s story to the stage in an adaptation of Marianne Thamm’s best-selling book, I Have Life. Alison’s Journey,” said Tucci.

“This is a story of a woman’s physical survival against all odds. Alison is a symbol of positivity and a refusal to remain a perpetual victim of the men who could have taken her life.”

Tucci said gender violence statistics and the petition against Alison’s attackers who are up for parole this year, had many South African women asking the question, “Twenty years into our democracy, how free are we?”.

“If we can show men and women that the choice is theirs to change this spiral of abuse towards women and children, and if we can encourage the authorities to apply the most stringent of rules before they even think of releasing criminals like these back into society, we will have moved mountains,” said Vanrenen.

“It can be done.”

The role of Alison will be played by South African-born Suanne Braun.

Auditions for two actors and one actress skilled in physical theatre will be held this month.

“Alison inspires us all to reach deep into ourselves to find our own miracle, no matter what the odds,” said Tucci.

The show will run from 6 until 30 August.

Details: 011 883 8606; www.theatreonthesquare.co.za