Two new plays by Drama for Life Theatre Company explore gender, sexuality and identity

Around the world, society is renegotiating its attitudes to identity, gender and sexuality. Drama for Life Theatre Company presents two new plays that explore these themes in a new double bill until 19 October at Wits Downstairs Theatre in Johannesburg.

The plays, Girls and Gals and Lefa, are a fresh answer for youth audiences. Both plays in the double bill interrogate the myths and complexities surrounding gender roles in South Africa, drawing theatregoers into the intimate spaces where identity, gender and sexuality are at the forefront of conversation.

Directed by Thapelo Mohapi, Lefa tells a story of four boys entering puberty. The play explores their struggles to become men – some without the advice and guidance of a father, and others struggling to face and identify with their masculinity and to carve a space in which to express their true selves.

The play uses physical theatre and narration to draw parallels between audience and character. These elements are designed to spark moments of reflection.

Lefa is performed by Mohapi, Lehlohonolo Dube, Sithembiso Khalishwayo, Luthando Jamda and Moeketsi Kgotle.

Girls and Gals, brings the audience into a deep, meaningful conversation among four friends. Using physical theatre and storytelling, the play, directed by Cherae Halley, looks into the development of female identity from the perspective of its eponymous “girls and gals”.

The audience is taken on a trip exploring puberty through several social lenses, including memories and stories, in a complex interweaving of myth, folklore and modern social mores.

Girls and Gals is performed by Stella Dlangalala, Diana Penman, Francesca Matthys and Pertunia Msani.

The productions form part of the Drama for Life Theatre Company’s Knowledge Unzipped Project that aims to provide ‘best practice’ interventions on sexual and gender health education for youth. The project is supported by the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.