Women’s liberation play wows audience

The Alex Youth in Action Ensemble entertained a large audience with its latest play, Women’s Liberation, as part of its Theatre Alive night show.

The Thusong Youth Centre Hall was filled for the one-night-only show which was appreciated by the audience and complemented by equally good performances from local music groups.

The play by a cast of young women commented on women’s ongoing and dreadful experiences of abuse, violence and lack of recognition of their role in the liberation of the country.

The audience, which included the Speaker of Johannesburg City Council, Connie Bapela, and theatre luminary Mbongeni Ngema of the famed Sarafina play, were awed by the quality, power and educational value of the interwoven messages about women’s ongoing fight for liberation, equality and recognition.

The messages rekindled memories of women’s many contributions which are often downplayed to the detriment of history, and children’s understanding of women’s strengths and resilience when faced with adversity.

“The play reflects how thousands of them kept homes intact when husbands were incarcerated and how they assumed leadership roles in society, the economy and also politics,” said event organiser Refiloe Pieterse.

“It highlights their organising of communities for resistance, the protest march to the Union Buildings in the 50s, torture in detention, and the psychological trauma they experienced in solitary confinement and on death row.”

Pieterse said these challenges led to some losing their lives for the democracy that everyone was now proud of, yet their roles in the liberation struggle continued to be downplayed. This she said in reference to the likes of Charlotte Maxeke, Idah Mtwana, Albertina Sisulu, Winnie Mandela, Ruth Mompati, Ruth First and Helen Joseph.

“Their history should be retold and retaught through performances and other platforms to ingrain it in children’s minds, and for society to change its mindset of women as not only the subservient lot, but also liberators.”

Pieterse cited the killing of miners in Marikana where widows of the deceased men were left to fend for their children. “The widows have been left to play both motherly and fatherly roles with scant resources.”

Pieterse urged the youth to always remember women’s role in society so that they could learn to appreciate and respect national and international days dedicated to women.

The show will feature at the Grahamstown Arts Festival workshops in July.

Details: Alex Youth in Action Ensemble 072 345 9975