Lesbianism in townships under spotlight

A production about the plight of lesbians who live in townships is taken to the stage after showing at a number of successful festivals.

From the National Arts Festival (Naf) held annually in Grahamstown, to Wits’ 969 Festival which takes place after Naf each year, and now to POP Art in Maboneng, Chapter 2 Section 9 is a play that has traversed the country and has been dubbed a must-see by local critics.

Referring to Chapter 2, Section 9 in the South Africa Constitution, which details the freedom of the country’s citizen’s, the play too tackles the lack of freedom and hate crimes experienced by lesbian women living in the township where their sexual orientation is not accepted by the community.

“The dreadful anecdotes of gang rape and murder that black lesbians have suffered in the name of their being different from society are stories with horrible endings that have tragically become predictable in the trajectory, which has been told over and over again,” said theatre critic Robyn Sassen.

“Only the victims’ names and faces differ. And yet, the tales in this play are told with a burning bluntness and a frankness that is utterly electric, and at no point in this 90-minute show can you pull your attention from this work.”

The production, with its storyline stemming from research conducted by Collen Mfazwe and Janneke Strijdonk-Xulu, shows the harrowing stories of black lesbian South Africans and is sure to capture the attention of the audience with each traumatic experience, hateful prejudice and fear faced by the storytellers and actors.

Performed by Ayanda Sibisi, Ayanda Falli, Tsholofelo Ross, Khanyisa Nanase and edited by Phyllis Klotz, the show received the coveted Standard Bank Ovation Award at Naf 2016 and challenges perceptions of what is considered normal in traditional communities.

Catch Chapter 2 Section 9 at POP Art from 11 to 14 August.

Details: popartcentre.co.za