(Reviews from the artSMart team currently in Grahamstown
at the 2015 National Arts Festival)
A performance that will touch the hearts of many. (Review by
Khinali Bagwandeen)
A performance that will touch the hearts of many recently
opened at the Victoria Theatre as a part of the main arena programme during
this year’s National Arts Festival. I
Have Life- Allison’s Journey, a stage adaptation of the well-known story of
Allison Botha, a local from Port Elizabeth who was inhumanly raped and had to
fight the chance of death.
The performance is essentially based on the bestselling
novel that Botha published after overcoming the hardships she faced after her
attack. Suanne Braun gives an outstanding performance playing the part of
Alison. She maintained an emotional connection with the audience from start to
end and managed to embody the character of a victim turning into an inspiration
in an uplifting and convincing way.
Director Maralin Vanrenen created a sense of discomfort by
taking the audience through a step-by-step journey including the thoughts and
emotions gushing through Alison’s head. The themes of the play challenge the
common misconceptions that society possesses about rape and taps into how
ignorant the world can be whilst victims go through severe mental changes.
With some interjections of humour together with the
intensity of certain scenes, I Have Life
is a thought-provoking and riveting play. The inspiration of this story speaks
a million words, and the determination of Alison carried through the character
to transform from victim to victor is exceptional.
This play will assist in inspiring and creating a platform
for many of its kind. As the purpose of Alison Botha was to try and encourage
other women to take the good out of a bad situation, this performance will do
the same.
I Have Life- Alison’s
Journey has two more performances at the Victoria Theatre on July 4 at 14h00
and 18h00. - Khinali Bagwandeen
For more information
on the National Arts Festival click on the banner advert at the top of this
page or visit www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
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