Kasi Stories: Stories
not Often Told has one performance in Pietermaritzburg on April 28.
It tells of Xola and Thabo's friendship. We see the two
young men at different stages of their lives through the play. As the boys move
further apart economically it's their shared reality of failed fatherhood which
both holds their friendship together and threatens to tear it apart. Kasi Stories asks pertinent questions
about the failure of the father figure in the South African context.
This project is the brainchild of theatre maker Benjamin
Bell, after participating in several regional schools festivals in 2015 in
South Africa, Bell was shocked to see how little representation there is on
stage of the realities of the lived experiences of many young black men.
“The black young poor man is painted with the heaviest of
brushes as the villain, the criminal, the rapist, the idle and the
untrustworthy. The bad rap this substantial group of the population receives
from the media works to reinforce these crudely drawn stereotypes. By negatively
reinforcing these half-truths and whole lies, the young black male gets
forgotten---but what is his story? Let us not dictate to him, let us not ignore
him until it's too late. This project aims to give a voice to the so often
voiceless, let us listen, let us engage, let us activate and forge new
narratives,” he says.
Ben has collaborated with two young black actors in an
intense immersive rehearsal process over a three month period to present Kasi Stories:Stories Not Often Told
which will have one performance on April 28 at 18h00 at the Hexagon Theatre on
the UKZN Pietermaritzburg campus. Tickets R60 at the door.
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