Frightening reality
ARE men doing enough to tackle the scourge of violence against women and children? #JustMen calls for men to unite and take a stand. It has its premiere at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio, for from June 13 to June 30 , at 7.30pm nightly.
With the worldwide outbreak of the #MeToo disclosures, which has seen countless women break the silence on sexual harassment and assault, it has been a long time coming for men to take collective ownership of what is, at its core, a man’s issue.
The frequent cases of abuse, rape and murder perpetrated against children and women in South Africa and other countries, have reached explosive and unacceptable proportions.
#JustMen is an attempt to heed the critical need for action to change this frightening reality as it tackles the problem head-on. This flagship new production, made possible through funding from the City of Cape Town, is a clarion call to address the issue.
Directed by Heinrich Reisenhofer (Joe Barber, Suip!), the dynamic cast is made up of Loukmaan Adams (Aunty Merle, The Musical, Kat and the Kings), Thando Doni (Ityala Lamawele, Ubuze Bam), Sherman Pharo (Suidooster, Vinkel en Koljander) and Johan Baird (7de Laan, Generations).
They have devised the play through a rigorous workshop process spanning four weeks of research and rehearsals.
The production is a multi-lingual, docudrama for men, about men, performed by South African men who tell their stories and take a stand against the epidemic of gender violence.
Baxter chief executive and artistic director Lara Foot says: “It has become evident that the magnitude of this problem can no longer be ignored.
“We have brought about this production to instigate change. We would like to invite all men, and especially leaders, captains of industries, managers and staff in business, government, organisations, academia, sport and all sectors, to come and see and support this vital work. The need to start open discussions, take ownership and outlaw this horrific scourge, has become urgent.”
As director Reisenhofer explains: “This is a very personal project for me about bringing healing and transformation into the theatre space and engaging a brave and vulnerable conversation about men taking responsibility, not just for the men we want to be, but the kind of world we want to be part of.
“It is inspired by the remarkable work of programmes such as the Mankind Project and Imbadu Men’s Project that asks the question: what do we as men need to address, among men, to transform these issues?”
For the past seven years Reisenhofer’s personal journey has taken him into the arena of healing and personal transformation work where he has been training and working as a coach and facilitator.
In his coaching he specialises in shame and shadow work guiding participants to forgive, break the old patterns of behaviour and take charge of their biographical storytelling; it’s all about learning to heal one’s narrative.
l#Book at Webtickets or selected Pick n Pay stores. For discounted group or block bookings contact Leon van Zyl on 021 680 3972 or e-mail him at leon.vanzyl@uct.ac.za. There is an age restriction of 16.