Remembering Reza

The Rhodes University drama department’s 2013 graduation production Drifting is an intimate scope into the life and works of the late Reza de Wet. “We have chosen to borrow the ethereal and mysterious quality her work possessed, along with responses from our senior post-graduates and much of the drama department staff,” says director Rob Murray.

Part of the large team collaborating to conceptualise Drifting, Murray regards De Wet as an inspiration who helped him hone his own writing and devising craft through on Honours Creative Writing class she taught.

Students responded both in written and verbal form to create the tribute, providing most of the body of the final piece. In essence, they are drifting through her work.

Through this contemporary framework the cast has employed the genre of magic realism, which was central to the style evident in De Wet’s works.

“We didn’t want to make a variety show that amalgamated her works,” Murray explained, “but rather to create a dream world that she would approve of and into which the audience can escape. It’s our way of giving tribute and saying goodbye to her memory”.

De Wet, who passed away in January last year, is an iconic playwright and a major inspirational figure for drama at the university and South African theatre as a whole.

“I remember perfectly her parking her sunshine-yellow MG sports car outside the department,” Murray reminisced, “and rushing in with her bonnet on to come and lecture. She was definitely an identifiable and integral Grahamstown character”.

De Wet’s works such as Mirakel, Drif and her former collaborations with First Physical Theatre Company The Unspeakable Story and Dialogue have greatly informed the piece, Murray said.

He advises parental guidance for some strong language and strong mood.

The ticket sales for the graduation performances will go towards the Reza De Wet Post Graduate Bursary, which is awarded to promising drama students.

“The Rhodes drama department is known for their collaborations,” said Murray, “and this is a huge one. People should come to pay tribute to her memory and watch a beautiful and a visually provocative piece”.

For more information contact the department administrator Robert Haxton at r.haxton@ru.ac.za.