TARYN NIGHTINGALE
Two dynamic young artists, Kim Blanché Adonis and Daniel Mpilo Richards, have teamed up for a show that blows the lid off one of the most pertinent issues in South Africa - gender-based violence (GBV).
According to the violence prevention online knowledge hub, Saferspaces.org, GBV is the term used “to capture violence that occurs as a result of the normative role expectations associated with each gender, along with the unequal power relationships between ... genders, within the context of a specific society."
A report published by Lancet Psychiatry earlier this year stated that globally, 27% of women and girls aged fifteen and older have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence. In South Africa, this figure is a disturbing 33% or even up to 50%.
But that is only one statistic, says multi-talented actress Adonis, who stars in the hard-hitting, yet satirical show, He Had It Coming. GBV is an insidious issue and it starts with men’s attitudes to women - and these are not always that obvious.
The show, written by South African theatre stalwart Mike Van Graan, is a collection of sketches and poems that tackle contemporary themes which remain legacy issues for women, such as harassment in the workplace, abortion, and domestic violence. "Our country is a mess and this piece allows the audience not only some catharsis on dense problems but also provides a catalyst that provokes discussion and debate," said Van Graan.
Although the show addresses women’s issues, it’s one that both women and men must see.
Adonis said she's witnessed how previous runs of the piece have allowed women to realise GBV affects them, and that anyone who feels isolated need not be. “Women often feel shame and guilt around these issues and don’t speak about them, fearing their friends and family will judge them. After the show, women often come to me and share their stories of abuse and/or trauma."
Visionary director Richards said directing the show challenged him to address his consciousness around how women were treated and seen. “GBV and the attitudes underpinning it are a collective concern," he says. “I don’t want to be the preachy man, because I’m not perfect at all, but this work is important because it pushes men to ask themselves, can I be brave enough to question my own toxicity because I exist within the collective consciousness of South African men and men in general?”
He Had it Coming, tackles a pandemic of a different kind and yet, equally problematic in South Africa, said The Baxter’s marketing manager, Fahiem Stellenboom.
“The history of success with theatre luminaries Van Graan and Richards, who take on difficult social issues, through satire, is well-documented. We look forward to this latest instalment with Kim Adonis,” he added
Van Graan said the work has much potential to be used as a tool to educate, not only theatre audiences but the minds of young men at school.
Adonis and Richards didn't know that meeting at a random photo shoot in 2017 would lead to them creatively, and quite vulnerably, tackling such weighty issues. The pair say they are passionate about this work reaching as many corners as possible — students, NPOs and NGOs, disadvantaged communities, and people of colour. “We must create more spaces for people who look like me to do the work necessary to address these issues,” said Adonis.
He Had It Coming runs at the Golden Arrow Studio at the Baxter until December 10. Book tickets at the Baxter online or on WebTickets.