Searing Play About Gender Equality, CHAPTER 2 SECTION 9, Comes to the Baxter

The Johannesburg-based Sibikwa Arts Centre is back in Cape Town after five years to perform their latest production CHAPTER 2 SECTION 9, directed by Phyllis Klotz, at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio. The ground-breaking play premiered at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown last year, where it scooped an Ovation Award, followed by hugely successful runs at the 969 Festival, Wits University, the POPArt Theatre and the Vavasati Women's Festival, all to critical acclaim.

CHAPTER 2 SECTION 9 refers to that section of South Africa's constitution guaranteeing the right to gender equality and sexual orientation, which reads:

The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, sex, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.

This gave rise to the tagline used to describe the play: 'Supported by the Constitution, Betrayed by the World.' Corrective rape, so coined as to "cure lesbians", is on the rise in South Africa. Theatre has been internationally recognised as a perfect vehicle for change, LGBTIQ education is fundamental to overcome widely accepted prejudice and a play such as CHAPTER 2 SECTION 9 addresses these issues, places them in the community, family or school, makes them real, tangible and ultimately acceptable.

This is a homecoming for Cape Town-born, University of Cape Town graduate Phyllis Klotz, artistic director and co-founder of the Sibikwa Arts Centre. She has always been at the forefront of highlighting woman's issues through performance. She enters into a meaningful engagement with the phenomenon of sexual violence against gender-non-conforming women in South Africa. She says:

Theatre is a lived experience - it touches the audience both emotionally and intellectually. With the development of CHAPTER 2 SECTION 9, this becomes particularly relevant because the stories are shared by the four performers and it feels as if the audience is part of the experience. It feels immediate and real and I think that this has been a fundamental part of its success so far. It is also an important advocacy instrument.

The inclusion of the equality act in the Constitution was globally seen as a victory for the LGBTIQ people. However, despite these progressive laws they are still unfairly discriminated against, too often manifesting itself in the form of violent crimes which include rape and murder.

Klotz worked at the Community Arts Project in Woodstock, started the now-defunct New Africa Theatre with Professor Mavis Taylor and the Young People's Theatre Education Trust. Her work includes WATHINT' ABAFAZI, WATHINT' IMBOKODO (YOU STRIKE THE WOMAN, YOU STRIKE THE ROCK), UHAMBO and KWELA BAFANA. In 2005, she received the Naledi Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to the arts in South Africa.

CHAPTER 2 SECTION 9 is based on interviews with more than forty lesbian women, their families, perpetrators and police officers in order to get their view and understanding of hate-crime. These personal stories, sometimes funny, sometimes sad, interwoven with music, bring a clear message that LGBTIQ persons are still vulnerable to violence and discrimination contrary to the values of our constitution. The characters' text is taken integrally from the interview transcripts.

The cast is made up of Ayanda Rose Fali, Khanyisa Nanase, Tsholofelo Ross and Ayanda Sibisi, two of whom trained at Sibikwa, and they are accompanied by Isaac Molelekoa, a young musician who composed the original music for the play. Set and costumes are by the award-winning Sarah Roberts, with lighting by Stan Knight, research and interviews by Collen Mfazwe and Janneke Strijdonk-Xulu and translations by Smal Ndaba.

CHAPTER 2 SECTION 9 previews at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio on 28 February and 1 March, opens on 2 March and runs until 11 March at 19:30, with schools matinees on 2 and 9 March at 11:00 and public matinees on Saturdays 4 and 11 March at 15:00. There is an age restriction of 16 years. Ticket prices range from R120 to R150 and booking is online through Computicket, by phone on 0861 915 8000 or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet.

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