Half of Youth Day might be over, but don’t feel like you’ve missed it all; there are still some events to join! Vloeibare Moed, a theatre production that addresses gender-based violence at Artscape Theatre, is on at 6.30pm tonight and is selling out fast.
About the production:
Vloeibare Moed is inspired by the events that took place after the gruesome death of student Uyinene Mrwetyana. This gripping production tackles difficult conversations around gender-based violence.
The show centres around the lives of four first-year university friends who are in turmoil after one of them becomes the main suspect following a crime committed on the university campus. The four friends are played by Lyle October (Sherwyn), Joshua Vraagom (Dean), Muranzo Thomas (Dillon) and Jaydon Williams (Randall). October will be making his debut, while the others are stars who are featured in local productions such as Noem My Skollie, Arendsvlei, Sara se Geheim and The Kingdom to name a few.
With the frightening statistics of gender-based violence in South Africa, production company Hartzenberg Films feels they need to continue the conversation about this social ill. A young, all-male cast shifts the narrative as it shines the spotlight on men’s response to gender-based violence, as described by IOL.
Tragic inspiration and a necessary conversations
In an interview with the Weekend Argus’s Keshia Africa, Enrico Hartzenberg explained what the production is about and the inspiration behind writing the play.
The 26-year-old said he was inspired to write Vloeibare Moed as a response to the murder of Uyinene. He was studying drama at the University of Cape Town at the time.
“I always channel my hurt onto paper. I started to write what I experienced and later finished the script (during) lockdown,” he said.
He added: “I remember Graça Machel saying we need to interrogate where these things stem from. I took it upon myself as a writer to interrogate what happens in my community and the conversations I hear around me.”
When asked why he chose an all-male cast, Hartzenberg said he wanted to shift the narrative and address men’s role in gender-based violence.
“Men are the main perpetrators of gender-based violence. Having four guys telling the story was intentional. I want to show what happens on the other side when a victim shares their story,” he said.
“This shows us interrogating what males are doing about it and sharing the conversations that they’re having.”
The male cast also explained how Vloeibare Moed opens necessary conversations around gender-based violence and how they felt affected by the play and their involvement in it.
Muranzo Thomas, who plays Dillon, expressed his hopes that the “audience would walk away from the play with something in mind”.
“The subject matter is very sensitive, but I think that the way we’re trying to convey how important it is to take accountability will impact someone,” he explained.
When asked about the rising rape statistics in South Africa, Joshua Vraagom, who plays Dean, said he feels ashamed.
“The main perpetrators are men. All of us are responsible for what happens,” he said.
Lyle October, who plays Sherwyn, added: “If it scares us as men, I can’t even imagine what women go through in this country. As men, we need to hold our friends accountable. If men can’t escape, how must women escape this in their lives?”
Jaydon Williams, who plays Randall, agreed with October, saying that without accountability, nothing will change.
“It comes through transparency. We need to look at who we’re hanging out with. Check yourself and check your friends,” he said.
Tickets to Vloeibare Moed cost R80 and are available on Computicket.
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Picture: @ArtscapeTheatre / Twitter
