I am play praises GBV awreness
| Monday December 4, 2017 16:07
The play was about how women and the girl child are affected psychologically and mentally by societal norms, societal pressures, notion of woman hood and betrayal.
It was based on two women; Kgomotso (in her 40s) and Lolo (in her 20s). Kgomotso was Lolo’s step mother and although they lived together, they did not talk nor communicate to each other. They were resentful of each other. Kgomotso was married to Lolo’s father for 10 years, but they never had a child. Her in-laws labelled her barren and the blame was put on her as a woman for not giving her husband children. She always sensed that the society including her colleagues, friends, were passing remarks about her, especially at social events. This made her angry and frustrated. After the husband passed away, she realised that he was infertile. When he got sick, Kgomotso discovered the truth from a letter he wrote explaining everything. She kept the secret to herself and hated Lolo even more.
Lolo grew up as a piqued child because she lacked the love of a real mother. Her biological mother passed away when she was still a baby. A woman who didn’t want her then raised her.
Lolo resorted to cutting herself trying to replace emotional pain with physical pain, until one day her stepmother found her unconscious, with blood on the floor. She was scared. When Lolo woke up they talked about their differences for the first time in so many years. They opened up about their frustrations and realised that they were having the same problems. They agreed to communicate more often and vowed to become better mother and daughter.
The story line was basically intended to raise awareness that there was more to violence than just physical and sexual abuses.
The art director of Women In Arts (WIA) Neelo Lentebanye directed the play. The actresses are founders of House of Comfort, Kgomotso Ratsie and Lolo Koosaletse.