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Onnest’bo

Grade Elevens and Twelves enjoyed a cultural treat on Tuesday, 25 February, and the Grades Eight, Nines and Tens on 11 March  when Magnet Theatre were invited to our school to present their production of Onnest’bo - a theatrical experience based on the themes of possession and dispossession.

With wonderfully creative and polished performances, dazzling energy and wit, these actors provided a window into a vibrant community which was shattered by "the pants" - the authoritive and terrifying figure representative of the security forces of the land.

The deliberate, detached and impersonal violence imposed upon the group whom we had laughed, loved and partied with was unforgettable.

But Magnet Theatre did not simply demand that we were witnesses of the devastation that was wrought on lovers, friends and communities in District Six: we as participating audience members were challenged to reflect on our role in this history.

The moral and sane questions, "Who made this mess?" and "Who did this?" had to be answered. And we, the audience, who had witnessed the destruction, were asked the simple question: "Did you sit and do nothing while they made this mess?" "Did you just sit here and watch?"

Having been put very firmly into the role of particpants in the creating of our history, we witnessed the jubilation and cynicism which resulted with the first democratic election and watched our friends return to rebuild a broken community. In this story, the community that emerges is a vibrant, colourful and creative one, and, perhaps, that is the responsibility that we are left with - the rebuilding of just that kind of community. But there were further challenges: there is the need to talk about our history and to prevent its ever happening again.

The thunderous applause received by this remarkable company was indicative of the way in which it was received by the Grade Elevens and Twelves. Audiences who are able to get to the performances of this remarkable show at the Cape Town Festival from 24-30 March would be doing themselves a favour.

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This page was last updated on 17 March 2003 02:09