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Youth in Dialogue - Nelson Mandela Foundation

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Us<strong>in</strong>g Arts to Mobilise<br />

Communities<br />

Interview with Hecate Productions<br />

Khululeka (Be Free)<br />

is based on the<br />

real-life stories<br />

of people who have<br />

lived with HIV/AIDS.<br />

The play is hard-hitt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

yet humorous, weav<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> the contemporary<br />

rhythms of life <strong>in</strong> South<br />

Africa while attack<strong>in</strong>g<br />

common myths and misconceptions<br />

about the<br />

pandemic. It is produced<br />

by theatre company Viva<br />

Hecate, and was staged<br />

at all n<strong>in</strong>e of the prov<strong>in</strong>cial<br />

dialogues, kick<strong>in</strong>g<br />

off the discussion<br />

at each.<br />

Richard Frank spoke to<br />

actors Daniel de Lange, Bathabile<br />

Mashego and Ronny<br />

Maputa, and producer Yvonne<br />

Kershaw, one of several Hecate<br />

teams perform<strong>in</strong>g around the<br />

country.<br />

Richard<br />

Where does this play come<br />

from<br />

Daniel<br />

It was written by an actor<br />

called David James. He <strong>in</strong>terviewed<br />

people who are HIVpositive<br />

and created these<br />

sketches, and then wove it all<br />

together.<br />

Richard<br />

So they’re true stories<br />

Hecate Productions perform<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the <strong>Youth</strong> Community <strong>Dialogue</strong>s.<br />

Yvonne<br />

They’re based on stories of<br />

people liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> South Africa<br />

who are HIV-positive.<br />

Richard<br />

Bathabile, is this your first<br />

HIV/AIDS play<br />

Bathabile<br />

This was the second time play<strong>in</strong>g<br />

an HIV-positive person. The<br />

first time was on a soap opera.<br />

Richard<br />

Do you ever get looked at differently<br />

because you play <strong>in</strong> an<br />

HIV-positive role<br />

Bathabile<br />

I hear that it happens, but it<br />

hasn’t happened to me. There<br />

was just this one time <strong>in</strong> Durban<br />

where after the show<br />

people came to us and gave us<br />

hugs, [say<strong>in</strong>g], “Oh, you’re so<br />

brave.” And you can’t exactly<br />

say, “no, no, but”, because then<br />

it defeats the purpose, and also<br />

it breaks the stigma, so if people<br />

th<strong>in</strong>k that, then it’s okay.<br />

Daniel<br />

What we say to them is, we’re<br />

not HIV-positive, but if we<br />

were, we would look exactly<br />

like this. If we’re manag<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the disease we could still look<br />

healthy and handsome!<br />

Richard<br />

And Daniel, what have you<br />

been <strong>in</strong>volved with<br />

Daniel<br />

I’ve done a lot of direct<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

educational theatre and for<br />

<strong>in</strong>dustrial and corporate<br />

theatre, and have been work<strong>in</strong>g<br />

for this company Viva<br />

Hecate for three years now, so<br />

I’ve been with this play from<br />

when it started.<br />

This play has been<br />

YOUTH IN DIALOGUE 55

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