Award-winning actress, Rehane Abrahams in Brandbaar. PHOTO CREDIT: Womb of Fire- The Play on Facebook.
The one-woman play, Womb of Fire, which returned to the recent Toyota US Woordfees in its newly translated Afrikaans version, Brandbaar, aimed to heal SA’s past traumas through storytelling.
The play addressed themes of slavery, colonialism, religion, patriarchy and violence, through showcasing the power and resistance of the female body.
Playwright and actress, Rehane Abrahams, believes that addressing South African issues through storytelling can lead to the nation’s healing.
“It has to be dealt with. We as a country need to confront these issues so that SA can heal,” said Abrahams.
Abrahams plays the roles of Draupadi (a character from an ancient Indian Sanskrit epic), Grote Katrijn (the Cape’s first bandit slave) and Zara (a Khoi slave), as they navigate themselves against a male dominated society.
The play was inspired by Indian writer and activist, Mahasweta Devi’s feminist version of Draupadi, along with Pumla Dineo Gqola’s book, Rape: A South African Nightmare, said Dr. Sara Matchett, director of Brandbaar.
According to Kaulana Williams, an audience member, it is important to tell stories that deal with South African history and early Cape history, especially for people of mixed heritage.
“It is very difficult material, but it is intelligently explored in Brandbaar,” said Williams.
During Woordfees 2018, Womb of Fire won in the categories for Best Play, Best Director and Best Actress.
– Megan Muller