Gripping play tackles abuse

ACTOR, playwright and director Monde Wani has partnered with General Motors to present a hard-hitting production on domestic violence.

Wani and his wife, Nomsa, performed their untitled industrial theatre production this week at the launch of the initiative funded by GM South Africa.

The programme forms part of Women's Month and preparations for the 16 Days of Activism in November.

Wani said: "It is very important to create a production based on domestic violence.

"We want to go out and make people aware that there is help. We believe in the power of theatre because people are able to feel and experience [the emotions]."

The domestic violence play will be staged in collaboration with other organisations involved in family and domestic abuse. This initiative will be carried out through Wani's production company, Total Solutions, and will soon be performed in malls across the metro in a flash-mob style.

GM benefits and services manager Malaine Hop Hing said: "Domestic violence is a problem which extends across all communities.

"At GM we wanted to extend our internal programme and that's why we partnered Total Solutions to draw awareness to women and child abuse. The theatre production has a real impact on people."

Not digressing from their usual comedic style, Wani and Nomsa had the audience giggling but the atmosphere changed when the abusive elements of the play were portrayed.

The abuse depicted started with psychological and emotional elements and eventually escalated to physical abuse.

Psychologist at the Mount Road Police Station Letitia Jacobs said: "The play portrayed the reality out there.

"People forget that police officers are also part of the community with a normal family life. Domestic violence is something to which our own police officers are vulnerable."

Regional Child Welfare social worker Pearl Blecher applauded the initiative. She is to look into ways of getting all Child Welfare offices involved.