SANDY HAZEL meets some of the cast of Bones - a stark excavation of modern-day South Africa, where hope and forgiveness survive amid revenge and retribution
AWARD-WINNING theatre company Calypso is producing the Irish premiere of Bones at the Samuel Beckett Theatre at Trinity College this week. A dark psychological drama set in present-day South Africa, Bones deals with secrets, lies and links to the past. In the words of its writer, Kay Adshead: “I had long wanted to write a play that looked at South Africa after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission had long gone.
How could they possibly reshape their world after the holocaust of apartheid?” Adshead feels that “the themes of forgiveness, redemption and regeneration still offer lessons to the 'first world' even in these days of retribution and bloody revenge.”
Directed by Bairbre Ní Chaoimh, reviews for Bones have generally been good; The Irish Independent said that “nobody should miss this flawless and mesmerising production”.
The Irish Times, however, ,claims that “Adshead's drama is neither convincing nor challenging”. According to cast member Gabriel Akujobi, the play is relevant in today's society as there is continuing strife all around us:
"Finding bones in shallow graves still happens and will still happen. It is what we do when we find these bones, how we deal with lives left behind as we say goodbye to the dead, that can shape us.
All cultures have their ways of praying and releasing souls. This play shows how those families and their culture use music and singing when praying together. It becomes an uplifting experience. The play is not about mourning but more about retribution, it's about getting proper ritual.”
Solomon Ijigade, a music teacher and the percussionist in the play, adds: “What happened in South Africa was so huge and families there are still living with the feeling of 'before and after apartheid'. It is good to reflect on the situation, to help people outside of South Africa understand." Winiswa Nxele, a member of Tower of Babel drama group, a Soweto Gospel choir singer and native Xhosa speaker, is a member of the chorus in Bones. She said,
“The audience reaction was great this first week. We had a standing ovation. On opening night we had many South Africans in the audience including the South African Ambassador and it was such a positive energy. As an actor it is a wonderful feeling."
Is the audience a mixture of blacks and whites? Akujobi responds by saying that theatre in Ireland is still an odd concept to many black immigrants. “Many traditional-type plays in Irish theatres are script-based, they use lots of words. African theatre uses more music and poetry to entertain. It is just a cultural thing, but there are changes in Irish theatre too which may encourage more diverse audiences to come to shows. Bones and Calypso Productions are a good example of these.”
So, will Ireland offer a big enough stage for future employment of Black and ethnic actors? Ijigade, who worked with Joe Legwabe, legendary South African musician and member of Ladysmith Black Mambaza in preparation for his role in Bones, says: "There is a lot of talent in Ireland today and that includes actors and musicians who are part of the new communities. Casting directors and programmers need to utilise this talent before they look abroad.”
Bones runs at The Samuel Beckett Theatre in Trinity College until Saturday 8 September.
