Theatre Review: High Heels with Balls by Thabiso Radebe

The riveting Thabiso Radebe

High Heels with Balls

– a play written and directed by DUT drama graduate Thabiso Radebe.

 

Watching this play was an incredibly emotional experience for me. Knowing the writer/actor Thabiso personally, it struck a chord and resonated deeply within. The sweet lady to my left sobbed quietly the entire play, as emotions overwhelmed her. I found myself sitting with arms folded – protecting myself psychologically from what I was hearing, seeing, feeling. I had to stop myself from looking at the content through an entire lifetime's worth of ideas and conceived notions. The end result was that the character remained with me for days afterwards, I wanted to help him. Reassure him. I felt for him. I was moved, and felt inspired to make a greater effort to love and accept each person I meet, regardless of their gender, sexual preference or religious background.

 

Thabiso portrays the young man – a time hardened gay prostitute at the end of his proverbial rope. The play explores his longing for acceptance, his desire for real love and the strangle-hold that his deceased mother's memory has over him. The use of drugs and alchohol play a part in his demise, and throughout the play an artist (Mgcini Mthupha) stands bound with cord, painting scenes from the character's life, while voice artist and Zulu poet (Nomandla Mchunu) provides the sumptuous vocal backdrop to each scene, whether as the ticking of time, the voice of the past or as the deranged mind of a desperate young man.

 

Congratulations Thabiso. You have taken a dream and made it a reality. A taboo subject that needs a "reality check" - I wish you all the best.

The next performance of this ground breaking drama:

HIGH HEELS WITH BALLS

DUT COARTYARD THEATRE

Wednesday 18 April 2012

12H00 NOON

Entry is FREE

Sandy Bigara

Picture taken from the artist's Facebook Profile.