After Nines was an applied theatre* script based on personal and collected testimony and oral history. I facilitated a collaborative research/development and writing process, trained and directed the storytellers and edited and wrote the final script. This community enagement initiative was done to brief for the South African Gay and Lesbian Memory in Action Archive (GALA) and presented in Johannebsurg, Amsterdam and Sydney. *Applied theatre refers to the use of theatre practices outside of traditional settings and conventions.
"Act One.
Scene One.
The family sit in the lounge. Phillimon (Father), Beauty (Mother), MamQwati (Grandmother) and Lebo (Daughter). Lilly is a spirit and is not seen by the family. The first beat is sung.
Lilly
Last Friday night at the Khumalo household.
Beauty
The dishes are cleared and I can put up my feet
The week is done, time for a treat.
No books to mark, no noisy schoolchildren to teach
Just me and my happy family.
Phillimon
Friday night, my shop is locked up
Sometimes I long for the old days when I was free
A drink with the boys, chase a few skirts
Ag but that's life I guess
Happy, cosy and safely at home with my family
MamQwathi
MamQwathi that's me
At my age you are allowed to sleep in front of the TV
(A chorus of snores and mumbles)
Lebo
I have to tell them tonight
I know they'll get a fright
But what time will ever be right
I have to tell them tonight
The people who love me must know the real me
Lebo
Mom, Dad, Granny. I have something to tell you. I'm gay.
Lilly
That was last Friday. The Khumalo household hasn't been the same since. They took her to one sangoma who said she can lift this "curse" for a lot of extra money, then to another who said there's nothing wrong with Lebo and she wouldn't take any money at all. This morning it all blew up.
Phillimon
Are you a man in this house, do I have to pay lebola?
MamQwathi
She's a woman who's a man who loves woman?
Phillimon
Where do you get this nonsense. It's from these white schools. I'm taking you out.
Beauty
You can't. It's a phase, be gentle on the child
Philly
This is my house, and in my house you follow the Khumalo law.
MamQwathi
Beauty, Beauty. Talk to your husband
Philly
I've already paid my lebola and everybody must obey my laws. Khumalo. That's me. If there's a problem, I sort it out.
MamQwathi
If you go out and get drunk and leave the problem here, who do you think is going to sort that problem out?
Beauty
Tell him mama. Tell him mama.
Philly
There is another man in this house. He must get out and make his own way in the world. This is my house and I make the rules. Lebo. Lebo. Out. Pack your bags and go.