May 5, 2003
By Mandisi Majavu
"WAR - poetry in performance" aims to focus on the horrors endemic to all wars: "the maiming of bodies and minds, where truth is the first to bleed in the public relations of war," says Wits University School of Arts's Cathy Pisanti.
The School of Arts is organising the theatre production, directed by one of the lecturers from the school, Kgafela oa Magogodi. Apart from teaching, says Pisanti, Magogodi contributes to Y magazine and has been nominated for a Mondi award for his volume of poetry, called "Thy Condom Come".
This annual event, which started two years ago, is about, says Pisanti, "the staging of the spoken word; its power lies in the moment of performance - the aim being to make poetry a site for public discourse and not have it remain in the hands of academics."
The affair changes its theme every year - this year being: "War and the ravages thereof". In 2001 its theme was "See, Hear, Be …Touched By F***ing Poetry", and last year it was "Itchy City, city of Jozi".
Although the focus is not on any specific war, Pisanti believes the theme for this year is appropriate.
The audience can expect to be "assaulted" by 11 students with "percussive sounds, provocative headlines and contentious poetry" they have written. The running time is plus/minus one hour and 15 minutes with no interval. During this time, says Pisanti, "we are forced to confront, through words, highly choreographed gestures and subtle voice techniques, the collapse of social conventions in cities in turmoil with war as a personal encounter between man and his destiny".
In addition, she says, as always, tribute is paid to a poet of note - this year being Amiri Baraka, an African-American poet. His famous poem "Somebody Blew Up America" will be "sampled".
The event runs in the Wits Amphitheatre from 19 to 24 May. Tickets cost R20 at the door, R15 for students, scholars, pensioners and block bookings. Booking is also available through Computicket.
