BRIGHTON FESTIVAL reviewsFOREIGN AIDS
In his one-man, multiple-personality show, Pieter Dirk Uys wryly remarks that his most famous creation, apartheid-yearning Evita Bezuidenhout, has been called South Africa's answer to Dame Edna. "What's the question?" he wonders. Indeed. Whereas Barry Humphries is frothy, sexual innuendo, Dirk Uys is scathing, campaigning political satire. 'Foreign Aids' is a remarkable tour-de-force offering an insight into the complexities (and complexes) that make up South Africa's Aids experience. (An experience that has reached horrific proportions at this point in time.) One minute Dirk Uys reveals the incompetence and hypocrisy of President Thabo Mbeki's dissident view of HIV: "My mind is made up," he exclaims as Dr Thaboo MacBeki, "Do not confuse me with the facts." Then there's Evita's scandalous sister, an ex-stripper with HIV who inadvertently married a Nazi and comes to London for her antiretrovirals. "Racism," she muses, "is easier to catch than Aids."
Pieter Dirk Uys should return to the UK next year. For more details contact UK Arts International on 020 7381 4115 or visit: www.evita.co.za/pieter HAPPYEdwin J Bernard reviews Ronnie Burkett's latest puppet show at Gardner Arts Centre, Brighton, 22-25 May
Mind-blowing plot twists take us through every conceivable feeling. Like Street of Blood, Burkett's agenda is both satirical and cathartic; ironic that such inanimate objects can be so life-affirming. Happy is now retired, but miss his new show, Provenance, next year at your peril. (At the Barbican, London and as part of Manchester's Queen Up North festival in the spring.) For more details, visit Burkett's agent's website at: www.johnlambert.ca |
Sunil Gupta, exhibition at John Hansard Gallery, Southampton, until 26 July. Admission free, open Tues-Fri 11-pm, Sat 11-4pm. Tel 023 8059 2158.
Sunil's new work is currently showcasing in a solo exhibition at Southampton's John Hansard Gallery and includes some lavish new juxtaposition pieces that bring into sharper context the artist's fascination with his Indian, gay and HIV positive identity. Eastern landscape meets London urban streetscene. Sunil continues his depiction of the London-Asian homeland and HIV experience that define his visual sense of dislocated relationships and places. The pieces incorporate photo-text, montage, and archival dyes on rag pager.
Hansard Gallery: tel 023 8059 2158. Email: info@hansardgallery.org.uk
THIS IMAGINARY WOMANA post-modern requiem/cabaret about illness, death and memories. Showing next at Edinburgh Film Festival, The Underbelly (Venue 61) on Tues-Sat 18:15 hrs on 31 July-24 August.
Originally inspired by the works of artists such as Laurie Anderson, Patti Smith and Diamanda Galas, and as an inter-arts collaboration and research project, the play centres on the existence of some lost/fictional diaries. We are presented with the story of a nameless daughter celebrating her nameless mother's life. "She died twice", the daughter says describing her mother's life after being diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis; memories of a death coming from within, of life showing no compassion and fading away, depending on others to keep her dignity. Dying by theft of her autonomy and control over her own body and mind. The show mixes song and spoken word in a cabaret-style format, and the intensity of the songs especially and feelings they portray reveal a contemporary take on the Kurt Weill tradition. But be warned...this is far from being a feel-good show, despite the hints of subtle and elegant humour. However, being witness to this free public display of intense feelings (usually kept private and frequently repressed) is undeniably cathartic. Seeing these universal emotions towards death leaves no one out of the loop. This Imaginary Woman is a challenge to its audience. Making the point that quality of life is possible for those affected by a terminal disease, and that this is also an urgent need for everyone to address. After London's Battersea Arts Centre, the production travels to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival. Jorge Balça More details from www.volcanotheatre.co.uk and www.edfringe.com. Metro Box Office: 0131 226 0000. |
Contemporary African art, music, and poetry at Stone bar/lounge, 201 Liverpool Road, Islington on Sunday 13 July, 4.30-11pm. £5.
Inspired by Africa, Narrativiti is the second art event in a series to raise awareness of HIV in the black community. The exhibition is organised by itinerant writer and photographer, Shaun Wallace (ex-fashion designer) whose photographs are included at the show. The evening also features the work of talented graphic designer/illustrator Jimmy Turrell, and skin jewellery designer J Maskrey - beloved by Kylie Minogue and Janet Jackson - has designed a jewelled limited edition 'Rainbow Ribbon' brooch, which will be on sale (£25).
Poetry and African drumming accompanies the art show/sale. Supported by the Terrence Higgins trust, Narrativiti hopes to establish itself as an annual multi-media event, showcasing the work of up-and-coming musicians, artists and designers who support increased awareness around HIV/Aids. Information will be available on the night. The event is part of Wallace's awareness/fundraising initiative, Each One Treat One.
If you are an artist or designer wishing to take part, contact Shaun Wallace: shaunart@onetel.net.uk or 07743108454/ 0207 419 0382. Website: www.contemporaryafricanart.net [click 'Home' then fine arts/prints].
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Edwin J Bernard reviews Pieter Dirk-Uys' one-man show at Theatre Royal, Brighton, 18 May 
In between constructing and deconstructing his characters on a bare stage filled with boxes of empty foreign aid bound for SA, Dirk Uys tells achingly funny, and astutely sobering, stories of real-life experiences promoting HIV awareness in his home country. At the same time he addresses the South African parliament with a condom-covered dildo and describes visits to more than 160 schools with a shocking, but necessarily frank, show about safer sex called 'For Facts' Sake'. While some have criticised his show for making light of tragedy, Dirk Uys firmly believes that "humour is a great weapon. I aim to make people laugh at their prejudices and confront their fears." Bullseye.
Ronnie Burkett's Theatre of Marionettes worked another miracle with the final production of his 'Memory Dress Trilogy', Happy, which closed the Brighton Festival in May. Canadian-born Burkett is less a puppeteer, more a playwright-illusionist, able to express deeply moving emotions and radical ideas through the magic of marionettes. Individually his skills, as puppet-maker, set-designer, writer, and performer, are remarkable, but together they are unique. Last year's Street of Blood had an Aids theme, and Happy is about death, loss and grieving. Sounds like fun, you say?
Well, in Burkett's hands (literally) it's a remarkably rich, emotionally satisfying - and yes comic - experience. Young poet Carla unexpectedly loses her hip, cool Drew. As she and her oddball, aged neighbours deal with the loss, camp Antoine Marionette, queen of the bitchy one-liner, emcees the Grey Cabaret which mirrors Carla's five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance.
This Imaginary Woman is a coherent and poignant piece of devised musical theatre with very little resemblance to the sumptuous light entertainment London's West End offers. Fern Smith of the Swansea-based Volcano Theatre Company, delights and sometimes slaps the audience with her rich and powerful performance of original text and music.