Conceived and directed by Michael Lessac, the docu-drama ‘Truth in Translation' revolves around the interpreted testimonies of people in South Africa who had committed atrocities during the Apartheid era. During this time, no faction in the country was immune from human rights abuses and violence, and in an extraordinary experiment in forgiveness a unique commission was set up in 1996 - the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission.
Presided over by Archibishop Desmond Tutu, the Commission was empowered to grant amnesty to those who had committed the abuses during the apartheid era - which included representatives of the then Government and the African National Congress. Out of 7,112 petitioners only 849 were ultimately granted amnesty and in October l998, the Commission presented its report, which condemned both sides for committing atrocities.
In this production we hear harrowing stories from both victims and perpetrators, as told through the eyes of the interpreters. There are eleven official languages in South Africa and throughout the play the interpreters constantly juxtapose stories told in the variety of languages. Sometimes though, when the dialogue is interspersed at such a rapid rate, it is difficult at times to understand what is being said.
Music is an integral part of South African life and one of South Africa's most accomplished musicians, Hugh Masekela, has composed the music for Truth in Translation which blends in like water flowing down a stream. When the cast sing in harmony, it is quite exquisite.
An ambitious project, Truth in Translation was first performed last year in Rwanda and is going to continue to be performed in conflict zones in an attempt to answer the question posed by Archbishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela - "can we forgive the past to survive the future?"
To forgive those who have murdered loved ones in cold blood is a very difficult thing to do but at least for many victims of the atrocities, the fact that they were able to voice their pain at the TRC's hearings, has acted as a cleansing process. Forgiveness, however, may take longer.
Time: 2pm, 24, 25, 26 August