Transvaal - Kucheza Festival

TRANS/VAAL" is a poignant and powerful theatrical production that delves into the complexities of identity, self-discovery, and the human experience. Written and choreographed by Ignatius van Heerden, this Afrikaans-language dance theatre is a deeply personal and relatable exploration of what it means to be true to oneself, particularly in the context of transgender identity in 1980s South Africa, specifically for the Afrikaner young man. The production follows the journey of a young boy growing up in a rural Transvaal town, as he navigates the challenges of adolescence and grapples with his own identity.
 

Through a series of poignant and often humorous vignettes, the boy shares his story of self-discovery, from his early experiences of feeling like an outsider to his eventual acceptance of his true self as a transgender individual.

Throughout the production, the boy’s story is interwoven with themes of identity, community, and the search for belonging. With sensitivity and nuance, the play explores the complexities of growing up queer in a small town, where traditional norms and expectations can be suffocating. The production sheds light on the experiences of transgender individuals living behind the "boeregordyn" (the Afrikaans term for the conservative, patriarchal culture of rural South Africa).

Genre: Dance theatre
Age Restriction: 14+