Theatre: Boklied
11 October at 16:00
Open Window Filmstudio
Written by the beloved poet Breyten Breytenbach, Boklied takes the audience on an underworldly journey of commentary on themes of power and the significance of poets in society.
The undertones of surveillance were established even before the play started. On stage, a warden was patrolling what appeared to be a jail cell while audience members were still finding their seats. This sparked an immediate sense of anticipation.
The main character, President Maker, is a playwright who leads a group of exiled poets. They have to perform a ritual that requires a blood sacrifice as outlined in the book of Boklied.
Boklied is a theatre production that was shown at the Open Window Filmstudio on 11 October. President Maker, played by De Klerk Oelofse, leads a cast of exiled poets in a ritual outlined in the book of Boklied. PHOTO: Supplied/Llewellyn de Wet
The poets who have chosen to be citizens of the Land of Poetry are living in exile in an underworld and have dedicated their lives to the dictates of the book of Boklied.
On stage, there are many unoccupied seats, some with skeletons, giving the audience the sense that there were more poets before. The idea of poets only being appreciated after death illustrates the perceived need for a blood sacrifice.
The monologues consist of poets sharing their experiences of injustice on the outside. These poets have traded the systems of the outside world, such as capitalism, for the predictability of stage directions, as communicated by Maker. This shows the power of the playwright over that of politicians – that is, until they lose their trust in the playwright as an authoritative figure and revolt.
Madonna, played by Hannah Borthwick, shares her experience in the outside world after choosing a life of exile in the Land of Poetry. PHOTO: Supplied/Llewellyn de Wet
The play ends with Maker’s butler, Adam, taking on the role of playwright with the support of the poets. The play concludes with a sentiment that at some point the least will be the greatest.
Boklied is a must-watch if you love to see the underdog win.
Although the actors had great energy, it was hard to hear them at times due to the big venue, and it became difficult to follow the action-packed play.
Be sure to take the parental guidance rating seriously. The nudity of the cast members throughout the play solidified Breytenbach’s portrayal of the audience as voyeurs. The audience not only gets a look at what happens in the underworld of the citizens of the Land of Poetry, but they are also confronted by the private parts of some cast members. As a result, there were audience members who chose not to stay for the full duration of the play.
- Boklied can be seen from 16 to 19 October at the Open Window Filmstudio. Tickets are available on Quicket.