A Cambodian group -The Amrita Performing Arts’ Actors and survivors of the Cambodian genocide in the 1970s, are in Rwanda to showcase the play ”Breaking the Silence”.
The play depicts the effects of genocides and how one can live the post genocide life.
The Phnom Penh-based Amrita Performing Arts’ play ”Breaking the Silence,” was written by a Dutch director, Annemarie Prins.
Cambodian genocide was committed by followers of the Communist Party of Kampuchea, who were the ruling party in Cambodia from 1975 to 1979, led by Pol Pot.
During the Khmer Rouge or Red Khmer rule, almost 2 million people were murdered, attempting to weed out insolence and members of the population.
”Breaking the Silence” is based on oral testimony from Khmer Rouge members and victims who had taken part in interviews at the Documentation Center of Cambodia.
The play tells the stories of seven perpetrators and victims.
Even though the genocides in Rwanda and Cambodia happened in different periods, but the residual affects are similar, such as loneliness, isolation and shame for the survivors.
The actors of the play say, remembering The Khmer Rouge period referred to the rule of Pol Pot Era, reveals unhealed wounds of Cambodians, in total contrast of Rwandans who are healing from the wounds left behind by the 1994 genocide perpetrated against the Tutsi. Madame Annemarie Prins, is a Dutch director & writer of the play BREAKING THE SILENCE.
“In Cambodia, no body has talked about it…they didn’t have any Gacaca courts like here in Rwanda it is completely silenced. People wanted to break the silence…the main idea to play the play and have Rwandan actors in it, is in fact very simple message; the message is you (Cambodians) are not alone, that there has been (other genocides) on the other side of the world”.
Twahirwa Aimable, the ‘La Benevolencia’ Rwanda Head of mission, who received the screening team of the play, said that the play will be screened in 3 towns in Rwanda from 8th April 2012.
“It will be screened 6 times. On 8th & 9th April, it will be staged at Kigali Ishyo Arts hall in kacyiru. It will be starting at 6pm (local time). On the 10th it will be shown at maison de jeune hall in kimisagara from 6pm (local time).”
“On the 11th & 12th it will be taken to Butare in Huye district in Butare conference hall from 2pm (local time) while in Gicumbi district it will be on, on the 14th in Gicumbi conference hall from 2pm (local time).”
The play is staged in Khmer rouge language and Kinyarwanda with English subtitles.
The organizers say that it is planning to launch a discussion session between actors and spectators after the play.
Leave a Reply