Coming Home Dead on stage
On stage in the National Theatre of Namibia on Friday, renowned artist and poet Keith Vries presents Coming Home Dead, a one-man theatrical production delivering an interwoven performance of poetry directed by Patrick Sam and mentored by acclaimed dramaturge, Monageng “Vice” Motshabi.The play deconstructs the tortured history and contemporary psyche of the 1904-1908 German genocide through the lens of a descendent of the victims, and that originated from a poetry performance piece written and performed by Vries in Stuttgart, Germany for the 2022 “Stuttgarter Sommerfest” as part of his residency at the Akademie Schloss Solitude which later evolved into a work-in-progress which was presented as part of the Pan-African Creative Exchange (PACE), initiated by the Vrystaat Arts Festival in Bloemfontein in July this year.
For Friday’s production, audiences can expect to be captivated by the thought-provoking exploration of this painful history and the legacy of depression, displacement, and death that endures in contemporary Namibia as a result thereof.
Coming Home Dead interweaves performance poetry with elements of ritual, musical, and archival material that unravel the past, evoke the present, and interrogate the future as a narration of the enduring ramifications of colonialism and genocide, highlighting the need to actively document the histories of indigenous peoples, countering dominant narratives that erase their experiences. Furthermore, the play draws from historical texts to provide an accurate account, communicated through poetry and narrative within the live performance, to facilitate healing and justice for these communities. The play also emphasises the Khoe/Khoi/San people's status as the world's oldest living community and the indigenous inhabitants of Southern Africa.
The show takes place at 19:00. Tickets cost N$250 via webtickets.com.na