#JustMen – A Theatre Review and Call Out for Men to Engage in Transformative Conversation

Loukmaan Adams with Cultsha Kennis Author at #JustMen 2018

Directed by Heinrich Reisenhofer, #JustMen has returned to the Baxter Theatre after a successful run in 2018, and is currently playing from 17 July to 3 August 2019. Book your tickets fast via Webticket. Show duration: 70mins. Age restriction: 13. Trigger warning: the content of this show addresses abuse, violence and murder. For more details on where to book:  http://www.baxter.co.za/shows/justmen-2/

This show was written and produced in response to the global outbreak of the #Metoo movement in 2016, where millions of women broke the silence on abuse, violence and murder. The show also encourages support and responsibility from men as a collective for what is a man’s part of this conversation, as per the show’s opening epilogue, “we want men to show up, own up and open up”.

Further on in Heinrich’s address, and when sharing his own story, he also highlights how men are at war with themselves due to the violence and abuse they have also personally been exposed to, and that women and children are affected as a byproduct of this self-war, which results in men being disconnected from their own masculinity.  

The main contents of the show is presented in a facilitated dialogue format, where the four person cast – Peter, Loukmaan, Thando and Heinrich – engages directly with the audience using theatre, props and healing music for effective storytelling. Peter took us on a journey of his childhood growing up in Delft how being a victim of violence and drug abuse led him to murdering his stepfather; Loukmaan highlighted the realities of bringing fatherless children into the world as well as his experiences with the performance arts industry in relation to masculinity and manhood; Thando spoke of child molestation and black lesbian women who are victims to corrective rape in his community. Thando’s story is closed by posing the question as to why men don’t stand up for these atrocities, leading to the climax of the show where the entire cast challenged and instructed the male audience to stand up – figuratively and literally in their seats!   

A Q&A session took place right after the last scene, where audience members had the opportunity to ask questions directly to the cast and director, and respond to the various themes of the show. 

Follow up conversations on this topic is open to all men from the public, facilitated by Lesley Thomas. See more here https://www.facebook.com/events/499317964151103/?notif_t=plan_user_invited&notif_id=1563539640816816

Cultsha Kennis would like to thank The Baxter Theatre for the opportunity to review this show and by extension support this movement. We commend the producers, director and cast members of #JustMen for planting seeds for social change, and even if change does not happen overnight, the attempt must be supported and celebrated!