Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart at UJ
Commemorating World Aids Day, and rounding up the newly-established Mind the reading series, UJ Arts & Culture, in partnership with the UJ Institutional Office for HIV & AIDS (IOHA), presents a reading of The Normal Heart by Larry Kramer.
Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart
World Aids Day is dedicated to raising awareness of the Aids pandemic, to stand in solidarity as a nation that is affected and infected by the disease. Head of UJ IOHA, Rainny Magcai, concedes that, “It is vital that we as the UJ community stand united as we break down barriers that have been created by stigma and discrimination. Let’s create a safe zone within our community, where students and staff are not defined by circumstance.”
This largely autobiographical play by Larry Kramer focuses on the rise of the HIV/AIDS crisis in New York between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the gay founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group. Ned prefers loud public confrontations to the calmer, more private strategies favoured by his associates, friends, and closeted lover Felix Turner. This difference of opinion leads to frequent arguments that threaten to undermine their mutual goal.
This compelling play will be directed by professional actress and upcoming director, Kgomotso ‘MoMo’ Matsunyane. MoMo attended Wits University and completed an Honours degree in Dramatic Arts, Film and Television in 2011. She has performed in various productions namely, Betrayal, Random Acts, The Core, Sarafina!, Have You Seen Zandile?, Crepuscule, and in the mini-series Shakespeare in Mzansi, to name a few.
Acting UJ Arts & Culture Head, Grace Meadows adds, “As key role players within the arts environment, it is important to identify with, and act upon, the responsibility we have to our direct environment and society at large. It is thus crucial that we become a resounding voice of solidarity by working with organisations such as IOHA to address all issues surrounding various types of stigma. As UJ Arts & Culture, we couldn’t have chosen a better way to wrap up our 2016 programme.”
The Normal Heart is a free reading, and open to the public. It will take place at the UJ Bunting Road Campus, Con Cowan Theatre on 1 December 2016 at 17h30.
Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart at UJ was originally published on Artsvark