Brutal Legacy the play is on at The Playhouse Company in Durban, from 19 to 22 May 2022.
This adaptation of former Radio & TV presenter Tracy Going’s best-selling domestic violence memoir, Brutal Legacy, has been directed by award-winning theatre director Lesedi Job. Written & adapted by Natasha Sutherland, who also plays the older Tracy – the play features Charlie Bougenon as the perpetrator and Jessica Wolhuter as the young Tracy. Wolhuter was previously nominated for a Naledi award for this portrayal.
Brutal Legacy, the theatre adaptation, explores the parallels between Tracy’s childhood with an alcoholic father and her adult trauma at the hands of an abusive boyfriend. It is on stage that Tracy recruits her younger self to help write a memoir, which pushes the two versions of herself into a showdown, where they explore the concepts of blame versus shame and question if there will ever be actual healing.
“Brutal Legacy although one woman’s journey in the telling, is essentially the story of so many. It is a story of going back to the wound and the confronting of self. As the director I have drawn attention to the violence, trauma and deep mental scarring that comes from either living in a home where there’s abuse or having been abused. But ultimately I have chosen to focus on healing – because healing takes courage.” – Lesedi Job, director Brutal Legacy.
The story delves deeply into Going’s childhood, with older Tracy recalling how she would listen out for her father’s arrival home, judging from the sound of his footsteps how drunk he was and how violent the night would be.
Disturbing facts drawn from the book press home harsh truths about how the legal system has historically been stacked against the victim, not the perpetrator. Going was in the witness stand for three days. Her assailant was questioned for only three hours. The judge saw her as a scorned woman concocting lies for revenge, emphasising very neatly why women don’t go to the police or follow it through to court.
For more information www.playhousecompany.com and Facebook: @The PlayhouseCompany
Tickets are available from:
- The Playhouse Company Box office 031 369 9540 (Office hours )
- Online at Webtickets
- Selected Pick ‘n Pay stores
- Ticket price: R120