Agnes of God is a 30-minute adaptation of the John Pielmeier play by the same name. Adapted and directed by Phala Ookeditse Phala and performed by Faith Busika and Mohau Cele, it was first performed at The Centre for the Less Good Idea in November 2017 as part of the For Once programme.
Where do traumatic events go when they are not adequately processed or given room to be dealt with? How does trauma manifest in the mind, the body? Agnes of God follows the plight of three women who, as a result of past and unresolved trauma, are at odds with their minds and bodies. Over the course of the short performance, the audience gains increasing insight into their psyches.
A bed, a carpet, a chair, and crucifixes above the bed and on the floor set the scene inside the convent. Agnes, the nun who has given birth and maintains that her child is the result of immaculate conception, is scattered, erratic and evasive. The mother superior, by contrast, is calm and evenly toned. The presence of the psychiatrist, who appears only as a disembodied voice, serves as a pertinent and unnerving antagonist, activating much of the central themes of the performance – abuse, loss, personhood and religious belief.
A brief, impactful and enduring performance, Agnes of God puts forward an interpretation of a woman's spirit, her soul and her humanity above the perceived narrative of a fallen woman. In this way, Agnes becomes a metaphor for all women seeking the basic rights of safety, agency, refuge and respect.
– David Mann
CREDITS:
PERFORMERS | Faith Busika & Mohau Cele
ADAPTOR & DIRECTOR | Phala O. Phala
PRODUCER | Lebohang Motaung
PROJECT MANAGER | Shruthi Nair
STAGE MANAGER | Hayleigh Evans & PopArt Productions