The docu-drama #JustMen, directed by Vredehoek resident Heinrich Reisenhofer, is returning to the Baxter Theatre for a second season.
It addresses contentious issues like gender-based violence and “toxic masculinity” while exploring how man think and engage in and with society.
Mr Reisenhofer, 47, is well known for his direction of the hit stage comedies Joe Barber and Suip!
The new season of #JustMen includes returning cast members Loukmaan Adams and Thando Doni and new cast member Peter Christians.
Mr Adams, 42, who lives in Woodstock, recently played the antagonist in Aunty Merle the Musical and the lead in Satins to Sequins – More than a Minstrel which were both staged at the Baxter Theatre.
“In this docu-drama I am speaking from a real place, hopefully to connect with men, to create a safe place where men can talk about what they are going through,” he said.
Elaborating on why he has chosen to star in the second season of the show, he said: “Last year I saw the reaction, what it did to men, how it affected them. There is not a lot of places where their voices can be heard and hopefully we can reach more people,” he said.
But Mr Reisenhofer doesn’t want the name #JustMen to put women off from coming to see the show. In fact, he encourages them to come and hear men’s “real stories”.
“It is open to women as well. It became a healing process for women to listen to men, share in ways that they never heard men share before. It is quite historic for men to stand on a public stage and talk about things they don’t talk about in their personal relationships,” he said.
Mr Reisenhofer are also encouraging young adults from high schools to see the play so that they can be exposed to “healthy masculinity”.
And Mr Adams hopes the production will get a few people thinking differently,
“If we can reprogramme our way of thinking, from fathers, to fathers to the kids, we can get people looking at life differently,” he said.
#JustMen runs at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio until Saturday August 3 at 7.30pm nightly, with three school matinee performances on Thursday July 25, Tuesday July 30 and Thursday August 1 at 11am.
There will also be men’s support group meetings at the Baxter Theatre on Saturdays July 20, July 27 and August 3 which will be facilitated by skilled community leaders from gender-based organisations.
There is an age restriction of 13 years and high schools are encouraged to bring along their pupils to be part of the process.
Ticket prices are R120, R100 for block bookings of 10 or more and R80 for pupils and students. Booking can be done through Webtickets or at Pick * Pay stores.
Fordiscountedgroupor block-bookings contact Leon van Zyl on 021 680 3972 or email him at leon.vanzyl@uct.ac.za