'Progres' - An original tribute to Ken Saro-Wiwa

Some of the cast & staff of OSF

My latest play 'Progres' based on the life and work of Ken Saro-Wiwa premiered on the 10th of November at Community House in Salt River. Developed with the Independent Theatre Movement of South Africa and the Ogoni Solidarity Forum, the play was co-directed by Tauriq Jenkins who also wrote some of the speaches for the character Komo that he portrayed. Audience reaction was phenomenal on the night and an extended run is being planned before the end of the year as well as a national universities tour for the new year.

The director with James Matthews and members of the cast after the successful gala performance of Live rAGE!

Live rAGE! is a performance tribute to the legendary poet James Matthews who celebrated his eightieth birthday on the 24th of May 2009. The performance took place on the 2nd of September at the Artscape Arena with a free community preview at noon and a gala performance that evening. The cast was comprised of individuals and collectives including poets, actors, musicians, dancers and a visual artist. Both shows performed to packed houses and without exception responses were positive.

Ken Saro Wiwa Memorial Project

'Progres' is a new play being developed for the Ogoni Solidarity Forum to commemorate the 14th year since the murder of writer and activist Ken Saro Wiwa by the Nigerian Federal Government and Royal Dutch Shell. The play will be based on characters developed by the writer in his compilation of short stories entitled 'Forest of Flowers' with some poems and music. The performance will take place on the 10 November at Community House in Salt River and will star Tauriq Jenkins with Monique Rockman, Keenan Herman, Lee Alan Roodt and Ema-Lee Atkins.

The Long Overdue Collection of Poetry

A RHAPSODY IN GREEN

Crazy young men who lived too fast
Flew too high the trip couldn’t last
Small time heroes from back in sixty-nine
Tried it all - had a wonderful time.

Lonely boys who are misunderstood
Hoping that the bad can be made good
In love with sad memories of content
Writing letters that are never sent.

The people they need are far away
Exposed and unfeeling they sit and play
One day soon their time will come
A time of revelation in the sun.

Lost in their minds they repent,
Alone in their minds they dement.

(1994 – Pretoria Central Prison)

Copyright - Michael Wentworth 1994

A Rhapsody of Green is the title poem of a collection of poetry written over the past fourteen years.
A suitable publisher is being saught for the printing of this compilation.