THE BOOK OF LIFE IS A JOINT RWANDA/CANADA THEATRE PROJECT, INITIATED BY WRITER/PERFORMER ODILE GAKIRE (KIKI) KATESE:
“I want to archive life.” - Kiki Katese
What makes humans go to the edge of the abyss, and then step in? In Rwanda, in April of 1994, one million people were murdered in 100 days. Our country devoured itself. As has happened far too many times in human history, something terrible turned in the collective unconscious of a people, and the unthinkable became commonplace.
But then what? What happened next – after the worst thing?
In this new theatre project, The Book of Life, an audience is led through a remarkable journey. As Kiki Katese writes: “We still have the possibility of undoing the genocide in some small way, to bridge the hole that’s been left, not with bones or the clothes they wore when they died – but with their lives. The dinners. The lovers. The dates. The joy. How do we undo the un-undoable? We let them live again.”
The Book of Life is based on Kiki’s years-long project of accumulating letters written by survivors and perpetrators of Rwanda’s genocide: ordinary people. These letters are addressed to those who are gone - and the sense of who they were, the lives they lived, is powerful. At a time when our world is racked with disharmonies, hatreds and struggle, The Book of Life offers hope: unlocking life after trauma, and finding a humane way forward. It is a project that looks to the future.
“I want to archive life.” - Kiki Katese
What makes humans go to the edge of the abyss, and then step in? In Rwanda, in April of 1994, one million people were murdered in 100 days. Our country devoured itself. As has happened far too many times in human history, something terrible turned in the collective unconscious of a people, and the unthinkable became commonplace.
But then what? What happened next – after the worst thing?
In this new theatre project, The Book of Life, an audience is led through a remarkable journey. As Kiki Katese writes: “We still have the possibility of undoing the genocide in some small way, to bridge the hole that’s been left, not with bones or the clothes they wore when they died – but with their lives. The dinners. The lovers. The dates. The joy. How do we undo the un-undoable? We let them live again.”
The Book of Life is based on Kiki’s years-long project of accumulating letters written by survivors and perpetrators of Rwanda’s genocide: ordinary people. These letters are addressed to those who are gone - and the sense of who they were, the lives they lived, is powerful. At a time when our world is racked with disharmonies, hatreds and struggle, The Book of Life offers hope: unlocking life after trauma, and finding a humane way forward. It is a project that looks to the future.
THE TEAM:
PRODUCTION CREDITS:
Volcano (Canada) and the Woman Cultural Centre (Rwanda)
present:
THE BOOK OF LIFE
Co-created, written and performed by: Odile Gakire Katese
Co-created and directed by: Ross Manson
Projection Design by Sean Frey
Scenic Design and Production Management by Kaitlin Hickey and Patrick Lavender
Composer: Mutangana Moise
Grandmother Spider Brings the Sun, adapted with permission from Geri Keams
Music Performed by Ingoma Nysha, The Women Drummers of Rwanda*
(recorded at Bless Studios, Kigali: Iradukunda Clément, recording engineer)
Production Coordinator, Kigali: Ingabire Marie Louise
Projection Manipulation: Sean Frey, Uwineza Sandra, Munezero Honorine
Set Construction, Rwanda:
Ntegerejeyesu William - Sewer
Mukanyarwaya Conselee - Weaver
Uuramahow Saverine - Weaver
Furniture by Kigali Modern Furniture Ltd.:
Tuyizere Ernest, Managing Director; Uwimana Seleman, Technical Officer
Technical Director, Rwanda tour: Brian Geza
Production Trainees, Kigali:
Ingabire Diane
Kamariza Médiatrice
Munezero Honorine
Musabyemariya Christine
Sewase Gikundiro Arnold
Uwineza Sandra
Uwintije Clémentine
Uwizerwa Marie Noella
Special Thanks: Geri Keams, Dida Nibagwire, Amy Rutherford, Jonathon Young, Hope Azeda, Maya Musenga, Judo, Jeremy Mimnagh, Ben Grossman, Amy Pritchard, Billy Karimba, Gahaya Links, Timothy Wandulu, Quincaillerie Steep, Ryan Wilson
*Ingoma Nysha, The Women Drummers of Rwanda, are:
INGABIRE Rose
KABATESI Chantal
KAMARIZA Mediatrice
MUKAKARISA Agnes
MUKAMUGEMA Chantal
MUKANYANDWI Claudine
MUKESHIMANA Alphonsine
MUHORAKEYE Prisca
MUSABYEMARIYA Christine
MUSHIMIYIMANA Margarite
NGORORE Olive
NYINAWIMBABAZI Claudine
UWIZERWA Marie Noella
UWAMARIYA Clementine
UWERA Jeanette
UWIMANA Madeleine
UWINTIJE Clementine
present:
THE BOOK OF LIFE
Co-created, written and performed by: Odile Gakire Katese
Co-created and directed by: Ross Manson
Projection Design by Sean Frey
Scenic Design and Production Management by Kaitlin Hickey and Patrick Lavender
Composer: Mutangana Moise
Grandmother Spider Brings the Sun, adapted with permission from Geri Keams
Music Performed by Ingoma Nysha, The Women Drummers of Rwanda*
(recorded at Bless Studios, Kigali: Iradukunda Clément, recording engineer)
Production Coordinator, Kigali: Ingabire Marie Louise
Projection Manipulation: Sean Frey, Uwineza Sandra, Munezero Honorine
Set Construction, Rwanda:
Ntegerejeyesu William - Sewer
Mukanyarwaya Conselee - Weaver
Uuramahow Saverine - Weaver
Furniture by Kigali Modern Furniture Ltd.:
Tuyizere Ernest, Managing Director; Uwimana Seleman, Technical Officer
Technical Director, Rwanda tour: Brian Geza
Production Trainees, Kigali:
Ingabire Diane
Kamariza Médiatrice
Munezero Honorine
Musabyemariya Christine
Sewase Gikundiro Arnold
Uwineza Sandra
Uwintije Clémentine
Uwizerwa Marie Noella
Special Thanks: Geri Keams, Dida Nibagwire, Amy Rutherford, Jonathon Young, Hope Azeda, Maya Musenga, Judo, Jeremy Mimnagh, Ben Grossman, Amy Pritchard, Billy Karimba, Gahaya Links, Timothy Wandulu, Quincaillerie Steep, Ryan Wilson
*Ingoma Nysha, The Women Drummers of Rwanda, are:
INGABIRE Rose
KABATESI Chantal
KAMARIZA Mediatrice
MUKAKARISA Agnes
MUKAMUGEMA Chantal
MUKANYANDWI Claudine
MUKESHIMANA Alphonsine
MUHORAKEYE Prisca
MUSABYEMARIYA Christine
MUSHIMIYIMANA Margarite
NGORORE Olive
NYINAWIMBABAZI Claudine
UWIZERWA Marie Noella
UWAMARIYA Clementine
UWERA Jeanette
UWIMANA Madeleine
UWINTIJE Clementine
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