Five women from Johannesburg storm onto the field, ready for their decisive hockey match. Today they can become champions. But haunted by memories of sexual assault and harassment, it soon becomes apparent that there is more at stake than a medal. Gradually, the line between the competition and social reality disappears and the women find a collective voice against sexual violence and harassment against women in Johannesburg. The team must decide; will they attack or defend? Whistleblowers is a powerful war cry for the soul. A mix of physical theatre, surrealistic dream images and impressive storytelling.
In the performance, the women interpret the rules of the game, which are all against the players. The players switch between dream sequences and dance scenes, making the experience of what it is like to be a woman in South Africa tangible for audiences, especially when you realize that according to various statistics Johannesburg is deemed the “rape capital of the world”.
Whistleblowers is co-created and performed by five female actors and makers from Johannesburg, South Africa: Reabetswe Gaentswe, Boitshepo Maile, Kgaogelo Makgoba, Modipadi Mokgohloa, and Phindiwe Qakoshe. It contains the spoken languages of English, Afrikaans, Zulu, and Xhosa, and is directed by Rob Murray and Quintijn Relouw. The performance has won awards at the National Arts Festival (South Africa’s largest arts festival) and will have a lasting impact on all audiences, helping to contextualise and give voice to one of the most urgent societal issues facing women across South Africa today.