Dulcie September honoured

POLITICAL activist Dulcie September, who was born in Athlone, paid the ultimate sacrifice for South Africa’s freedom and during Women’s Month a play will be staged to honour her.

Acclaimed actress Denise Newman will celebrate September as she takes centre stage in the onewoman production of Cold Case – Dulcie September Re-visited at the Artscape Theatre later this month.

Performed and produced by Newman, the play leads the audience through a series of events in the life of the anti-apartheid activist which ultimately leads to the mystery of September’s murder in Paris.

Co-written by Sylvia Vollenhoven and Basil Appollis, the play offers clues to the unsolved murder, allowing the audience to make up their minds who the perpetrator is.

Known for her role as Bridgette Jacobs in the popular TV series Suidooster, Newman is excited to return to the stage for this production. “Theatre is my first love, so I will always make time for it,” she said.

Newman said it was important that people who paid with their lives for democracy were not forgotten.

“However flawed the democracy is, it is there. We must remember that some men and women helped build this democracy. It’s time that we honour them by writing them back into history.”

Director and co-writer Appollis and Newman worked together on the concept of the show.

“There were many stories we wanted to tell and I presented Basil with a list of options. We decided on Dulcie because of it being a murder mystery,” Newman said.

Appollis said: “Dulcie died more than 30 years ago and we still don’t know who pulled the trigger. She played a big part in our political history and her life is worth remembering.

“The play is a window to her personal and political life and she was willing to lay down her life for the Struggle.”

Newman said in 1988, when September was assassinated, she was on high alert because she was brought up to always be in touch with current affairs.

“I remember being shocked when I found out because we shared many things.

“We were both born in August, and we both lived in Athlone and went to Athlone High,” she said.

“I couldn’t help but wonder what her journey was like. I was intrigued and we spoke to her sister, niece and nephew, and they shared Dulcie’s letters with us.”

Newman said that the story of September’s life was significant in that women heroes should be honoured for what they did.

“Young women today can learn from Dulcie’s life. She took up space, proudly and with no apologies. Dulcie was described as incorruptible because she was steadfast in her beliefs.”

As we celebrate Women’s Month, Newman said women’s issues were important every day.

“As women, we need to stand up every day of the year and claim our space.”

Artscape chief executive Marlene le Roux said everyone needed to learn about the sacrifice September made.

“Her story is about more than her assassination – it’s about a woman that went against the establishment. A woman who said, ‘I will do something for my country’.”

Cold Case – Dulcie September Re-visited will be on show at the Artscape Theatre as part of the Women’s Humanity Arts Festival from August 9 to August 11. For more information and to book tickets, see www.artscape.co.za