Recent events
Hot in the media:
Boob-man burns bra
Some of you might remember the Sowetan headline “Man grows boobs”. Who can forget the bizarre photo of a scrawny man who developed perky breasts as a rare side-effect of his ARV treatment? (read more about this case here)
The new South African Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) guidelines, however, suggest that sensational stories about boob-men are a thing of the past. The new guidelines, which are in line with the latest WHO recommendations, have just been launched and perhaps the greatest change has been the inclusion of Tenofovir Disiproxil Fumarate – (TDF) as part of first-line therapy. Finally, Stavudine (d4T), the drug responsible for enlarged breasts in men, will be phased out of the programme.
From the blog:
Deep Night preview
Visually explicit, contemporary dance, by four talented artists take to the stage in Joburg, unravelling the impulse ordinary humans are faced with on a daily basis during the “witching time of night”, when reality is blurred.
This fast paced theatre production, Deep Night, is choreographed by frequently intertwining bodies to sexually depict the impact HIV and AIDS plays in all our lives.
Set against the backdrop of a video installation of a Joburg nightclub, three provocatively dressed “sisters” depict through movement, certain issues facing party-goers who become so intoxicated that they lose track of reality...
As part of the Life Beats - ARTS. JOURNALISM. HIV workshop, participating journalists wrote about PJ Sabbagha and his Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative's dance work, Deep Night. This is journalist Romaana Naidoo's impression, after seeing the piece and speaking to the performers and choreographers.
Lessons of the Deep Night
If I had to describe PJ Sabbagha’s Deep Night, I would call it ‘The thin line between fantasy and reality at almost midnight’. I have a feeling he would agree with me.
The theatre piece is set outside a nightclub. The use of multimedia, particularly the video projected at the back of the stage, contributes to the argument for reality. However, as soon as the dancers start moving to the unusual choice of music, opera, the lines between reality of a night on the town and the exhausting battle with human emotions and thought becomes blurred...
