By Cherrol
Skosana
Former
Generations actor, JT Medupe is set to play the role of former President Jacob
Zuma on a new theatre production of Khwezi. Khwezi is a book written by Redi Tlhabi
which tells a story of a young girl who was sexually appropriated by her
father’s friend who happened to be the former President of South Africa Jacob
Zuma.
JT will
portray Zuma during the time he was giving his testimony concerning the rape
charges laid against him and his side of the story as per the book’s focus.
JT says the
process of preparing for the stage play so far has been a remarkable journey as
it has forced him to grow as an actor of which he loves. “So it has been an exciting
challenge which I’m looking forward to taking on,” he says.
”As an
actor I need to be as neutral as possible so as not to judge the character or
let my own personal views, opinions and thoughts get in the way of telling the
story, it's the narrative that's important and that's it, I’m just a vessel
bringing what is written to life,” he explains
Speaking to
Move!, JT says at first he was nervous as to how he was going to portray
Jacob Zuma more especially because he is a real person who is still very much
alive. “This is one man who South Africa and most parts of the world are
familiar with. He’s also a man of power and high stature so it’s quite an
exciting challenge,” he explains.
It has presented him with the opportunity to
interrogate his role as a man when it comes to social issues such as sexual
violence against women, patriarchy, power and the South African law.
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