Education The Overwhelming by JT Rogers Over in association with Out of Joint Background Pack Introduction Context of the play Synopsis Interview with JT Rogers, the author Rehearsals Interviews Discussion points whelming Practical exercises Written work and research References and glossary Resources on the Rwandan Genocide The Aegis Trust Bibliography and links The a new play by JT Rogers Young prisoner in Gitarama, Rwanda, accused of genocide photo: Getty Images The Overwhelming This workpack is published by Workpack written by NT Education Editor a new play by JT Rogers and copyright The Royal Jessica Swale, assistant National Theatre Emma Thirlwell National Theatre Board director on The Overwhelming Director South Bank Design She is currently completing Max Stafford-Clark Reg. No. 1247285 London SE1 9PX Patrick Eley her MA in Directing at Central T 020 7452 3388 Lisa Johnson Registered Charity No. School of Speech and Drama. Further production details: 224223 F 020 7452 3380 E educationenquiries@ nationaltheatre.org.uk Views expressed in this Our thanks to staff of the nationaltheatre.org.uk workpack are not necessarily Aegis Trust for advice and those of the National Theatre input to this background pack www.aegistrust.org.uk The Overwhelming CAST Characters, in order of speaking The 2006 tour: Charles Woolsey WILLIAM ARMSTRONG 5-9 September Oxford Playhouse Jack Exley MATTHEW MARSH 01865 305 305 oxfordplayhouse.com Joseph Gasana JUDE AKUWUDIKE 12-16 September West Yorkshire Playhouse, Leeds Jean-Claude Buisson NICK FLETCHER 0113 213 7700 wyp.org.uk Linda White-Keeler TANYA MOODIE 19-23 September Geoffrey Exley ANDREW GARFIELD Nuffield Theatre, Southampton Samuel Mizinga DANNY SAPANI 023 8067 1771 nuffieldtheatre.co.uk Rwandan Politician LUCIAN MSAMATI 26-30 September Liverpool Everyman Gerard BABOU CEESAY 0151 709 4776 everymanplayhouse.com 3-7 October Library Theatre, Manchester CHIPO CHUNG Rwandan Doctor 0161 236 7110 librarytheatre.com British Red Cross Doctor WILLIAM ARMSTRONG Jan Verbeek NICK FLETCHER The programme for the production of The Elise Kayitesi CHIPO CHUNG Overwhelming, is available to purchase from all Policeman LUCIAN MSAMATI the tour venues and from the National Theatre’s Woman in Club ADURA ONASHILE Bookshop. UN Major LUCIAN MSAMATI T: 020 7452 3456 F: 020 7452 3457 E: [email protected] Other parts played by members of the W: nationaltheatre.org.uk Company To fully utilise the activities at the end of this Director MAX STAFFORD-CLARK pack, we recommend you purchase the script Designer TIM SHORTALL for The Overwhelming (published by Faber), Lighting Designer JOHANNA TOWN which can be purchased from the National’s Sound Designer GARETH FRY Bookshop or from Out of Joint’s website. Dialect Coaches T: 020 7452 3456 F: 020 7452 3457 JEAN-PIERRE BLANCHARD, E: [email protected] MARY BLEWITT, KATE GODFREY, W: nationaltheatre.org.uk GABO WILSON Out of Joint: Assistant Director JESSICA SWALE (Out of W: outofjoint.co.uk Joint) SETTING: Kigali, Rwanda, early 1994 The Overwhelming was originally developed in the US at Salt Lake Acting Company with support from the NEA/TCG Theatre Residency Program. The play was further developed with the support of PlayPenn. OPENING OF THIS PLAY: Cottesloe Theatre 7 May 2006. national theatre education workpack 2 Introduction The Overwhelming is set in January 1994 in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda. In early 1994 the political situation was volatile and years of fighting between Hutus and Tutsis meant bitterness and anger were rife. The extremist radio station Radio Milles Collines regularly broadcast hate propaganda, encouraging Hutus to prepare to attack the Tutsis. Many believed that trouble was imminent. Nobody – except the organisers of the massacre – could have anticipated the scale of the horrific atrocities which were to follow. The play begins when Jack Exley, a well- intentioned American university lecturer, arrives in Kigali to undertake research for his book. His study is a comparative analysis of grass-roots activists, an attempt to prove that low-profile individuals can have an impact in society, through selfless action and benevolence. The book comprises a number of case studies of people who have ‘made a difference’. Recently, Jack has received a letter out of the blue from his roommate at university, Joseph Gasana, inviting him to Kigali. Joseph is a Rwandan doctor treating children with AIDS. Jack decides that Joseph would be the perfect From left: Tanya Moodie (as Linda White-Keeler) and central case study for his book and, as he has Danny Sapani (as Samuel Mizinga) photo: John Haynes been threatened with redundancy if he does not publish his book soon, he decides to take the opportunity to visit. Renting out his US home, he moves his family – his son, Geoffrey, and second wife, Linda – to Rwanda for a semester whilst he meets Joseph. The play opens at Jack’s arrival in Kigali; Linda and Geoffrey are to follow the next day. national theatre education workpack 3 Context: the Rwandan genocide In the spring of 1994, approximately 1 million enemies were murdered, leading hundreds of Rwandans were murdered by their fellow thousands of Tutsis to flee to neighbouring countrymen, whilst the West stood back and countries to seek refuge. This was the first of watched. many massacres, purges and attacks over the next 40 years, pushing more and more Tutsis WHO ARE HUTUS AND TUTSI? into exile. It is estimated that by 1965, half the The terms ‘Hutu’ and ‘Tutsi’ were first used Rwandan Tutsi population was living outside the informally to distinguish between the wealthier country. and poorer classes. The Tutsis (the elite) could become Hutus (the poorer workers) if they lost Under the extremist Hutu rule, differentiation cattle or land, and vice versa. The Tutsis’ between Hutus and Tutsis was made very clear association with power, wealth and supremacy in the classrooms and in access to all services explains some of the ingrained animosity and jobs. The Tutsi population who remained towards them, especially as they have always were extremely excluded in their own society. been the minority (Rwanda is approximately Their rights as citizens in the country were 85% Hutus, 14% Tutsis and 1% Twa, a pygmy stripped to the minimum. The safety of their race who live in the forests). However, the two lives, families and homes was not guaranteed as groups have never been culturally distinct: they waves of massacres took place and the share language, religion, traditions and villages. international community did not respond. DIVIDING THE NATION: THE HUTU/ TUTSI RWANDA IN FINANCIAL CRISIS CLASSIFICATION In 1989 Rwanda was hit hard by a drop in the The main troubles began when Belgian colonists market price of coffee. As coffee was one of arrived in 1918. They divided the population into Rwanda’s main exports, the effect on the the two distinct groups and began classifying country’s financial stability was severe and every individual as either Hutu or Tutsi. many were left impoverished. In fact, the whole Unsurprisingly, this caused resentment amongst of the Great Lakes region was affected by the those named as Hutu, who felt they had been economic crisis. Neighbouring countries permanently assigned an inferior status. In sheltering refugees from Rwanda pressurised 1926, the Belgians introduced compulsory the Rwandan Government to take back its own identity cards, stating each individual’s ethnic people. Under this pressure and the lack-lustre group. Children inherited their father’s ethnicity economy in Rwanda, the extremist Hutu (in The Overwhelming Joseph’s children are government began to prepare its people for the Tutsis because he is). Identity was no longer complete destruction of the Tutsi population, flexible. fearing the impending return of the refugees. Under Belgian rule the Tutsis enjoyed greater PREPARING FOR WARFARE opportunities than their Hutu neighbours – Many exiled Tutsis began forming the RPF, the homes, jobs and educational opportunities. Rwandan Patriotic Front, which aimed to Preferential treatment was used widely in overthrow the totalitarian regime led by the colonial times as a concept of ‘divide and rule’. extremist Hutus. This would allow Tutsis and As a result, the Hutus grew increasingly exiled moderate Hutus to return to their resentful. homeland. In October 1990 the RPF invaded from Uganda, and after much bloodshed, a When the Tutsi king, Mwaami Rudahinga, died in ceasefire was signed in March 1991. Two years 1959, he was replaced by a Hutu king. The later, in February 1993, the RPF invaded again, Belgians now favoured the extremist Hutus who this time making further progress. Tension grew drove the Tutsis into an area called Bugesera, continually. where water was scarce and provision was monitored. Many who were considered potential Meanwhile in Rwanda, the Hutu army began national theatre education workpack 4 Context: the Rwandan genocide training the Interahamwe, the civilian Hutu militia moderate Hutus began. The genocide was which aimed to destroy Tutsi civilians and meticulously prepared; lists were handed out maintain Hutu rule. naming all Tutsis in every street with orders to kill them all. The Interahamwe set up roadblocks to PEACE ACCORDS: A REALISTIC OPTION? ensure that no Tutsi could escape and killers Under the pressure from neighbouring moved from house to house, murdering every governments, in August 1993 Rwanda’s Hutu Tutsi they could find. It is estimated that President, Juvénal Habyarimana, agreed to the thousands died on the first day. Yet whilst the Arusha Accords. This peace agreement involved Interahamwe continued to slaughter innocents, power-sharing between Hutus and Tutsis, and the UN did not intervene because their mandate the amalgamation of the RPF and the Rwandan was to monitor the peace, not to enforce it. Army. This would mean that many prominent Tutsis were killed in their thousands: there was positions in the government and army would no one to defend them.