The scourge of gender-based violence (GBV) in the community will be in focus during a theatrical production in Studio 2 at the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs).

Titled Arabang, the musical drama performance takes place over three days, starting on Thursday 9 April – and continuing on Friday and Saturday.

The production is part of celebrating Freedom Month in South Africa, and is a testament to Pacofs’ commitment to actively combat GBV.

It forms part of an ongoing contribution to the eradication of GBV, drug and substance abuse, crime, and other detrimental factors impacting on communities.

The chief objective is to educate the public about the negative effects of GBV prevalence while encouraging action to eradicate its prevalence.

The story focuses on the life of a woman, Arabang (, whose whole existence was characterised by abuse and molestation.

This character’s voice was silenced by those who were supposed to offer her protection, and whose name was brought into shame by the community she lived with. This same community would later crucify her for only speaking the truth.

She grew up idolising marriage. She was even groomed for it. To her, marriage meant everything. She did everything she was told with the hope of keeping her marriage alive, but that is where most of the abuses occurred.

Also read: Vrystaat Kunstefes – viering van kuns wat betekenis gee.

The tipping point becomes the molestation and consequential killing of her two-month old baby while in Covid-19 imposed level 5 lockdown.

Tickets are available on webtickets.co.za and cost R80 to R100.

The production is set to start each evening at 18:00.