When personal becomes political in Uganda

 Daniel Nelson

The Rolling Stone

Image by Orange Tree Theatre

When British actor-turned-playwright Chris Urch read about the incident in a British newspaper he was shocked. He was even more shocked to learn that proposed legislation included a jail sentence of up to four years for failing to report knowledge of homosexual activity by others.

Being a writer he also had a “What if” moment – what if such violent intolerance and prejudice was directed against a family member? What if it’s your brother, threatening everything you’ve worked for and believe in - your place in society, your job, your life. What do you do in that situation? Do you leave, or do you fight for them?

Urch thought about it, researched it and worked on a script over a four-year period. The result is a “fictional story based on truth” that the Manchester Evening News described as 'A punchy fast paced script laden with quick wit, sharp language and deep philosophical commentary [that] makes it a must see, truly inspirational play.'

“Though the play is set in Uganda,” says Urch, who has never visited the country, it’s not about criticising Uganda: “It’s about Why is it like that? Let’s look at colonialism, let’s look at Britain’s relationship with Uganda, and at the evangelical church in America which has come in and infiltrated the country.

“If you go back far enough you can see that we are partly responsible. It’s about not judging people. If you are asking questions about someone else, you have to look at yourself.  Are we as tolerant as we could be?”

And although “sadly, the play is incredibly relevant”, its relevance is not specific to Uganda:  “We come across as liberal and to a degree that’s true, but I’ve got plenty of friends who’ve been attacked in central London for going out with their boyfriends.”

Nevertheless, the characters are all Ugandan, except for a doctor from Northern Ireland, Sam. His relationship with 18-year-old Dembe is potential dynamite because Dembe’s brother is a pastor who (to the utter bewilderment of those of us who do not share evangelical pastors’ obsession with homosexuality) frequently inveighs against the sin of men’s love for each other.

Urch says the play contains drama, humour (“it has belly laughs but many people walk out with wet cheeks”) and “beautiful Gospel music”.

“Fundamentally, it’s a universal story about family, and about love. How far would you go for the people you love?”

* The Rolling Stone is at the Orange Tree Theatre, 1 Clarence Street, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 2SA, from 14 tJanuary to 20 February. Info: 8940 3633/ orangetreetheatre.co.uk