Living in a world in which the mass media wants to induce the perception that everything is available by the mere pressing of a button, may sometimes hinder one's stance towards reality. Unfortunately for many no remote control has yet been invented to erase the effects of psychological wounds which lead to tattered emotions. The sense of helplessness felt at having no control over unpleasant events and the fact that there is no way to escape or ward off such an event, will continue to haunt and the pain will persist.
Knowing that the healing process would take quite some time to take its toll, or that the wound is so deep-founded that its scar will never heal, may lead to despair. Thus one has to learn to live with the emotional wounds which haunt him. On the other hand one can just try to forget all about these wounds and the scars they leave behind. Forgetting is a physiological device that humans adopt to be able to move out of painful history; it sometimes heals, while at other times, it may just lead to escapism. But all is not anguish; there are immense possibilities of hope, compassion and affirmation.
About two thousand years ago a man called Jesus is said to having foretold that he will be savagely wounded and killed … but that his death will not be his end. His followers decree that his words came true - and that he is still living amongst us. There are some who deride this. There are those who consider him a holy man or just a great man, others look at him as an anti-hero. There are those who just want to carry on with their life and ignore any mention of his existence – then and now.
The affiliation between humanity's wounds and the Nazarene's is brought to the fore in this year’s theatrical presentation by Dwal Godda on Palm Sunday, 16 March. This is truly a unique experience because of the way in which theatre, ritual and tradition intertwine in a marvelous coherent way. After funeral marches at 4.30pm Dwal Godda Theatre Company presents the first act of this year's production: GRIEHI (Wounds) on a specially designed stage along the church parvis. Joseph sold as a slave by his brothers sets a theatrical discussion in motion. He is wounded and innocent just like the Nazarene many years later - just like many others nowadays.. “Crucify him” is still a shout that can be heard today. The problem is that not everybody is aware of the fact - or just ignores it. The first act is followed by the procession of the Good Friday statues through the winding streets of the village of Gharghur. The St Bartholomew band provides a musical background for silent meditation and just as life is a pilgrimage, the actors join the procession.
The second act is introduced midway through the end of the procession. Some of the statues are stopped in the church square. Veronica, Simon from Cyrene and other biblical characters, represented by the statues, depict their sufferings. This will lead the chorus (somewhat fictional fantasies who are on stage throughout the performance creating a link between the past and the present) to help the audience realise that man has been suffering from wounds and emotional anguish all throughout his existence. Thus they conclude that 'wounds' will continue to torment and scourge mankind forever. Only when one admits that by inflicting wounds on others he is is furthering his wounds, can the healing process commence.
The challenge is then handed over to the audience. Those present in the Gharghur Main Square, on Sunday 16th March, have to decide whether they are the carriers or inflictors of today's wounds - or both. Thus GRIEHI, is not only a unique theatrical experience but will entice all those present to tag along on this psychological journey.