Marking 30 years since the 1994 genocide against Tutsi people in Rwanda, AGATHE tells the true story of the extraordinary woman who became Rwanda’s head of state for less than a day, Agathe Uwilingiyimana. When a plane crashes and takes the life of African president, Juvénal Habyarimana, it ignites a killing spree that the world will later recognize as the 1994 genocide against Tutsi people in Rwanda. Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, the first and so far only woman to hold the role, becomes the next in line for the country’s presidency but just 14 hours later, Agathe is assassinated. We spoke to playwright Angela J. Davis about the show.
Tell us a bit about you and your work as a playwright?
I strive to write work that is both moving _and_ entertaining to the audience. I’ve written both comedies and dramas and I do believe there are overlapping virtues of each. In every good comedy, there’s a kernel of seriousness and the most wrenching dramas also need to engage the audience in ways that go beyond the cerebral. I also strive to write with a social conscience and to create roles for women, people of colour, and others who have been historically under-represented on public stages.
What inspired you to create a play about Agathe Uwilingiyimana?
I have always been drawn to overlooked women, especially women whose stories are overshadowed by larger historical events. Agathe Uwilingiyimana’s story is overlooked in part because her life ended on the very night that the larger story – the genocide against the Tutsi people – began. Additionally, she was fundamentally a moderate and an advocate for the education of women and girls. She was not Tutsi but the Hutu genocidaires assassinated her because she would not conform to their brutal agenda. I was also interested in the reality that she was a scientist and an educator — her pursuit of truth stands in contrast to the propaganda machine that fuelled the genocide. All of this struck me as a story worth telling and one with richly theatrical potential.
Could you describe your research process for gathering information about Agathe Uwilingiyimana’s life and the events surrounding her brief presidency?
I read both French and English, and this was helpful. I scoured news reports and transcripts of the propaganda radio, as well as the memoirs of eyewitness Alison de Forges and others. There are also some outstanding books on the genocide and the silence of the western powers, including Philip Gourevich’s “We Wish to Inform You . . . “ and Samantha Power’s “A Problem from Hell.”
In what ways does the play explore the themes of love and bravery?
I think the message of Agathe’s bravery and capacity for love are the “light” of the play and its beacon for our time — and any time. In the midst of the unspeakable atrocities surrounding her, AGATHE has the foresight to rescue her own children. I also read in my research that Agathe forged very strong bonds with the female diplomats who were on the ground in Rwanda. Additionally, the character of Mbaye (inspired by his real-life counterpart, who also tragically died in the genocide) is inspirational. A Senegalese army captain who repeatedly risked his life — and ultimately sacrificed his life — to rescue so many people (including Agathe’s children) in a country not his own. And, he used humour and silliness to get past the genocidal guards.
Given the ongoing relevance of issues such as genocide, gender equality, and political violence, what do you think Agathe Uwilingiyimana’s story can teach us about the present day?
Many things can be learned from Agathe’s example, but I think one thing I’d point out right now is that she was a political moderate, as well as a humanitarian and educator. In our present-day culture, those with the loudest voices are often the ones with a binary way of looking at the world or particular problems and demonizing the other point of view. Agathe was a political moderate in addition to being a shining example of bravery, wisdom, and grace during one of the darkest moments in history.
What message or insight do you hope audiences will take away from experiencing Agathe’s story through your play?
Agathe was not someone who screamed to get her message across to others or who demonized the “other side.” It’s noteworthy that the only moment when Agathe raises her voice in the play is when she’s reprimanding her sometimes-rebellious teenage son and when she engages in the play’s ultimate act of sacrifice.
AGATHE plays at The Playground Theatre from the 17th April – 4th May. Tickets available at: https://www.theplaygroundtheatre.org.uk/whats-on
Join the discussion