O N E  D A Y, I  W A N T  T O  B E  L I K E  W A T E R  A N D  K N O W  H O W  T O  H O L D S P A C E  F O R  T H I N G S  T O  S T A Y A L I V E.

South African performers and poets Grace Storm and Thandiwe Nqanda are bringing their production titled “Grieve, that is how you survive” to Theatre Arts Observatory in Cape Town. 

The choreo-play first debuted at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda in 2024.

The play is infused with poetry, physical theatre and music, looking at the importance of 
grieving and the journey of loss we experience throughout our lives from when we are children. It navigates through the different ways in which the act of letting go arrives and how we can find ways of healing through remembering, honouring and allowing.

Grace is an Applied theatre practitioner, facilitator, author and educator, bringing her multi-disciplinary expertise in the field. Along with Thandiwe Nqanda, an acclaimed performance poet & author who equally offers her expertise in musical poetry. 

The play is an extension of their respective poetry collections on grief and healing, focusing on navigating through the complexities of loss.

In their writing, they explore an intimate journey with grief, unpacking moments and even personifying 
grief as “the woman who comes to visit when you least expect it.”

Their poetry and work reflect their own experiences and connect through a language that we often hesitate to speak – grief.

“Just like we do with love, we need to give grief a chance. It is there to teach us something about ourselves that we didn’t know existed.” 

– Thandiwe

This offering is a compelling portrayal of what it means to grieve, grow, and ultimately find solace in the act of letting go.

“It is only when we let go that we realize just how much we have been holding onto. 

And only then do we see how beautiful of a thing it was, and even more beautiful to have had a chance to have held it.”

P E R F O R M A N C E  D A T E S : 

2 8  F E B R U A R Y :  2 0 : 0 0

1 M A R C H :  15 : 0 0

1  M A R C H :  20 : 0 0

2 M A R C H :  18: 0 0

T H E A T R E  A R T S , M E T H O D I S T C H U R C H  H A L L, C N R  M I L T O N R O A D  AND W E S L E Y  S T R E E T, O B S E R V A T O R Y

B O O K I N G S:

W W W . T H E A T R E A R T S . C O . Z A

SYNOPSIS

This spoken word production is infused with physical theatre and music. It follows the journey of two young women who are navigating through and discovering their grief. It follows their journey through different stages of loss, from childhood into adulthood, examining how grief shapes, changes, and teaches us.

Told from two differing perspectives, their stories meet in the middle – that grief ultimately MUST happen in order to find ways to heal.

In a world that asks us to withhold our loss so as to not appear weak, the play asks us to consider the act of letting go as a means to continue, and to survive through those very losses.  adulthood, examining how grief shapes, changes, and teaches us.

Through rich, poetic language and dynamic physical movement, the play reveals that surviving grief is a process of learning tohonor loss, and in doing so, finding the strength to embrace life once again and to discover love at the centre of it all.

At its heart, “Grieve, That is How You Survive” is a meditation on how we carry and live with grief. It emphasizes that grief is an integral part of love and life, and by allowing ourselves to fully experience it, we can ultimately find hope and healing.

Relevance

Grief is an emotion that permeates every level of society. We live in an age of rapid change—politically, socially, and environmentally—where loss is experienced in various ways: the loss of loved ones, livelihoods, security, and even identity. “Grieve, That is How YouSurvive” speaks to these different realities, inviting audiences to confront and acknowledge their grief rather than suppress it.

In the wake of the global pandemic, which resulted in millions of lives lost and the breakdown of familiar structures, many have been left grappling with unresolved grief. This production creates a space where these feelings are given language, form, and expression. Byengaging in a narrative that follows the arc of grief— from childhood through adulthood—the production normalizes these emotions, positioning them not as something to escape but as part of the human journey.

This is crucial in a time when mental health awareness has come to the forefront but is still accompanied by stigma. In addressing grief head-on, the play contributes to ongoing conversations around mental health, emotional well- being, and the need for communal support.

What sets “Grieve, That is How You Survive” apart as a cutting-edge piece of theatre is its interdisciplinary approach. The fusion of poetry,physical theatre, and music creates a multi-sensory experience that transcends traditional storytelling. Poetry, with its evocative andmetaphorical power, allows for layers of meaning and emotional depth that resonate with diverse audiences. The physicality in the performance speaks to the embodied nature of grief—how it is carried in the body, how it moves through us, and how it manifests physically.

The incorporation of music further amplifies this emotional journey, as sound becomes a vehicle for catharsis. In doing so, the productionaligns with contemporary shifts in theatre, where the boundaries between disciplines are blurred, and audiences are invited to engage with content that challenges conventional forms. This hybrid approach places “Grieve, That is How You Survive” on the cutting edge ofmodern theatre-making, offering an experience that is immersive, raw, and transformative.

Inspiring and Necessary.

At its core, “Grieve, That is How You Survive” is deeply inspiring because it frames grief not as an endpoint, but as a passage to healing and growth. In a culture that often prioritizes quick fixes and the avoidance of discomfort, the production gently encourages us to sit with oursorrow, to honor it, and ultimately to emerge stronger on the other side. This message is both timeless and urgent, particularly for younger generations who are navigating a world that often feels chaotic and unpredictable.

The play’s emphasis on healing through remembering, honoring, and allowing reflects ancient traditions of mourning while grounding themin a contemporary framework. In today’s fast-paced world, where there is little time for reflection, “Grieve, That is How You Survive” serves asa reminder of the importance of rituals—both personal and collective—that allow for emotional processing. It encourages audiences toembrace grief as an opportunity for transformation, rather than something to be hidden or overcome quickly.

In a broader societal context, this production offers a necessary reflection on how we, as a collective, deal with trauma and loss. The past few years have exposed the fragility of life and the interconnectedness of humanity. Yet, there is often little space in public discourse to mourn whathas been lost—whether it be lives, jobs, stability, or even our former ways of being. This play offers that space, providing a communal moment of acknowledgment and remembrance. It is through such acts of collective mourning that we can begin to heal as a society, reconnect with ourshared humanity, and find the strength to rebuild.

The need for empathy and compassion in today’s world cannot be overstated.

This production facilitates this by allowing audiences to witness and engage with the personal stories of loss and healing presented on stage. Through the emotional vulnerability of the characters, viewers are encouraged to reflect on their own experiences with grief and, in turn, cultivate a deeper understanding of others’ suffering. This is vital in a world where division and misunderstanding often prevail.

The play, therefore, acts as a bridge, connecting people across their differences through the common thread of grief.

By presenting grief as a natural and necessary part of life, it also challenges the societal pressures to “move on” or “get over it.” Instead, itadvocates for embracing the messiness of grief and finding strength within that process. This is a revolutionary stance, especially in a worldthat prizes productivity and stoicism over emotional authenticity.

In today’s context, where individuals and communities continue to wrestle with loss on both personal and collective levels, “Grieve, That is How You Survive” stands as a vital and transformative work of art. Its relevance lies in its timely exploration of grief, its cutting-edge form inmerging poetry, physical theatre, and music, and its inspiring message of healing and resilience. This production is not only a reflection ofour times but a necessary tool for navigating them, providing audiences with a language for their grief, a space for healing, and, ultimately, a pathway to survival and renewal.

Grace Storm: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamgracestorm
Website – https://iamgracestorm.com/
X: https://www.x.com/iam_gracestorm

Thandiwe Nqanda: 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thandiwe_nqanda
Website: https://thandiwenqanda.co.za
X: https://www.x.com/thandiwenqan