Beauty in the broken

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Beauty in the broken

On the square for the opening of "Beauty in the broken". Theatre royalty, I love Theatre on the square. 


The show chronicles Gaynor Youngs story, she tells the story. Once an actress, she fell 18 stories down an unguarded lift shaft backstage during a show at the State Theatre in Pretoria. The accident left her with extremely serious injuries: brain damage, many broken bones (including both arms, both legs, ribs, facial fractures). She was in a coma for five weeks, followed by months in hospital and a long rehabilitation process. Hearing was lost; she was totally deaf for 18 years. She also lost a large portion of her eyesight and was physically impaired from the accident. Over time, with a combination of therapies (physical, occupational, speech, etc.) and strong support from family, she regained many abilities. She credits her mother for helping her get back. 

Kintsugi: an ancient Japanese practice that mounts and joins broken pieces with gold is central to the play. The idea that you can be better than before. Renewal: To love yourself with impunity. Gaynor was once broken, her dreams in the dust and she rebuilt herself, broken bones and all she fought back to get her dreams! 

She's back on the stage, doing what she loves, filling up theatres, inspiring everyone. The human spirit is so resilient. Life is a gift and we take it for granted sometimes. Stories like these remind us of how fragile life really is. How nothing is ever certain. How you have to fight for everything you have because life is always fleeting. You cannot be a victim, get up, show some strife - no one really cares. 


A great touch that she was invited back to the State Theatre after many years for a Naledi Award - her speech so powerful. She talks about the woman she is now as opposed to what ifs. There's love and gratitude for life in her tone. What a remarkable woman! 

She tells her story with personality, humor, emotion and a lot of heart. She has an angel on the other side of the stage who helps her. She is engaging and captivating. The set is simple, I can only assume that it's her living-room, with a stacked book shelf at the back, table and chair on either side and a blue resting chair in the middle. It is warm and intimate. The lighting just right, it moves the story. In the last scene Gaynor's dog comes onto the stage and she embraces it with love and affection. A truly moving show. 


Thank you Daphne Kuhn and Theatre on the square for bringing this to the stage. 


Congratulations Maralin Vanrenen and the whole team for a great show and a deserved standing ovation. 


📷: Phillip Kuhn & SamSays


https://youtu.be/BGxuoRoF0No?si=HitlWrqrnJJap3nc

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