Thirty years ago in April 1994, on the eve of a Rwandan massacre prompted by politically right-wing Hutus that killed three-quarters of the minority Tutsi population, the academic and politically progressive Agathe Uwilingiyimana briefly became Head of State following the assassination of the country’s President.
Angela J Davis sensitively focuses her play on Agathe (Natasha Bain), allowing us briefly to witness her thoughtful teaching of science to students and her friendly assistance of Kerry (Maria Austen), a Canadian UN soldier. Later, we see her trying to get her adult son Lucas (Matthew Faucher), one of her five children, to be more careful given the dangerous state of the country.
Although she is Prime Minister, her ability to do almost anything is seriously limited by the growing political crises. She is the only person to turn up to a meeting of ministers. When she is prevented from going to the official radio station to make a statement to calm the situation, she tries to phone it in only to hear the whispered voice on the other end of the line reveal the station has been taken over by those involved in the killings.
The show opens with the sign labelled "On Air" lighting up as the actor Matthew Faucher steps centre-stage playing the character of a radio announcer for Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines (RTLM), which is geared to a younger audience. In friendly poetic language, he quickly promotes cruel right-wing propaganda. At various points during the performance, he repeats the sequence reminding us of the increasing danger beyond Agathe’s home.
Another source of information is the UN officers. One senior official on the spot in Rwanda is given details of the genocide plans and the location of the arms the killers intend to use. He wants to raid the arms, but the UN refuses his request and tells him to give all information to the army despite strong indications that the military is organising the killing. Critical of America, at one point, he claims the US controls the UN.
Among the many people who did try to oppose the genocide is Mbaye Diagne, the Senegalese observer who in this play is shown finding ways of transporting people out of danger. Towards the end of the show, Mbaye (Rio Attoh-Wood) arrives at the place where Agathe and her children are hiding ready to transport them to safety.
This clear, accessible story is performed by an impressive cast of five actors that never fails to hold the audience's attention.
Agathe and Mbaye stand as important examples of how, in even the most horrific circumstances, people can oppose genocide and save people's lives.