PIECES OF ME: Life and Silence Under Apartheid

Pieces of Me

Written and Performed by Bo Petersen

“No one ever talks about the moment you found that you were white. Or the moment you found out you were black. That is a profound revelation. The minute you find that out, something happens. You have to renegotiate everything” Toni Morrison

About the production:

Bo Petersen grew up in a white family in Apartheid South Africa. When she was 19 she uncovered her father’s secret. He was not white and had married the love of his life, who was white. From the age of 28, he lived as a white man. When Bo found out about her father’s hidden life, his secret, nearly 40 years ago, her life changed profoundly. She became the custodian of his secret. She began writing “pieces” as a way of trying to understand her father, his “passing” and in turn, her “passing”. They were collaborators in their knowledge and silence.

Bo’s family story is not unique in South Africa. However, it is one that is not often told. This is the efficacy of the devastating damage wreaked by the inhuman laws passed and entrenched by the Apartheid Government and which continues even in today’s South Africa. These stories are still shrouded in a conspiracy of silence

Running time: Appx. 1 hr (A talkback with the artist will immediately follow the performance)

*All proceeds go toward support of Ikamva Labantu

Doors open at 6:40 pm

Rutgers Sanctuary is handicapped accessible.

Hearing assist devices are available upon request.

WRITER & ACTOR, BO PETERSEN

Bo Petersen is a dynamic and accomplished professional South African actor whose work on stage, film, TV and radio has spanned more than 40 years. With a dedication to storytelling that transcends boundaries and her commitment to South African theatre, Bo has established a notable presence in the world of performing arts in her country of birth and now expanding to the USA, Norway and Sweden. Bo’s enduring dedication to both the craft and the community has earned admiration both on and off the stage. Her body of work stands as a testament to the enduring power of storytelling and the magic of the performing arts. She currently resides in the USA where she continues to write, direct and perform.