South African week at the Helix
2 December 2002

(back) Duma Kumalo, Christina Quinlan, David Ervine (front) Aidan Mathews, Susan McKay, Michael Farrel.

'He left quietly' is a play based on the life of Duma Kumalo which was held in The Space at The Helix from 26 - 30 November 2002. The play, directed by Yael Farber and inspired by the life of Duma himself, tells the story of how he was wrongly convicted of murder for his alleged participation in the mob killing of a town councillor in Sharpeville, South Africa.

Yael Farber has written, "Duma has a way of sharing his story that extends far beyond himself. He reaches out in ways that impacts profoundly on most who meet him. I have attempted to articulate this impact he has on others by representing a story within a story." she goes on to add, " 'He left quietly' seeks to challenge our notions of time and space - in the act of tangibly facing the past."

To celebrate this production, The Space at The Helix organised South African week. During this week, The Space hosted a series of events, including a multi-media presentation, readings and discussions on the themes evoked in the play.

Friday's discussions included David Ervine, member of the Progressive Unionist Party, Susan McKay, award winning journalist with the Sunday Tribune, Michael Farrell, Commissioner with the Human Rights Commission of Ireland, Aidan Mathews, playwright, Christina Quinlan, DCU lecturer in Cross Cultural Communications and finally Duma Kumalo himself whose inspirational story was the origin for this dialogue in DCU.