International writers’ stories take stage at UI

IOWA CITY - South African writer Sabata-mpho Mokae's story of a young black man unjustly shot down by police is a distinctly South African tale. But Americans might recognize elements of their own experiences in Mokae's writing.

They might also find familiar scenes in Ghanaian writer Mamle Kabu's giggling story of two teenage girls discussing their love lives.

Excerpts of these stories and works from seven other writers from around the world will be shared onstage Thursday in Iowa City. The 14th annual Global Express program pairs fall residency authors from the University of Iowa's International Writing Program with the UI Theatre Department. Theater students will perform excerpts of the writers' stories, plays and poetry.

Finding connections across cultures - whether in a heavy tale of institutional racism or through a lighter conversation about teen love - is part of the goal of the program, said UI Assistant Theater Professor Tlaloc Rivas, the show's director.

'We're here to celebrate the literary history of Iowa and at the same time expose our students to the kind of intercultural collaboration they don't normally get,” he said.

The International Writing Program brings in writers from around the world to spend a semester in Iowa City. Since 1967, more than 1,400 writers from more than 140 countries have participated.

In addition to working on their own writing, residents give public readings and participate in other programs on campus, including Global Express. The International Writing Program coordinator for outreach and special programs Samantha Nissen said the theater event fits well with the program's goals.

'One of our key missions is creating a dialogue between international writers and the community,” she said. 'Putting their writings onstage by American actors kind of opens up that dialogue.”

Here is this year's lineup:

' 'Where Do Broken Hearts Go” by Cynthia Edul (Argentina)

' Selected poems by Laurynas Katkus (Lithuania)

' 'Love is a Word” by Mamle Kabu (Ghana)

' Selected poems by Yeow Kai Chai (Singapore)

' Performance by Omar Perez (Cuba)

' 'End of Skill” by Mamle Kabu (Ghana)

' 'Down Sol Plaatje Drive” by Sabata-mpho Mokae (South Africa)

' Selected poems by Sadek Mohammed (Iraq)

' 'Return to Haifa” by Boaz Gaon (Israel)

If you go

' What

: Global Express: A Night of Theatre and Writing FYI body with bullets_44: l When: 8 p.m. Thursday

' Where

: Theatre B, UI Theatre Building, 200 N. Riverside Dr., Iowa City

' Cost

: Free