In a hilltop village in Rwanda, residents watch intently as a small troupe of actors perform a play adapted from a best-selling French novel -- written far away but echoing a story that is painfully close to home.
"Small Country" tells the story of Gaby, whose carefree childhood is torn apart by civil war in Burundi and then the Rwandan genocide of 1994.
Some of the Burundian and Rwandan actors performing in the village of Nyamata were themselves survivors of the genocide.
"It was truly perfect, but after a few minutes, I started crying," said Claudine, 40, watching the play.
"It brought back so many memories of the past," she added, before halting the interview, overwhelmed by emotions.
In 1994, at least 800,000 people, primarily from the Tutsi minority, were killed in less than three months in Rwanda.
Neighbouring Burundi suffered a civil war during the same period that lasted 12 years and left some 300,000 dead.
Rwandan actress Natacha Muziramakenga, who plays multiple roles including Gaby's mother, said the play has helped the team face their own traumas.
"I am also a product of exile, just like Gaby. His story is my story," she said.
Also like Gaby, novelist Gael Faye grew up in Burundi before the region's turmoil forced him into exile in France.
- Deep emotions -
On this late afternoon, around 100 curious locals gathered on wooden benches set up in a small forest to watch the performance, for many their first taste of theatre.
Blending dialogue, music, singing, and dance, it was designed for outdoor performance.
The actors stage it on the red soil typical of Rwanda and their voices are accompanied by guitar and inanga, a traditional wooden string instrument.
Rwandan rapper Kenny Mirasano and singer Kaya Byinshii join the troupe along with guitarist Samuel Kamanzi, who has worked extensively with Faye.
The play aims to present the deeply emotional story in a fun and engaging way, and there was plenty of laughter from the audience.
"Then when we get to the moment in the play where the genocide occurs... suddenly things become tense," said Frederic Fisbach, who adapted the novel and co-directed the play alongside Rwandan Dida Nibagwire.
"It keeps the questions alive," said Fisbach.
The play will be presented in July at the renowned Avignon Festival in France, where it will again be performed in Rwanda's Kinyarwanda language with a translation on screen.
