Touring US play In the Continuum, which looks at the challenges of two young people, one African and the other African- American, wowed theatre fans in Grahamstown and is sure to impress many more when it tours the country.

The African youth is played by Danai Gurira, who was born in the US to Zimbabwean parents. Her American counterpart is played by Nikkole Salter.

The two actors juxtapose the hardships, expectations and challenges facing youth as they grow into adulthood. In the Continuum is many plays within one play and deals with several issues, ranging from

love affairs to Aids.

A theme running through the play is the process that two young people from two totally different backgrounds engage in when dealing with Aids. It shows how culture determines how we respond to certain crises such as Aids.

Gurira represents the African background where sharing, including dealing with Aids, is supposed to be a communal responsibility.

But the interesting part of this play is how these two different cultures are used to show human responses to challenges. At the end, one does not feel like you are watching an ordinary Aids play. The play convinces you that you are getting an insight into the broad cultural sphere of both an African country and America through the clever interpretations by these actors.

The play is directed by Robert Ohara and its South African tour is sponsored by the US embassy. It performed in South Africa last year at the Market Theatre, and was highly acclaimed.

Gurira has toured extensively both in the US and internationally with In the Continuum. Other productions in which she has played include Forbidden City, God Botherers, The Story and King Baabu. She holds a masters degree in Fine Art from New York University. She is also the recipient of a 2006 Obie Award and a 2006 Outer Critics John Gassner Award. Salter is also a recipient of several theatrical accolades.