The Bullet in the Pawpaw

The Bullet in the Pawpaw is a compelling page-turner that traces Kim Hope’s groundbreaking years as a theatre professional in South Africa. But this is no star-struck memoir. It begins in the years of apartheid and follows the author's growing belief in the power of drama to change lives, her struggle against the odds to found the brilliantly innovative Themba project, and her realisation, during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, that her skills as a director could help break the silence surrounding that terrible disease. Beautifully and atmospherically written, her book shines with optimism, courage and an irrepressible sense of adventure. As it drew to a close I found myself so moved that I went straight back to the beginning and read it again.

Geoffrey Durham, Quaker, and author of The Spirit of the Quakers 

In this enchanting and important book, Kim Hope takes us with her through her years in South Africa involving young people in theatre projects helping to overcome the stain and pain left by apartheid. And confronting and dealing with violence, abuse and HIV & AIDS.

Angela Neustatta, Journalist and author of The Year I Turn: A Quirky A-Z of Ageing

Congratulations to Kim on her vivid and moving account of how she went about the onerous task of setting up and running the innovative Themba (“Hope”) project. At a time when people were beginning to be open to testing for HIV but were overwhelmed by the implications, she and her colleagues helped many to comprehend the enormity of the Aids pandemic. I hope this book will affirm the work she and Themba did, recognise those who were given the courage to be tested, and constitute a tribute to those who did not survive the scourge.

The Most Revd Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town, and author of Faith and Courage Praying with Mandela