African Gothic

A stage play and a film, written by Reza de Wet, both based on her Afrikaans play Diepe Grond (1984).

= The stage play =

This is the published version of an English translation by De Wet of her original 1984 Afrikaans play Diepe Grond. It has also been referred to as Deep Ground (in early versions) and performed under the title Run to Ground and African Gothic.

Publication history
Published in the collection Reza de Wet: Plays Two by Oberon Press 2005, with a foreword by Marthinus Basson (The volume contains African Gothic, Good Heavens and Breathing In.)

Performance history
2003: The translation by Reza de Wet) was first performed (under the title Run to Ground) in the KwaSuka Theatre in Durban, directed by Greg King, with Belinda Harward, Steven Stead, Patti Nokwe and Frantz Dobrowsky.

2011: The English version, now staged under the published title African Gothic at the Arcola Theatre in London in August 2011, directed by Naomi Wirthner, with Jane Gwilliams, Gil Sutherland, Naomi Wirthner and Gary Wright.

For more on the play, and the performances of the original Afrikaans text, see Diepe Grond

= The film =

The play text was adapted for film in 2012-2013, scripted and produced by Damon Shalit, directed by Gabriel Bologna and starring Damon Shalit as Frikkie, Chella Ferrow as Sussie and Jonny Coyne as Grove, with Glen A. Vaughn, Maria Olsen, Connie Jackson, David Verne and Aviv Gadi.

The film had its world premiere at the Durban International Film Festival (SA) in 2013, and went on to win a number of awards at various festivals around the world.

= Sources =

Artslink.co.za 

http://www.africangothic.com.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reza_de_Wet

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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