Difference between revisions of "Stand in the Sun"

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by [[John Hunt]] (1999). Full-length drama.
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''[[Stand in the Sun]]'' is a play by [[John Hunt]] (1954-)  
  
 
== Subject ==
 
== Subject ==
Two men from Alexandra township represent the general difference between the old-South Africa township dweller on the one hand and the new South Africa flashy, get-rich-quick, township yuppie on the other. The third character is a working-class white Afrikaner male. They meet by chance at a crossroads in Alex and the ensuing interaction explores their experience of the new South Africa, their place in it and the fact that the differences that separated groups in the old South Africa have not all disappeared in the new.
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In textual form the play is a traditional, realist, three-hander,  in which two men from Alexandra township represent the general difference between the old-South Africa township dweller on the one hand and the new South Africa flashy, get-rich-quick, township yuppie on the other. The third character is a working-class white Afrikaner male, who runs out of petrol in the ghetto and therefore has to walk through it every day. They all meet by chance at a crossroads in Alex and the ensuing interaction explores their experience of the new South Africa, their place in it and the fact that the differences that separated groups in the old South Africa have not all disappeared in the new.
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However, the original production was conceived to turn it into a unique experience, one which had two different casts performing simultaneously in two different theatres, one in Alexandra township and the other in Sandton, Johannesburg. Audience members attending either venue were given the opportunity to be bussed to the other. Theatre-goers could be transported from the low-income all-black Alexandra township to join the audience in the traditionally upper-income white [[Theatre on the Square]], while Sandton theatre-goers could be bussed (under police escort) into the heart of Alexandra to join the audience there. This arrangement continued for the duration of the play’s run.
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
Premièred in April 1999, directed by [[Barbara Rubin]], with two different casts simultaneously in two different venues; in the [[Alexan Kopano Community Centre]] in Alexandra with [[Owen Sejake]], [[Ronnie Nyakale]] and [[Robert Hobbs]] and in the Agfa [[Theatre on the Square]] in Sandton, with [[Patrick Ndlovu]], [[Anthony Bishop]] and [[Hugh Masebenza]].
 
  
The play was a traditional realistic three-hander, but what made the production extraordinary, given its central focus on separate social groups that existed in the old and persisted in the new South Africa, was its staging. [[John Hunt]] the playwright, but primarily known as an innovative creative adman and co-founder of TBWA Hunt Lascaris, built the concept into the production of staging the piece in two very specifically selected venues at the same time. This resulted in more than a traditional production, but an original kind of happening. The première production opened with two different casts simultaneously in two different theatres, one in Alexandra township and the other in Sandton, Johannesburg. Audience members attending either venue were given the opportunity to be bussed to the other. Theatre-goers could be transported from the low-income all-black Alexandra township to join the audience in the traditionally upper-income white [[Theatre on the Square]], while Sandton theatre-goers could be bussed (under police escort) into the heart of Alexandra to join the audience there. This arrangement continued for the duration of the play’s run.
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1999: Premièred in April , directed by [[Barbara Rubin]], with two different casts simultaneously in two different venues; in the [[Alexan Kopano Community Centre]] in Alexandra with [[Owen Sejake]], [[Ronnie Nyakale]] and [[Robert Hobbs]] and in the Agfa [[Theatre on the Square]] in Sandton, with [[Patrick Ndlovu]], [[Anthony Bishop]] and [[Hugh Masebenza]]. [[Monique Garden]] as costume designer and props buyer, [[Nadya Cohen]] as set designer, and [[Declan Randall]] as lighting designer.
  
 
==Translations and adaptations==
 
==Translations and adaptations==
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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[Van Heerden (2008)][http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10019.1%2F1443%2Fvanheerden_theatre_2008.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=_egBU77CNYWJhQeE5oCADQ&usg=AFQjCNEWnD1BzeLnFmOV2tvyGLoMyNeT6Q&bvm=bv.61535280,d.Yms]. p 161.
 
[Van Heerden (2008)][http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10019.1%2F1443%2Fvanheerden_theatre_2008.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=_egBU77CNYWJhQeE5oCADQ&usg=AFQjCNEWnD1BzeLnFmOV2tvyGLoMyNeT6Q&bvm=bv.61535280,d.Yms]. p 161.
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Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
  
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]]

Latest revision as of 07:28, 30 June 2019

Stand in the Sun is a play by John Hunt (1954-)

Subject

In textual form the play is a traditional, realist, three-hander, in which two men from Alexandra township represent the general difference between the old-South Africa township dweller on the one hand and the new South Africa flashy, get-rich-quick, township yuppie on the other. The third character is a working-class white Afrikaner male, who runs out of petrol in the ghetto and therefore has to walk through it every day. They all meet by chance at a crossroads in Alex and the ensuing interaction explores their experience of the new South Africa, their place in it and the fact that the differences that separated groups in the old South Africa have not all disappeared in the new.

However, the original production was conceived to turn it into a unique experience, one which had two different casts performing simultaneously in two different theatres, one in Alexandra township and the other in Sandton, Johannesburg. Audience members attending either venue were given the opportunity to be bussed to the other. Theatre-goers could be transported from the low-income all-black Alexandra township to join the audience in the traditionally upper-income white Theatre on the Square, while Sandton theatre-goers could be bussed (under police escort) into the heart of Alexandra to join the audience there. This arrangement continued for the duration of the play’s run.

Performance history in South Africa

1999: Premièred in April , directed by Barbara Rubin, with two different casts simultaneously in two different venues; in the Alexan Kopano Community Centre in Alexandra with Owen Sejake, Ronnie Nyakale and Robert Hobbs and in the Agfa Theatre on the Square in Sandton, with Patrick Ndlovu, Anthony Bishop and Hugh Masebenza. Monique Garden as costume designer and props buyer, Nadya Cohen as set designer, and Declan Randall as lighting designer.

Translations and adaptations

Sources

[Van Heerden (2008)][1]. p 161.

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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