Bird

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Bird is a play by Nicholas Ellenbogen

The original text

The play was originally written for the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as President of the new democratic South Africa, and addresses issues such as the changes to come with a new leadership and the leader seeing that he can learn the necessary skills from nature, and especially from the birds around him.

Written as a narrative, so that the performers can share the lines among themselves as required, the play uses various props and masks to represent the birds that the man encounters on his journey.

Originally performed by three male actors, but later by a cast of up to six.

The performance text is contained in Volume Two of The Complete Works of Nicholas Ellenbogen and Theatre for Africa (privately published by Theatre for Africa)

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1994(?): First performed, directed by Nicholas Ellenbogen with Patrick Mofokeng, Nhlanhla Mavundla and Esmael Texiera.

Sources

Theatre for Africa. (n.d.) The Complete Works of Nicholas Ellenbogen and Theatre for Africa Claremont, Cape Town.

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