Donderdag se Mense

Donderdag se Mense (Afrikaans for "Thursday's People") is a play by Pieter Fourie (1940-2021).

The original text

The third play in Fourie's original trilogy of "farm tragedies" (following on Ek, Anna van Wyk and Die Koggelaar), the play deals with declining moral values and the exploitation of farm workers in South Africa through the juxtaposed portrayal of the lives of two linked families - one white, one black. Written in 1998 and published by HAUM-literêr in 1989, the text was submitted to PACT for performance in terms of his contract with them as Resident Dramatist and SACPAC award-winner. It had its first performance in 1990.

The original production and text had a very mixed reaction from critics at the time, ranging from high praise to total rejection - particularly in comparison to the other two plays in the trilogy.

Translations and adaptations

Performing rights for the play granted by DALRO to the SABC in May 1997.

Performance history in South Africa

1990: First performed by PACT, opening in the Windybrow Theatre, Johannesburg on the 17th March and in the Momentum Theatre at the State Theatre complex on 2 April and playing till the 28th. Directed by Deon Opperman, with Louis van Niekerk (Piet), Lida Meiring (Letta), Peter Se-Puma (Tern) and Noria Mabuela (Sina). Set designed by Nadya Cohen, with lighting by Jacques Mulder.

1997:

Sources

Sunday Star 18 March 1990.

PACT theatre programme, 1990.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

Nico Luwes 2010. Pieter Fourie (1940-) se bydrae as Afrikaanse dramaturg en kunsbestuurder: 1965-2010. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Bloemfontein: University of the Free State, pp.442-463 [1]

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