Horn of Sorrow
Horn of Sorrow is an ecological play by Nicholas Ellenbogen and Theatre for Africa.
Contents
The original text
Written in 1986, the improvised play utilizes mime, mimetic sounds, dance, songs, storytelling and minimalist techniques to address the imminent extinction of the black rhino, as caused by widespread poaching and the trade in rhino horn.
The play was first performed as an open-air presentation under a fig tree in the Umfolozi Game Reserve in Natal, before going on an extended tour of South Africa and performances abroad.
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), Drama for a New South Africa (Ed David Graver) (Indiana University Press, 1999) and Nicholas Ellenbogen's Horn of Sorrow and Elephant of Africa (edited by Nicholas Ellenbogen and Liz Szymczak, published by Theatre for Africa in 2003).
Translations and adaptations
Translated into Afrikaans as Horing van Hartseer by Frans Swart and Christien Coetzee and published by Theatre for Africa in Horing van Hartseer en Olifant van Afrika, a collection compiled for Western Cape schools, with notes translated by Anina Joubert.
Performance history in South Africa
1986: Performed as an open-air presentation in the Umfolozi Game Reserve in Natal, directed by Nicholas Ellenbogen, with Ellis Pearson, Madoda Ncayiyana, Bheki Mkhwane, Colleen Nicholas, Robyn Uren, Lindelani Buthelezi and Roger Charteris.
2004: Performed at the Intimate Theatre (Hiddingh campus, UCT) and the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, directed by Luke Ellenbogen with UCT students.
Sources
Theatre for Africa. (n.d.) The Complete Works of Nicholas Ellenbogen and Theatre for Africa Claremont, Cape Town.
Nicholas Ellenbogen and Liz Szymczak (eds). 2003. Nicholas Ellenbogen's Horn of Sorrow and Elephant of Africa. Cape Town: Theatre for Africa.
Anina Joubert (ed). 2003. Nicholas Ellenbogen: Horing van Hartseer en Olifant van Afrika. Cape Town: Theatre for Africa
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