The Lahnee's Pleasure

The Lahnee's Pleasure by Ronnie Govender is a satirical comedy set in a pub in KZN. It commemorates the arrival of Indians in South Africa in 1860 and beyond and it deals with Black Consciousness issues.

The original text

A hugely successful play, it was developed through improvisation with actors Mohammed Alli, Kessie Govender and Essop Kahn. Published by Ravan Press, 1977.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1972: First performed as a one-act play at the SABTU/TECON Theatre Festivals in Durban and Cape Town, directed by Govender, with Mahomed Alli, Kessie Govender, Denis Pather, Pat Govender and Essop Kahn in the cast.

1975: Performed by members of TECON

1977: Expanded to a two-act play and performed at the Himalaya Hotel, Durban, with Essop Khan, Mahomed Alli, Sonny Clothier, Manu Padayachee, Solly Pillay and Thavenes Govender.

1978: The expanded version performed at the Market Theatre.

2010: Staged by Artscape in partnership with the High Commission of India, Cape Town Office at the Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town, as part of the fourth edition of the Shared History Festival (The Indian Experience). directed by Ronnie Govender, with Lovie Ramasrai (Mothie), Ralph Lawson, Rajendra Chetty (Sunny), Royston Stoffels (The Stranger), Thiru Naidoo, Christopher Naidoo and Nikhil Fataar. Design by Alfred Rietmann and lighting by Faheem Bardien.