Yes and Know to the Freedom Chatter

Yes and Know to the Freedom Chatter is a play by Kole Omotoso (1943-).

The original text

A ritual play, set in South Africa "from the time of the European entry into Africa to the beginning of the 21st Century", and subtitled "a play about Newman December's search for justice", the piece addresses the notion of "freedom" in a post slavery (post-Apartheid) African state.

It was specifically written for production by students at the Stellenbosch Drama Department, where Omotoso was a professor at the time. First performed in 2001.

The text has not been published.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

2001: The first production was done by the Stellenbosch Drama Department and opened on 29 August in the H.B. Thom Theatre, then playing from 30 August to 8 September. Directed by the Omotoso (assisted by Cornelia Faasen), with a large cast consisting of Petrus du Preez, Ranza Skordis, Louis Loock, Marthinus J. van Vuuren, Annalet Prinsloo, Lindi Smit, Adam Donnelly, Natalie Cervati, Sonja Engelbrecht, Pascale Neuschafer, Anneke Senekal, Burnese Cronje, Anneke Villet, Maryke Woolf, Hein van Zyl and Maryke Vorster, with a group of 5 dancers and 11 extras, that included Bongile Mantsai, Cindy Swanepoel, Nzali Beja, Moeketsi Masokanye, Yolande van Zyl, Steven Jada and others. Design was by Maritha Visagie, while the technical director was Liane Mulder, the production manager Barnie Mans and the stage manager Francois van Wyk. The rest of the crew consisted of Herman Warnich, Leigh-Robin Myburgh, Carina Bothma, Hybré Beukes, Larien Truter, Liza Shaw, Cristelle de la Harpe and Larisa van Zyl.

Sources

The programme, typed copy of the text, poster and prompt book for the 2001 Stellenbosch production, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

Go to ESAT Bibliography