Difference between revisions of "The Hungry Earth"

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by [[Isaiah Maishe Maponya]]. A full length play about the mine-workers and their struggle against oppression under Apartheid. Drawing much on the structure of Brecht’s ''[[The Measures Taken]]'', it presents a powerful ‘lecture-demonstration’ of black working-class life in South Africa. Written in 1979 and produced at the [[Donaldson Orlando Cultural Club]] in Soweto in May then in the [[Wits Box]].  
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''[[The Hungry Earth]]'' is a play by [[Isaiah Maishe Maponya]] (1951-2021).  
  
In 1982 the play was presented as a [[Baxter Theatre]] Production, directed by [[Isaiah Maishe Maponya|Maponya]], starring [[Sydwell Yola]], [[Simon Mosikile]], [[Velile Nxazonke]]. (Source: Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. ''Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987'').
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==The original text==
  
Presented at the [[National Theatre London]] under the direction of [[Ian Steadman]] in 1983, later touring Britain and Germany. First published by [[Polyptoton]] (London) in 1981, first collected in [[Temple Hauptfleisch]] and [[Ian Steadman]]: ''[[South African Theatre – Four Plays and an Introduction]]'' ([[HAUM Educational]], 1984). Later also publised in a variety of other collections. Also published in ''[[Postcolonial Plays]]'' ([[Routledge]]); ''[[South African Plays]]'' ([[Nick Hern Books]]); ''[[Doing Plays for a Change]]'' ([[Wits University Press]]).  
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A full length play about the mine-workers and their struggle against oppression under Apartheid. Drawing much on the structure of Brecht’s ''[[The Measures Taken]]'', it presents a powerful "lecture-demonstration" of black working-class life in South Africa.  
  
 +
First written and performed in 1979 and the text first published by [[Polyptoton]] (London) in 1981. It was first anthologized by [[Temple Hauptfleisch]] and [[Ian Steadman]] in ''[[South African Theatre – Four Plays and an Introduction]]'' ([[HAUM Educational]], 1984), and thereafter included in a variety of other collections, including: ''[[Postcolonial Plays]]'' ([[Routledge]]); ''[[South Africa Plays]]'' ([[Nick Hern Books]], 1993) and Maponya's own collection, ''[[Doing Plays for a Change]]'' ([[Wits University Press]], 1995).
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 H|H]]
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==Translations and adaptations==
  
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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== Performance history in South Africa ==
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 +
1979: Originally performed by the newly formed [[Bahumutsi Players]] at the [[Donaldson Orlando Cultural Club]] in Soweto in May, then in the [[Wits Box]].
 +
 
 +
1982:  Performed by the [[Bahumutsi Players]] at the [[Laager Theatre]] from January 1982, and  as a [[Baxter Theatre]] Production, directed by [[Isaiah Maishe Maponya|Maponya]], starring [[Sydwell Yola]], [[Simon Mosikile]], [[Velile Nxazonke]].
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1983: Presented at the National Theatre, London, by the [[Bahumutsi Players]], under the direction of [[Ian Steadman]], later touring Britain and Germany,  along with ''[[Umongikazi]]''.
 +
 
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1986: Presented at [[Dramfes '86]].
 +
 
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== Sources ==
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 +
[[Brian Barrow]] and  [[Yvonne Williams-Short]],  (eds.). 1988. ''Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987'' The [[Baxter Theatre]].
 +
 
 +
[[Loren Kruger]] 1999. ''The Drama of South Africa: Plays, Pageants and Publics Since 1910'' London: Routledge
 +
 
 +
[[Percy Tucker]]. 1997. ''Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business''. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press. 
 +
 
 +
[[Stephen Gray]] (ed.) 1993. ''South Africa Plays''. Nick Hern Books.
 +
 
 +
[[Andile Xaba]]. 2021. 'Collective memory and the construction of a historical narrative, analysis and interpretation of selected Soweto-based community plays (1984–1994)'. Unpublished PhD thesis.
 +
 
 +
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 +
 
 +
== Return to ==
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 12:44, 31 January 2024

The Hungry Earth is a play by Isaiah Maishe Maponya (1951-2021).

The original text

A full length play about the mine-workers and their struggle against oppression under Apartheid. Drawing much on the structure of Brecht’s The Measures Taken, it presents a powerful "lecture-demonstration" of black working-class life in South Africa.

First written and performed in 1979 and the text first published by Polyptoton (London) in 1981. It was first anthologized by Temple Hauptfleisch and Ian Steadman in South African Theatre – Four Plays and an Introduction (HAUM Educational, 1984), and thereafter included in a variety of other collections, including: Postcolonial Plays (Routledge); South Africa Plays (Nick Hern Books, 1993) and Maponya's own collection, Doing Plays for a Change (Wits University Press, 1995).

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1979: Originally performed by the newly formed Bahumutsi Players at the Donaldson Orlando Cultural Club in Soweto in May, then in the Wits Box.

1982: Performed by the Bahumutsi Players at the Laager Theatre from January 1982, and as a Baxter Theatre Production, directed by Maponya, starring Sydwell Yola, Simon Mosikile, Velile Nxazonke.

1983: Presented at the National Theatre, London, by the Bahumutsi Players, under the direction of Ian Steadman, later touring Britain and Germany, along with Umongikazi.

1986: Presented at Dramfes '86.

Sources

Brian Barrow and Yvonne Williams-Short, (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987 The Baxter Theatre.

Loren Kruger 1999. The Drama of South Africa: Plays, Pageants and Publics Since 1910 London: Routledge

Percy Tucker. 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

Stephen Gray (ed.) 1993. South Africa Plays. Nick Hern Books.

Andile Xaba. 2021. 'Collective memory and the construction of a historical narrative, analysis and interpretation of selected Soweto-based community plays (1984–1994)'. Unpublished PhD thesis.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page