Difference between revisions of "Egoli: City of Gold"

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''[[Egoli: City of Gold]]'' (also printed eGoli) is a play by [[Matsemela Manaka]]. A play about the lives of two miners in the city of Johannesburg, exploring the effects of drink, dangerous work and confinement in hostels on the men. Workshopped by Manaka with actors [[John Maolusi Ledwaba]] and [[Hamilton Mahonga Silwane]] under the auspices of [[Soyikwa Theatre]] in mid-1979.  
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''[[Egoli: City of Gold]]'' is a play by [[Matsemela Manaka]] (1955-1998).  
  
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The play was voted "Best Play of the Year" in London in 1982.
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Also printed ''[[eGoli: City of Gold]]'' on occasion.
  
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Not to be confused with the Afrikaans TV series ''[[Egoli: Plek van Goud]]''
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==The original text==
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A play about the lives of two miners in Johannesburg (the "city of gold" of [[Egoli]]), exploring the effects of drink, dangerous work and confinement in hostels on the men. Workshopped by Manaka with actors [[John Maolusi Ledwaba]] and [[Hamilton Mahonga Silwane]] under the auspices of [[Soyikwa Theatre]] in mid-1979.
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The play is a searing indictment of the exploitation of industrial workers. It provided a basis for optimism among members of the working class, especially the Natonal Union of Mineworkers who were in the forefront of the Congress of SA Workers Unions.
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Published in 1980. Also published in ''[[Beyond the Echoes of Soweto: Five Plays by Matsemela Manaka]]'' (1997).
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The play was banned in South Africa but awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival and was voted "Best Play of the Year" in London in 1982.
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''Not to be confused with the [[Afrikaans]] TV series '''''[[Egoli: Plek van Goud]]'''''
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
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1979: First performed at the [[Soweto YMCA]].  
 
1979: First performed at the [[Soweto YMCA]].  
  
Line 17: Line 28:
  
 
== Performance history abroad ==
 
== Performance history abroad ==
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1980: Staged at the Erlangen Festival in West Germany
 
1980: Staged at the Erlangen Festival in West Germany
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
 
Various entries in the [[NELM]] catalogue.
  
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[[ESAT Bibliography Da-Daz|Davis, Geoffrey V.]] 2003.
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[[Geoffrey V. Davis]] (ed.). 1997. ''Beyond the Echoes of Soweto, Five Plays by [[Matsemela Manaka]]''. The Netherlands: Harwood.
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[[Geoffrey V. Davis]] 2003. ''Voices of Justice and Reason: Apartheid and Beyond in South African Literature''. Amsterdam: Rodopi.
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Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 E|E]]
 
  
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Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
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Return to [[South_African_Films]]
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Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
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Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
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Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
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Return to [[South_African_Radio/Plays|South African Radio Plays and Serials]]
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Return to [[South_African_Television/Plays|South African Television Plays and Series]]
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Return to [[South_African_Venues,_Companies,_Societies,_etc]]
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Latest revision as of 06:38, 31 October 2026

Egoli: City of Gold is a play by Matsemela Manaka (1955-1998).

Also printed eGoli: City of Gold on occasion.

The original text

A play about the lives of two miners in Johannesburg (the "city of gold" of Egoli), exploring the effects of drink, dangerous work and confinement in hostels on the men. Workshopped by Manaka with actors John Maolusi Ledwaba and Hamilton Mahonga Silwane under the auspices of Soyikwa Theatre in mid-1979.

The play is a searing indictment of the exploitation of industrial workers. It provided a basis for optimism among members of the working class, especially the Natonal Union of Mineworkers who were in the forefront of the Congress of SA Workers Unions.

Published in 1980. Also published in Beyond the Echoes of Soweto: Five Plays by Matsemela Manaka (1997).

The play was banned in South Africa but awarded a Fringe First at the Edinburgh Festival and was voted "Best Play of the Year" in London in 1982.

Not to be confused with the Afrikaans TV series Egoli: Plek van Goud

Performance history in South Africa

1979: First performed at the Soweto YMCA.

1979: Reshaped and directed by Rob Amato for the Rehearsal Room at The Space (Cape Town) in August 1979. Dan Lekalakala was the stage manager with Ben Dekker as the designer and John Roberts as head of lighting.

1980: Went on to a run at the Market Theatre. Published by Ravan Press in 1980. It was banned by the Nationalist government in 1981.

1999: Produced by the Drama Department of the University of Durban-Westville in August 1999. (The Natal Witness 6 Sept 1999).

2016: Staged at the Market Theatre in January 2016 as part of the theatre's 40th birthday celebration.

Performance history abroad

1980: Staged at the Erlangen Festival in West Germany

Sources

Various entries in the NELM catalogue.

Geoffrey V. Davis (ed.). 1997. Beyond the Echoes of Soweto, Five Plays by Matsemela Manaka. The Netherlands: Harwood.

Geoffrey V. Davis 2003. Voices of Justice and Reason: Apartheid and Beyond in South African Literature. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to South_African_Films

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 South African Radio Plays and Serials

Return to South African Television Plays and Series

Return to South_African_Venues,_Companies,_Societies,_etc

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page