Difference between revisions of "Egoli: City of Gold"
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| − | + | ''[[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. | |
| − | Return to [[ | + | 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|South African Festivals and Competitions]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Radio/Plays|South African Radio Plays and Serials]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Television/Plays|South African Television Plays and Series]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[South_African_Venues,_Companies,_Societies,_etc]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | 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.
Contents
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
