Survival

Survival is a workshopped play created and performed by Theatre Workshop ’71.

The original text

A strong Black Consciousness play about four political prisoners who re-enact their politicization and relate what had brought them to this place. Commissioned by The Outer Space (Cape Town) the text was created in workshop by the director/facilitator and the original four performers and first performed in 1976.

Published in Robert Kavanagh (ed): South African People’s Plays by Heinemann in 1981.

Performance history

1976: First commissioned by and performed in The Outer Space (Cape Town) in May 1976, directed and facilitated by Mshengu with Fana Kekana, Dan Selaelo Maredi, Themba Ntinga and Seth Sibanda. Design by Bee Berman and stage management by Siphiwe Khumalo (credited as Steve Khumalo). The play then went on tour to the USA and elsewhere.

1984: Apparently performed on tour in the Transvaal by a company that included Darlington Michaels.

1990: Jerry Mofokeng and the original cast revived the play in New York.

1999: Siphiwe Khumalo was responsible for the restaging of the play as part of the Arts Alive Festival in Alexandra and at the Civic Theatre, Johannesburg in 1999.

Sources

Astbury, Brian 1979. The Space/Die Ruimte/Indawo. Cape Town: Moira and Azriel Fine.

Robert Colman in Mail and Guardian, 17-22 September 1999.

Kaunda Selisho. 2024. Obituary: Celebrating the life and legacy of Darlington Michaels, South Africa's beloved 'Papa G' News24 15 September 2024. [1]

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