Difference between revisions of "The Coolie Odyssey"
| (11 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | A play by [[Rajesh Gopie]], written with a writer’s grant from the [[National Arts Council]](2002). | + | A play by [[Rajesh Gopie]], written with a writer’s grant from the [[National Arts Council]] (2002). |
== Subject == | == Subject == | ||
| − | Inspired by the novel '' | + | Inspired by the 1995 novel ''Red Earth and Pouring Rain'' by [[Vikram Chandrah]], ''[[The Coolie Odyssey]]'' is a many-layered epic drama that covers various highlights in the history of South African Indians from 1890 to 2002, looking at Indian life, religious ideals and local politics. It tells the stories of a group of men, women and children who initially sign up for seven years indentured labour in what was colonial Natal in 1890 and then become part of the population. The story is recorded by a typing monkey (with memories of previous human incarnations) in the yard behind the house of a descendant living in modern day Durban and the narrative moves back and forth in time and location, from India, to Durban, to a sugar-cane plantation on the Natal north coast. His story unveils the life of Ramlal Kilhari, an indentured labourer, who arrived in Durban in 1888 and follows Ramlal as he searches for identity, belonging and salvation against the backdrop of those pioneering colonial times. The production cast a light on a very influential minority group that was part of the social fabric, but uncertain about their future in the New South Africa at the turn of the new millenium. |
== Performance history in South Africa == | == Performance history in South Africa == | ||
| − | First staged, directed by | + | First staged, directed by [[Rajesh Gopie]], at the [[Grahamstown Festival|Grahamstown Main Festival]] (2002), at the [[Market Theatre]] (2003) directed: [[Tina Johnson]]. Cast : [[Adrian Alper]], [[Frantz Dobrowsky]], [[Alistair Dube]], [[Rajesh Gopie]],[[Krijay Govender]], [[Afzal Khan]], [[Lebo Mashabela]], [[Keshava Nair]], [[Sankari Nair]], [[Shiksha Rampathar]], [[Steven Raymond]], [[Crystal Tryon]] and at the [[Baxter Theatre]] in 2005. Gopie then collaborated with [[Heinrich Reisenhofer]] to create a different vision of the play which was mounted in the [[Playhouse Theatre]] in Durban at the end of 2005 directed by Reisenhofer. In November 2010 a production again directed by the playwright was staged in the [[iZulu Theatre]] at the Sibaya Casino and in April/May 2011 at the [[Market Theatre]]. 2011: Directed: [[Rajesh Gopie]]. Cast: [[Rajesh Gopie]], [[Yateen Dayaram]], [[Thiru Naidoo]], [[Avershree Maistry]], [[Conrad Kemp]], [[Anuraag Dounidyal]], [[Don Mosenye]], [[Muzi Clive]] at the [[Market Theatre]]. |
==Translations and adaptations== | ==Translations and adaptations== | ||
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
| + | |||
| + | [[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer) | ||
| + | |||
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]] | Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]] | ||
Latest revision as of 17:46, 11 July 2024
A play by Rajesh Gopie, written with a writer’s grant from the National Arts Council (2002).
Contents
Subject
Inspired by the 1995 novel Red Earth and Pouring Rain by Vikram Chandrah, The Coolie Odyssey is a many-layered epic drama that covers various highlights in the history of South African Indians from 1890 to 2002, looking at Indian life, religious ideals and local politics. It tells the stories of a group of men, women and children who initially sign up for seven years indentured labour in what was colonial Natal in 1890 and then become part of the population. The story is recorded by a typing monkey (with memories of previous human incarnations) in the yard behind the house of a descendant living in modern day Durban and the narrative moves back and forth in time and location, from India, to Durban, to a sugar-cane plantation on the Natal north coast. His story unveils the life of Ramlal Kilhari, an indentured labourer, who arrived in Durban in 1888 and follows Ramlal as he searches for identity, belonging and salvation against the backdrop of those pioneering colonial times. The production cast a light on a very influential minority group that was part of the social fabric, but uncertain about their future in the New South Africa at the turn of the new millenium.
Performance history in South Africa
First staged, directed by Rajesh Gopie, at the Grahamstown Main Festival (2002), at the Market Theatre (2003) directed: Tina Johnson. Cast : Adrian Alper, Frantz Dobrowsky, Alistair Dube, Rajesh Gopie,Krijay Govender, Afzal Khan, Lebo Mashabela, Keshava Nair, Sankari Nair, Shiksha Rampathar, Steven Raymond, Crystal Tryon and at the Baxter Theatre in 2005. Gopie then collaborated with Heinrich Reisenhofer to create a different vision of the play which was mounted in the Playhouse Theatre in Durban at the end of 2005 directed by Reisenhofer. In November 2010 a production again directed by the playwright was staged in the iZulu Theatre at the Sibaya Casino and in April/May 2011 at the Market Theatre. 2011: Directed: Rajesh Gopie. Cast: Rajesh Gopie, Yateen Dayaram, Thiru Naidoo, Avershree Maistry, Conrad Kemp, Anuraag Dounidyal, Don Mosenye, Muzi Clive at the Market Theatre.
Translations and adaptations
Sources
Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
Go to ESAT Bibliography
[Van Heerden (2008)][1]. p. 135.
Return to
Return to ESAT Templates
Return to C in Plays I Original SA Plays
Return to C in Plays IV: Festivals and Pageants
Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
