South African Theatre/Plays

Admin: Hannah Borthwick

In this section we have three lists, to distinguish between plays and performances created (or at least significantly adapted and/or “localized”) in South Africa or by South African authors (Plays I, the first list in this section) and selected texts created elsewhere, but performed or influential in South Africa (Plays II, the second list), and lastly a list of play collections containing original South African works (Plays III, the third list). Collections of plays are listed under the names of author/editor. It is important to note that there may be a number of plays that are usually assumed to be original South African works, but which may in fact be re-workings or translations of foreign plays and stories. In such cases, the play will be listed in Plays II – so readers are advised to consult both lists when looking for a play.

Also included in this section are pageants and tableaux, as well as such one-off festivals and celebrations which in some way be said to constitute performances in themselves (though they may include specific performances in their structure - e.g. The Empire Exhibition, Centenary of the Great Trek, the Emancipation Centenary Celebrations, the Presidential Inauguration of Nelson Mandela, etc.) Festivals which are annual events, made up of different individual performances (e.g. The Grahamstown Festival) would be listed in Section 3 (Venues)

NOTES FOR USING THIS SECTION:

(1) In accordance with normal bibliographic usage, in cases where the titles of plays and performances contain one of the initial articles A, An or The, the items are listed alphabetically according to the word following that initial article. (In the case of Afrikaans the articles are 'n or Die, and in the case of Dutch Een, Di, Die, Den or Het.) The article is then put at the end of the title. To illustrate: "The Arrest by Uys Krige" is listed as "Arrest, The by Uys Krige" under #A. Similarly, the original Afrikaans version ("Die Arrestasie") is listed as "Arrestasie, Die by Uys Krige", also under #A. NB: This is however only done for the numerous works listed in Afrikaans, Dutch and English. In other languages (including the other seven South African languages such as Sotho, Xhosa and Zulu and European languages such as French or German), the full titles are listed exactly as they are, with beginning article where applicable, since the grammatical structure of most such languages are too complex and unfamiliar for us to apply this procedure consistently.

Please note that plays with titles starting with a numeral or date are placed first in the list, before #A.

(2) In the case of the second list (Plays II), the term "significant" is used to refer to plays that have had an extended life or long run over the years, or a theatrical event which had a specific and demonstrale impact on the industry and the art form in South Africa. It is obvious that the sheer number of plays produced in the country over the course of almost four centuries, we cannot possibly list all plays.

(3) Since some local authors do not necessarily (or always) acknowledge their original sources, please check BOTH lists when looking for a play. Adapted/translated plays are listed under their local titles in Plays II , then cross-referenced to the original title. (Thus for example Umabatha will be listed in Plays II with a cross-referencing to Macbeth and Absolom, My Seun! will be cross-referenced to John Ferguson by St John Erivne.)

(4) For ease of reference the plays by Shakespeare are not listed under their full Elizabethan title in Plays II, but under the the briefer, more familiar titles used by the general public. (e.g. Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, etc.) The same is often true of the titles for the Greek, Roman and other translated plays.

Click on the appropriate letter of the alphabet under the approapriate list below to obtain an alphabetical listing of links to entries on plays and performances, arranged alphabetaically according the title of the work.

PLAYS I

Original South African texts or significant adaptations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Some items are listed under dates or numbers. To see the list (arranged numerically), click below: #Numbers or dates

PLAYS II

Significant South African productions of foreign plays

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Some items are listed under dates or numbers. To see the list (arranged numerically), click below: #Numbers or dates

PLAYS 3

Published play collections and literary anthologies containing original South African texts or significant adaptations.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Some items are listed under dates or numbers. To see the list (arranged numerically), click below: #Numbers or dates

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