Kessie Govender

Kessie Govender (1942 – 2002) was a pioneering voice in South African protest theatre. Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, his grandfather came to South Africa as an indentured labourer. His father was a bricklayer and, upon leaving school; Kessie also took up this trade.

He launched his Stable Theatre Company with his first play Stable Expense which was produced in the mid-70's, a time when Indians were being relocated to low cost housing in Chatsworth from areas around Durban which had been rezoned for whites only. He also created and ran the Stable Theatre in Durban.

Other plays include Working Class Hero, **

GOVENDER, Kessie. (19*- January 20, 2002) Actor, playwright and director. Born in Durban, he became a keen member of the Shah Theatre Academy in the 1950s, becoming one of its most successful protegés. A keen artist he is remeMbered for his improvisation and performance of the character “Mothie” in Ronnie Govender’s The Lahnee’s Pleasure and his lauded performance as the lead in the same playwright's play Swami (19**). His own playwriting includes his acclaimed Working Class Hero, which he wrote and produced in 1979. It was revived in the Little Theatre, Durban in conjunction with The Playhouse Company in 2001. Also wrote Kagoos (19**) At the time of his death, he was working with Jerry Pooe and Edmund Mhlongo on a touring project for taking theatre to the people - presenting a variety show made up of selected scenes from Pooe's Ekaya Poppie, Govender's own Working Class Hero, Mhlongo's Bayede Shaka and a number of other groups.

GOVENDER, Kessie. He wrote Kagoos which John Kani directed at the Market Theatre in 1988. (Tucker, 1997)

Sources

http://www.stabletheatre.co.za/

Obituary published in The Star, 23 Jnuary 2002.

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