Difference between revisions of "Woza Albert!"
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After a record-breaking tour of South Africa, the play returned to the [[Market Theatre]] in October, 1981, now playing in the main venue with [[Dixon Malele]] as stage manager. | After a record-breaking tour of South Africa, the play returned to the [[Market Theatre]] in October, 1981, now playing in the main venue with [[Dixon Malele]] as stage manager. | ||
| − | 1983: The original [[Earth Players]] / [[The Company]] production presented at the | + | 1983: The original [[Earth Players]] / [[The Company]] production presented at the Empty Space Theatre in Seattle, Washington, and the Ananburg Centre, Philadelphia. |
1984/5: The original [[Earth Players]] / [[The Company]] production presented at the [[Baxter Theatre|Baxter Concert Hall]], Cape Town, then at the [[Criterion Theatre]] in London by [[Terence Frisby]], where it won the London ''[[City Limits]]'' Best Play of the Year Award, then taken to New York's Lucille Lortel Theatre, on Broadway and from there, to other parts of the world. | 1984/5: The original [[Earth Players]] / [[The Company]] production presented at the [[Baxter Theatre|Baxter Concert Hall]], Cape Town, then at the [[Criterion Theatre]] in London by [[Terence Frisby]], where it won the London ''[[City Limits]]'' Best Play of the Year Award, then taken to New York's Lucille Lortel Theatre, on Broadway and from there, to other parts of the world. | ||
Revision as of 16:19, 19 January 2016
Woza Albert! ("Arise, Albert!") is an improvised political play by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema and Barney Simon.
Contents
The original text
A full length play devised and improvised by Mtwa and Ngema, who had formed The Earth Players to do so, and facilitated and refined with the help of director/playwright Barney Simon, whom they had invited to help.
The text tells the story of how Christ ("Morena") visits apartheid South Africa, where he is introduced to the lives of ordinary people under the system, and does so by means of powerful mimicry and multiple characterizations by the two performers. In many ways the prototype for, and still one of the very best and most popular, examples of the new improvisational political theatre of the 1980s. An iconic political work, it was not only controversial, but influenced the nature of political theatre-making and the style and careers of a large number of writers and performers, and set up the careers of Mtwa and particularly Ngema as writer/theatre-makers.
The text was first published 1983 by Methuen and has since become and one of the most anthologised and produced of all South African plays. Published by Methuen and also in Woza Afrika! by George Braziller. The play has been a regular prescribed work for study and performance at school and university since the late 1980s.
Productions
After opening in Johannesburg, the production embarked on extensive tours for a number of years, according to Percy Tucker (1997, p. 402) eventually playing 23 seasons worldwide, and garnering numerous awards. After 1985, the play was performed by new cast members.
1981: First produced by the Earth Players, and presented in association with The Company, it opened at the Market Theatre on 25 March, 1981, directed by Barney Simon, with Percy Mtwa, and Mbongeni Ngema. Lighting by Mannie Manim, production manager Patrick Miller and stage manager Melanie Dobbs.
After a record-breaking tour of South Africa, the play returned to the Market Theatre in October, 1981, now playing in the main venue with Dixon Malele as stage manager.
1983: The original Earth Players / The Company production presented at the Empty Space Theatre in Seattle, Washington, and the Ananburg Centre, Philadelphia.
1984/5: The original Earth Players / The Company production presented at the Baxter Concert Hall, Cape Town, then at the Criterion Theatre in London by Terence Frisby, where it won the London City Limits Best Play of the Year Award, then taken to New York's Lucille Lortel Theatre, on Broadway and from there, to other parts of the world.
1986: The original Earth Players / The Company production plays in Toronto, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide. A new production by the Market Theatre Company, directed by Barney Simon, and now starring Sello Maake ka Ncube and Louis Seboko, is presented in the Baxter Concert Hall.
1987: The Market Theatre production plays in Switzerland.
1996: Directed by Bo Petersen, with Zwelibanzi Majola and Zolani Cata, in the Studio at the Baxter Theatre.
2001: Staged at the 25-year anniversary of the Market Theatre, directed by Sello Maake ka Ncube, with Siyabonga Twala and Tony Kgoroge for the opening performance and thereafter with Mfana Jones Hlope and Errol Ndotho.
2012: Directed by Prince Lamla, with Mncedisi Baldwin Shabangu and Hamilton Ntokozo Dlamini at the Market Theatre, followed by a month-long season at the Edinburgh Festival 2012.
2014: A production by the University of Kwazulu-Natal's Hexagon Theatre, directed by Peter Mitchell, with T.Q. Zondi and Mpilo Nzimande. Also done at Seabrooke's Theatre, DHS
2016: Produced by the Joburg Theatre, by arrangement with DALRO (Pty) Limited, in The Fringe at Joburg Theatre, directed by ?? with Mncedisi Shabangu and Hamilton Dhlamini .
= Translations, adaptations and spin-offs
Sources
Pat Schwartz. 1988. The Best of Company. Johannesburg: Ad Donker Publishers: pp. 100-102.
Mary Benson. 1997. Athol Fugard and Barney Simon. Bare Stage, a Few Props, Great Theatre. Johannesburg: Ravan Press: pp. 118-121.
Percy Tucker, 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Wits University Press: pp. 402, 442.
"Woza Albert! at Seabrooke's in Durban", Artslink.co.za News, 04/04/2014[1]
"Joburg Theatre presents Woza Albert!", Artslink.co.za News, 01/07/2016 [2]
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