A Lesson from Aloes

A Lesson from Aloes is a 1978 three-hander play by Athol Fugard. A play about loyalty and betrayal in the struggle against apartheid. The action of the play takes place in 1961 in the backyard of a small house in Algoa Park, Port Elizabeth.

The original text

First published by Oxford University Press, 1981.

Performance history in South Africa

1978: First performed by The Company on 30 November 1978 in the Market Theatre, directed by the playwright, with Marius Weyers (Piet Bezuidenhout), Shelagh Holliday (Gladys Bezuidenhout) and Fugard (Steve Daniels).

1979: Produced by the Market Theatre, directed by the playwright, and featuring Marius Weyers, Bill Curry and Shelagh Holliday. Performed in the Concert Hall, Baxter Theatre. Designed by Malcolm Payne, lighting design by Mannie Manim.

1983: Staged by PACOFS, directed by Cobus Rossouw starring Sandra Kotzé and Schalk Jacobsz.

2019: Produced by A Million Freds Productions from 27 February - 27 March, in association with Neil McPherson for the Finborough Theatre, London, and by arrangement with Samuel French. Directed by Janet Suzman with Dawid Minnaar as Piet, David Rubin as Steve and Janine Ulfane as Gladys, with set and costumes by Norman Coates and lighting by Mannie Manim.

Sources

The Company theatre programme, 1978.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988

http://amillionfreds.com/

https://www.finboroughtheatre.co.uk/productions/2019/a-lesson-from-aloes.php

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page