Difference between revisions of "Pula"

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''[[Pula]]: A Prayer for Rain'' (1981) is a play by [[Matsemela Manaka]]. A four-hander, but with twelve parts, the play comprises four movements, each revealing a different aspect of the demoralization of the black man in South Africa, and uses dance, chanting and physical tableaux, as well as verbal elements. Pula was conceived and developed by Matsemela Manaka in collaboration with his theatre group, [[Soyikwa]]. This ensemble consists of Manaka, [[Ronnie Mkwanazi]], [[Danny Moitse]], [[David Sebe]], and [[Makarious Sebe]].
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''[[Pula]]: A Prayer for Rain'' (1981) is a play by [[Matsemela Manaka]].  
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== The original text ==
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A four-hander, but with twelve parts, the play comprises four movements, each revealing a different aspect of the demoralization of the black man in South Africa, and uses dance, chanting and physical tableaux, as well as verbal elements. Pula was conceived and developed by Matsemela Manaka in collaboration with his theatre group, [[Soyikwa]]. This ensemble consists of Manaka, [[Ronnie Mkwanazi]], [[Danny Moitse]], [[David Sebe]], and [[Makarious Sebe]].
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Published in ''[[Market Plays]]'' (ed [[Stephen Gray]]) by [[Ad Donker]],  in 1986.
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==  
From 1981 to 1984, various versions of ''Pula'' were presented in Johannesburg. Prior to its 1981 premiere at the [[Black Chain Hall]] in Diepkloof, a Soweto neighborhood, [[Soyikwa]] rehearsed and improvised for a year and a half.  
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From 1981 to 1984, various versions of ''Pula'' were presented in Johannesburg. Prior to its premiere, [[Soyikwa]] rehearsed and improvised for a year and a half.  
  
 
The play won the [[Amstel Playwright of the Year Award]] (????***) in 198* and was first performed at the [[DOCC]] in 1982?*, directed by Manaka?* and featuring **, **.  
 
The play won the [[Amstel Playwright of the Year Award]] (????***) in 198* and was first performed at the [[DOCC]] in 1982?*, directed by Manaka?* and featuring **, **.  
  
1982: It opened at the [[Laager]] on 27 September 1982 under Manaka's direction. Later produced at the [[Nunnery Theatre]] at the University of the Witwatersrand with [[Makarious Sebe]], ** Published in ''[[Market Plays]]'' (ed [[Stephen Gray]]) by [[Ad Donker]], in 1986. (See Gosher, 1988, **) Also published in/by** ''[[Skotaville]]''.  
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1982: The play was presented at the [[Black Chain Hall]] in Diepkloof, Soweto by [[Soyiwa African Theatre]] in February 1982. It transferred to the [[Nunnery Theatre]] in Johannesburg in March 1982. It then ran at the [[Laager]] from 2 August 1982 under Manaka's direction.  
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Later produced at the [[Nunnery Theatre]] at the University of the Witwatersrand with [[Makarious Sebe]], **  (See Gosher, 1988, **) Also published in/by** ''[[Skotaville]]''.  
  
 
2004: Staged in the [[Sanlam Studio Theatre]] at the [[Baxter Theatre]] in February 2004, directed by [[Tshamano Sebe]], with [[Mbulelo Grootboom]], [[Phikolomzi Magongoma]], [[Andile Nebulane]] and [[Thembinkosi Njokweni]].
 
2004: Staged in the [[Sanlam Studio Theatre]] at the [[Baxter Theatre]] in February 2004, directed by [[Tshamano Sebe]], with [[Mbulelo Grootboom]], [[Phikolomzi Magongoma]], [[Andile Nebulane]] and [[Thembinkosi Njokweni]].
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
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 +
[[Stephen Gray]] (ed.). 1986. ''[[Market Plays]]''. [[AD Donker]].
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==

Revision as of 13:56, 13 October 2023

Pula: A Prayer for Rain (1981) is a play by Matsemela Manaka.

The original text

A four-hander, but with twelve parts, the play comprises four movements, each revealing a different aspect of the demoralization of the black man in South Africa, and uses dance, chanting and physical tableaux, as well as verbal elements. Pula was conceived and developed by Matsemela Manaka in collaboration with his theatre group, Soyikwa. This ensemble consists of Manaka, Ronnie Mkwanazi, Danny Moitse, David Sebe, and Makarious Sebe.

Published in Market Plays (ed Stephen Gray) by Ad Donker, in 1986.

Performance history in South Africa

From 1981 to 1984, various versions of Pula were presented in Johannesburg. Prior to its premiere, Soyikwa rehearsed and improvised for a year and a half.

The play won the Amstel Playwright of the Year Award (????***) in 198* and was first performed at the DOCC in 1982?*, directed by Manaka?* and featuring **, **.

1982: The play was presented at the Black Chain Hall in Diepkloof, Soweto by Soyiwa African Theatre in February 1982. It transferred to the Nunnery Theatre in Johannesburg in March 1982. It then ran at the Laager from 2 August 1982 under Manaka's direction.

Later produced at the Nunnery Theatre at the University of the Witwatersrand with Makarious Sebe, ** (See Gosher, 1988, **) Also published in/by** Skotaville.

2004: Staged in the Sanlam Studio Theatre at the Baxter Theatre in February 2004, directed by Tshamano Sebe, with Mbulelo Grootboom, Phikolomzi Magongoma, Andile Nebulane and Thembinkosi Njokweni.

Sources

Stephen Gray (ed.). 1986. Market Plays. AD Donker.

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