Naelstring

Naelstring ("umbilical cord") is an Afrikaans play by Pieter Fourie (1940-)

Also found as Naelstring (’n band tussen twee teaterstrominge)‎ ("umbilical cord - a link between two theatre movements")

The original text

Intended as a "universal" play about the unbreakable umbilical cord that links mother and son, it was written as a commissioned play for the Aardklop national arts festival in Potchefstroom. The text is an almost surreal combination of conventional drama and physical theatre.

The première of the play took place at the Aardklop arts festival on 2 October 2001 and was published in the same year by Protea Boekhuis. The text was one of six nominated for the Anglo Gold Award for new plays in that year.

Translations and adaptations

Translated and adaprted as a shorter English play with the title Honour Thy Mother, Fuck Thy Father (or sometimes more circumspectly Honour thy Mother, F**k thy Father) and performed at the Standard Bank Nasionale Kunstefees in Grahamstad opgevoer. with the same cast.

Performance history in South Africa

2001: Performed in the Aardklop arts festival in Potchefstroom on 2 October 2001 as a co-production between Rooderandt Produksies and the Festival. Directed by Gaerin Hauptfleisch with Lindie Stander and Abduragman Adams.

2001: Performed in the Springs Civic Theatre

2001: Performed in English as Honour Thy Mother, Fuck Thy Father at the Standard Bank National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, with the same cast.

2002: Performed in the original version in Bloemfontein during January.

Sources

Nico Luwes 2010. Pieter Fourie (1940-) se bydrae as Afrikaanse dramaturg en kunsbestuurder: 1965-2010. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Bloemfontein: University of the Free State, pp. 530-539 [1]

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