Temba Theatre Company

Temba Theatre Company was founded by Alton Kumalo in 1972. The initial aim was to produce new black writing from the UK and South Africa. The word Temba is said to mean 'Hope' in Zulu.

In 1984 Alby James took over as Artistic Director and sought to create new audiences for the company. More world premieres were put on,. Staff at Temba collected press cuttings about their own activities but also about theatre and other cultural events involving black and Asian people and some political issues, such as the cultural boycott of South Africa and UK arts funding.

The company closed in 1992, due to the withdrawal of funding by the Arts Council of Great Britain.

Production of South African plays

Temba staged the first British production of Sizwe Bansi is Dead by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona, as well as many world premieres.

The company produced Athol Fugard plays in Sheffield in 1974, including No-Good Friday, Nongogo, Sizwe Bansi is Dead and The Blood Knot.

Bitter Milk was a production by the company in London, 1983.

It presented You Can't Stop the Revolution at the Market Theatre in 1987 and in London in 1988.

Sources

https://snaccooperative.org/ark:/99166/w63s5sm5

Transcript of interview with Alton Kumalo by Stephen Gray, London, 9 April [1981] held by NELM: Audio visual collection - in part [Collection: FUGARD, Athol]: 2008. 28. 2. 4.

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