Nomathemba
Nomathemba is a play by Eric Simonson, Joseph Shabalala () and Ntozake Shange
Contents
The original text
The play's title comes from the song "Nomathemba", written by Joseph Shabalala (1940–2020) round about 1965, the play was created for Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago in 1995.
The story, created/written by Eric Simonson, Joseph Shabalala and Ntozake Shange, is a love story based on the familiar "Jim comes to Jo'burg" theme, set in post-apartheid South Africa. A very simple story, it tells of the spirited and restless young rural village girl "Nomathemba", who is being courted by the proud and handsome "Bongani", nevertheless decides to go to the big city of Johannesburg to "find herself". Bongani pursues her and they both go through many changes and suffer many hardships before they are at last reunited and marry.
The premier production was created for and produced by Steppenwolf Theatre,Chicago, in 1995. Directed by Eric Simonson, with choreography by Joseph Shabalala, the cast consisted of Vanita Harbour ("Nomathemba") and Ntare Mwine, ("Bongani") and a cast of 23 South African and African-American players, including Dumisani Dlamini as a shrewd, snappy man of the streets. Set design was by Loy Arcenas, costumes by Karin Kopischke and lighting by James F. Ingalls.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
Sources
Richard Christiansen, Tribune Chief Critic. `NOMATHEMBA' RAISES HOPES, AND FULFILLS THEM, CHICAGO TRIBUNE 10 April 1995.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Shabalala
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