Brer Rabbit

Brer Rabbit is a dramatisation by Craig Higginson and Gina Shmukler of the Brer Rabbit trickster tales [1]. It draws its inspiration from the 19th century journalist Joel Chandler Harris's assortment of folk tales.

The original text

The play is a dramatisation by Craig Higginson and Gina Shmukler of the Brer Rabbit trickster tales [2], first popularised by the 19th century journalist Joel Chandler Harris's assortment of folk tales.

The American character known as Br'er Rabbit (or Brer Rabbit, an abbreviation of Brother Rabbit) in fact derives from the oral tradition passed down by African-Americans of the Southern United States and is portrayed as a trickster figure who succeeds by his wits rather than by brawn. Quite probably inspired by similar trickster figures in Africa, particularly the hare that figures prominently in the storytelling traditions in West, Central, and Southern Africa.[3]

Performance history in South Africa

2009: Produced at the Market Theatre, directed by Gina Shmukler. Cast: Ilse Klink (Brer Wolf/Mr Man), Nkoto Malebye (Brer Bear.Turtle/Wild Cat), Thembisa Mdoda (Brer Fox/Moon/Aunt Mommy-Bammy Big Money), Khutjo Mmola (Brer Turtle/Five Wild Cat Kittens), Sivan Raphaely (Brer Rabbit), Nobumtu Sizolibusa (Mother Rabbit/Miss Meadows) and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder as the music director and composer.