The Beneficiary
The Beneficiary is a play by Sinethemba Twani (1989?-)
Contents
The original text
A play about the manner in which property is inherited in the isiXhosa culture, and the impact this has on a young man, Lifa, from a Cape Town township, whose first love is soccer. Lifa lives with his mother and one day his grandfather arrives from the Eastern Cape to persuade his only grandson to leave the city and return to the farm. He has six daughters and none of them can inherit his land.
First conceived and written in isiXhosa as Indlalifa in 2009, it was first performed at the author's own Gumba Squared Theatre in Guguleto, Cape Town. On the advice of friends, the piece was submitted to and showcased at the ArtsCape New Writing Programme in 2010. Positively received, the text was translated into English as The Beneficiary with the assistance of acclaimed writer and director Fatima Dike, for presentation as the second production of the 7th Artscape spring drama season in 2011.
The text published in English by Junkets Publisher in 2013, as Issue 22 of its Playscript series.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
2009 (?): Performed in isiXhosa at the Gumba Squared Theatre in Guguleto, Cape Town
2010: Showcased at the the ArtsCape New Writing Programme
2011: Performed in English at the Artscape Arena from 20 October to 5 November, Cape Town, directed by Fatima Dike, with Chris Gxalaba, Zoliswa Kawe, Thabang Sidloyi, Nobuhle Ketelo and Melikhaya Tana. Designs are by Dicky Longhurst.
Sources
https://www.mediaupdate.co.za/media/42349/the-beneficiary-at-artscape
\https://argief.litnet.co.za/article.php?news_id=111657
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