The Biko Inquest

The Biko Inquest is a documentary play by Jon Blair and Norman Fenton.

The original text

Based on the South African inquest into the death in prison of the black leader Steve Biko. Originally written for the stage as The Biko Inquest and published by Rex Collings, London, 1978.

First performed at the Theatre Four, Off Broadway, New York in 1978, directed by Blair and Fenton, and starring Fritz Weaver and Philip Bosco.

Produced by Wole Soyinka, who both directed and acted in the play, in Ile-Ife, 1978

First produced in the UK at the Riverside Theatre, London, in 1984, with Albert FinneyAlbert Finney),

The Jon Blair and Norman Fenton text was adapted for television, directed by and starring Albert FinneyAlbert Finney) and broadcast in 1984/5.

Translations and adaptations

A South African adaptation by Saira Essa and Charles Pillai, called brought on by a controversy about South African performing rights, on the Blair/Fenton text and partly on Essa's own research and resulted in significant changes in the script. Due to contoversy over rights she has created her own adaption referring back to the original court transcripts and to amendments she had already made, resulting in the play Steve Biko: The Inquest.

Directed by Saira Essa for the Prithvi Festival in Bombay in 1985.