Combat de Nègre et de Chiens

Combat de Nègre et de Chiens ("Battle of the Blacks and the Dogs") is a French play by Bernard-Marie Koltès (1948–1989)[1] .

The original text

A play about three Europeans enclosed in a camp on the construction site of a western company in the heart of Africa, surrounded by barbed wire fences, with African security guards on watchtowers around them. Then a mysterious man, Alboury, arrives to demand the body of his brother who died that day in unknown circumstances. However, he is reluctant to step beyond that barrier to come inside even when invited, fearful of the treatment that a black man on site after dark would receive.

Written in 1979, it was published by Éditions Stock in 1980 and first performed in 9 December, 1982 at La Mama on New York, directed by Françoise Kourilsky and thereafter in 1983 at the Théâtre Nanterre-Amandiers, directed by Patrice Chéreau. Published again by Éditions de Minuit, 1989.

Translations and adaptations

The play has been translated into English a number of times, with varying titles, e.g.

As Battle of the Black and the Dogs by Mitzi Booysen (as performed by PACT in 1993 and CAPAB in 1996).

As Battle of Black and the Dogs by Michaël Attias (as performed by Yale Repertory Theatre directed by Robert Woodruff in 2010)

As Black Battles with Dogs by Arthur Nauzyciel (e.g. as originally developed in Atlanta by Nauzyciel, according to the programme note. Also performed under this title by Southwark Playhouse, London, directed by Alexander Zeldin in 2012)

Translated into German by Andrea Koschwitz(?) and performed at the Volksbühne am Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz, Berlin, Germany, in 2004, directed by Dimiter Gotscheff

Performance history in South Africa

1993: Performed as Battle of the Black and the Dogs starring David Clatworthy, who was nominated for a DALRO award in as best supporting actor on the English stage for the production.

1996: Staged as Battle of the Black and the Dogs by CAPAB at the Nico Arena opening 9 November 1996, directed by Mark Fleishman starring Louis van Niekerk, Jacqui Singer, Chris Vorster and Akin Omotoso.