It's a Boy!
It's a Boy! is a satirical play by Robert Kirby (1936–2007).
Contents
The original text
Written in 1982,
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1982: Opening on 4 August, it was first produced in Cape Town at the Baxter Theatre by the Baxter Theatre Company under the direction of Keith Grenville, with Maureen England (Ouma Knoesen), Natie Rula (Angeline Makubela), Bo Petersen (Juliana Knoesen), Dale Cutts (Jiggs Knoesen), Neil McCarthy (Theunis Nel), Gys de Villiers (Jack Holliday), James Irwin (Parnell Browne), Vusi Dibakwane (Pepsi Thembalini) and Fats Dibeco (Gladstone Gumede). The play ran into censorship problems, notably for the fact that a black man embraces a white woman in the play.
Pieter Toerien and Shirley Firth’s last joint production was the Baxter Theatre production of his It's a Boy! starring Dale Cutts, Bo Petersen and James Irwin and directed by Keith Grenville at the Intimate Theatre in 1982.
It's a Boy! Baxter Theatre, Another first is that the Baxter will present a production at the UCT’s Little Theatre. Robert Mohr co-operated with John Slemon. It's a Boy! by Robert Kirby. Keith Grenville (dir). The play was a return visit which played to packed houses last August during the Baxter 82 season. Then transferred to JHB by Pieter Toerien. Playing at the Academy Theatre featuring Maureen England. Director: Mannie Manim. By January 1983 it had been re-cast with Charles Comyn, Anne Power and John Hayter and then moved to the Academy Theatre on the 2 February.
1983: Presented by Graham Wright in Bloemfontein from 2 August, starring Sydney Chama, Trish Downing, James Irwin, Patrick Willis, Natie Rula, Michael Blaise, Charles Comyn and Susan-Jane Rome. This production was not allowed use of the Kimberley Theatre.
Sources
The Baxter Company theatre programme, 1982.
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne 1988.
Re: Censorship: Die Burger, 27 July 1983.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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