Man Friday
Man Friday is a play by Alistair Dube Adrian Mitchell.
The original text
The play was written in 1973 play by Adrian Mitchell and based on Daniel Defoe's 1719 novel Robinson Crusoe. In it the roles of the two men are reversed hoever, Crusoe as a being a blunt, stiff Englishman, while the native he calls Man Friday is portrayed as being much more intelligent and empathic.
Originally written as a TV play, aired in 1972 by the BBC and adapted for the stage by Mitchell and premiered in London in 1973.
Performance history in South Africa
1994: Presented at the Market Theatre, directed by Alistair Dube with Ignatius Qulu and Lucky Ngojo in the cast.
Man Friday Oct 1994 - A play By Adrian Mitchell Dir. : Gerrit Schoonhoven Cast : Alistair Dube, David Butler, Zenzi Mbuli, Ignatius Qulu, Lucky Ngojo.
Sources
Andile Xaba. 2021. 'Collective memory and the construction of a historical narrative, analysis and interpretation of selected Soweto-based community plays (1984–1994)'. Unpublished PhD thesis.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page
