The Fantastical History of a Useless Man

The Fantastical History of a Useless Man, devised by Malcolm Purkey for Junction Avenue Theatre Company (JATC). A deconstruction of the “official” South African history utilizing vaudeville techniques.

The original text

First published by Ravan Press in 1978, republished in 1995 in the collection At the Junction: Four Plays by the Junction Avenue Theatre Company by Wits University Press, Johannesburg.

Performance history in South Africa

1976: Performed in April 1976 at the New Studio Theatre in the New Arts Block, University of Natal (Pietermaritzburg); performed at The Nunnery, Johannesburg, and the Space Theatre, Cape Town, directed by Malcolm Purkey for Junction Avenue Theatre Company with designs, co-devised and featuring William Kentridge.

1978: A Baxter Company '78 production was directed by Ken Leach. The cast: Keith Grenville, Henry Goodman, Wilson Dunster, Melanie-Ann Sher, Sandra Prinsloo, Merle Lifson, Michele Maxwell, Roland Stafford.

Sources

https://www.aspireart.net/auction/lot/14-william-kentridge-south-africa-1955-/?lot=12075&sd=1

Brian Barrow and Yvonne Williams-Short (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987. Cape Town: The Baxter Theatre.

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