Salaam Stories

(Also known as SALAAM, Salaam or Salaam Stories/SALAAM). A play by Ashraf Johaardien.

The original text

Originally conceived as a series of vignettes, performed as a 90 minute play for 5 performers. Later reworked to become a flexible solo performance by the playwright. In 2006 it was reworked as a 60 minute solo play and renamed Salaam.

The text of Salaam was first published by Just Done Productions, Everton in 2006 and as Salaam in the collection South African Plays for TV, Radio and the Stage (compiled by Robin Malan and Nokuthula Mazibuko) by Oxford University Press in 2007.

Performance history in South Africa

2002: Performed as Salaam Stories (a 90 minute version for 5 performers) at the inaugural Spier/PANSA Festival held at the Spier Estate (Winner of the Jury Award for Best Play). Also staged as a solo performance by the playwright at Theatre Row, New York, USA.

2003: Performed as a solo performance at the Oval House Theatre, London by the playwright, also at the Spier Summer Arts Festival, the Oval House Theatre, London the University of the Western Cape and the Baxter Theatre Centre

2004: Performed as Salaam Stories at the Baxter Theatre Centre, directed by Neville Engelbrecht, with Farouk Valley-Omar, Roshina Ratnam, Ashraf Johaardien, Chad Abrahams, Niquita Arendse and Sufeyah Johaardien. It also played at the Darling Festival

2006: First performed as Salaam, a 60 minute solo version, at the Arena Theatre, Cape Town, the National Arts Festival, the South African National Schools Festival, the Wits Theatre 969 Festival, and the State Theatre in Pretoria.

2008: Performed at the Montecasino Theatre, the Baxter Theatre Centre and the Afrovibes festival in the Netherlands.

2012: Performed at the Drama for Life SA Season and two SA Schools Festivals (Bloemfontein and Mmpumalanga)

2014: Performed at the National Arts Festival, and The Athenaeum, Port Elizabeth.