Sizwe Bansi is Dead

by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona. (The second name is also spelled Banzi and linguistically the latter is apparently the correct usage, though conventional usage has become "Bansi".)

The original text

An enormously influential workshopped play about a man (Sizwe) who takes on the identity of a dead man (Robert Zwelenzima), in order to circumvent the apartheid strictures and obtain work. Based on a photograph Fugard had seen and the experiences and recollections of Kani and Ntshona.

First performed on Sunday night, October 15th 1972 at The Space (Cape Town), directed by Fugard and performed by Kani and Ntshona. Lighting by Brian Astbury and stage management by Bee Berman.

Published in Statements : two workshop productions devised by Athol Fugard, John Kani, and Winston Ntshona. Oxford University Press, 1974.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into French as Sizwe Banzi est Mort by Marie-Hélène Estienne in 2007.

Performance history in South Africa

1972: Devised and performed at the Space Theatre, directed by Athol Fugard, with Winston Ntshona and John Kani. Lighting by Brian Astbury and stage management by Bee Berman.

1982: Performed in the Baxter Theatre in 1982, directed by Athol Fugard, with Winston Ntshona and John Kani.

1989: Presented by Little Theatre Tours at The Playroom, Cape Town, directed by Damon Galgut from 4 to 9 December starring Linda Mpondo (Styles/Buntu) and Christopher Gxalaba (Sizwe Banzi). Stage manager Safoora Cassiem.

2014-15: Performed at the Market Theatre 26 November 2014 - 14 December 2014 and at the Baxter Theatre from 19 August to 12 September 2015. The production also went on an international tour. Directed by John Kani with Atandwa Kani and Mncedisi Shabangu. Lighting design by Mannie Manim and stage manager Lebeisa Molapo.

Performances outside South Africa

1973: Produced at London's Royal Court Theatre, then transferred to the Ambassadors. Directed by Athol Fugard, with Kani as Styles and Buntu and Ntshona as Robert/Sizwe. There, it won The London Theatre Critics award.

1974: After six previews, the Broadway production, presented in repertory with The Island, opened on 13 November 1974 at the Edison Theatre, where it ran for 159 performances. Kani and Ntshona jointly won Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Play for their performances in both Sizwe Banzi Is Dead and The Island.[citation needed]

2007: Performed by John Kani and Winston Ntshona at the Royal National Theatre in London.

2007: Performed in French as Sizwe Banzi est Mort at the Barbican Centre, the Festival d'Avignon and New World Stage at the Harbourfront Centre, Toronto. Produced by CICT (Centre International de Créations Théâtrales · Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord), directed by Peter Brook with Habib Dembélé and Pitcho Womba Konga. Décor by Abdou Ouologuem and lighting by Philippe Vialatte.

Performed at The Mousetrap Theatre of the New English School in Jabriya, Kuwait, with Abdalla Ali as Sizwe/Robert, Charbel Rached as Styles, and Mohamed Mostafa as Buntu.