Out of Bounds
Out of Bounds is a one-man play by Rajesh Gopie
Not to be confused with the Indian actor Rajesh Gope[1].
Contents
The original text
Using 28 different characters, Gopie, often humorously, tells the story of Lal Lachund, a young Indian man growing up in 1980s apartheid South Africa, who lives with his parents and extended family in a cramped house in Inanda, and longs for a house where he has his own room, instead of one which is shared with numerous family members.
The original production went on to tour throughout South Africa, making a strong contribution to the social debate that arose in the New South Africa at that time. It generated so much interest that President Nelson Mandela himself requested a private performance.
The piece was subsequently also staged in the UK, across Europe, in India, in the USA.
The text won a Fleur du Cap Award for Best New Indigenous Script in 2001 and was published in the Playscript series (Junkets Publisher); no. 6, 2008. ISBN 9780620416481.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history
1999: First performed at the Market Theatre in 1999, with Rajesh Gopie and directed by Tina Johnson, lighting by Glen Olsen.
2003: Performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe
2009: Performed at the Old World Theatre Festival in The Habitat Centre in New Delhi, India
2012: Performed at the Sibaya Casino’s iZulu Theatre
2013: Performed at the Ruth B. Shannon Center for the Performing Arts at Whittier College, Los Angeles USA.
Sources
Theatre programmes and other material held by NELM.
Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
Stellenbosch University Library catalogue.
Johann van Heerden (2008)[2]. p. 133
Rajesh's important Durban 'breyani', The Mercury, April 6 2012[3]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajesh_Gopie
https://www.facebook.com/rajesh.gope.85/
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