Nothing but the Truth
A semi-autobiographical play by John Kani (2002), his first play as sole playwright, led to a film and a novel, became hugely popular and won a number of awards. Published by Wits University Press in 2002.
See also: Nothing but the Truth (by James Montgomery)
Contents
Subject
Set in post-apartheid South Africa, it tells the story of an elderly man wrestling with society, his family and most of all himself, to leave the past behind, but not to forget it.
See: [Van Heerden (2008)][1]. p 166.
Performance history in South Africa
Premièred at the Grahamstown Festival in June 2002, directed by Janice Honeyman with John Kani, Pamela Nomvete and Dambisa Kente. The same production was staged at the Baxter Theatre in July 2002. It went to the Market Theatre in September 2002 with Kani, Nomvete and Nthati Moshesh in the cast - Moshesh took over from Dambisa Kente when Kente (44) collapsed a day after performing for Nelson Mandela in a dress rehearsal and died shortly thereafter. The same production was staged at the Opera House in Port Elizabeth In December 2002 and returned to the Market Theatre in January 2003. In September 2003 it was staged at the Market Theatre and in November 2003 at the Baxter Theatre with John Kani, Warona Seane and Esmeralda Bihl, again directed by Janice Honeyman. A successful tour of this production of the USA and Australia followed in 2003/4, starting in December 2003 in the Mitzi Newhouse Theatre at the Lincoln Centre in New York.
Winner of inter alia Fleur du Cap Best Actor Award and Fleur du Cap Award for Best New Indigenous Script in 2002 and five Naledi Awards (including Best New SA Play and Best Production) for the period August 2002 to December 2003.
Translations and adaptations
A film based on the play and under the same title was released in 2008. Produced by Jazz Spirit Production, Odélion Films, Kani wrote the screenplay and directed the film with himself, Rosie Motene, Motshabi Tyelele, Warona Seane and Esmeralda Bihl in the cast.
Sources
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