Pula
Pula: A Prayer for Rain (1981) is a play by Matsemela Manaka. A four-hander, but with twelve parts, the play comprises four movements, each revealing a different aspect of the demoralization of the black man in South Africa, and uses dance, chanting and physical tableaux, as well as verbal elements. Pula was conceived and developed by Matsemela Manaka in collaboration with his theatre group, Soyikwa. This ensemble consists of Manaka, Ronnie Mkwanazi, Danny Moitse, David Sebe, and Makarious Sebe.
Performance history in South Africa
From 1981 to 1984, various versions of Pula were presented in Johannesburg. Prior to its 1981 premiere at the Black Chain Hall in Diepkloof, a Soweto neighborhood, Soyikwa rehearsed and improvised for a year and a half.
The play won the Amstel Playwright of the Year Award (????***) in 198* and was first performed at the DOCC in 1982?*, directed by Manaka?* and featuring **, **.
1982: It opened at the Laager on 27 September 1982 under Manaka's direction. Later produced at the Nunnery Theatre at the University of the Witwatersrand with Makarious Sebe, ** Published in Market Plays (ed Stephen Gray) by Ad Donker, in 1986. (See Gosher, 1988, **) Also published in/by** Skotaville.
2004: Staged in the Sanlam Studio Theatre at the Baxter Theatre in February 2004, directed by Tshamano Sebe, with Mbulelo Grootboom, Phikolomzi Magongoma, Andile Nebulane and Thembinkosi Njokweni.
Sources
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