The Drama of South Africa: Plays, Pageants and Publics Since 1910 - Softcover

Kruger, Loren

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0415179831 ISBN 13: 9780415179836

Publisher: Routledge, 1999

Synopsis

The Drama of South Africa comprehensively chronicles the development of dramatic writing and performance from 1910, when the country came into official existence, to the advent of post-apartheid. Eminent theatre historian Loren Kruger discusses well-known figures, as well as lesser-known performers and directors who have enriched the theatre of South Africa. She also highlights the contribution of women and other minorities, concluding with a discussion of the post-apartheid character of South Africa at the end of the twentieth century.

About this title

Review:

..."timely and valuable...[Kruger] has done the South African theater research community a singular service with her attempt to break through the artificial barriers of the apartheid cultural heritage.." -"Research in African Literatures, 2002 "a much needed book." -Richard Schechner, New York University "this author's work is widely read and admired by scholars active in the field of theatre studies...her scholarship is careful and extensive, and her ideas clear and well expressed." -Lizbeth Goodman, Open University "Kruger's near-encyclopedic account of dramatic performances in the Republic of South Africa is especially interesting for its inclusion of the "interregnum" (roughly 1990-98), when the legal bases for Apartheid disappeared...Recommended for large drama collections serving upper-division undergraduates through professionals." -"Choice, May 2000 "This intriguing study explores the history of South African theatre in the twentieth century." -"International Journal of African Studies, May 2003

Synopsis:

This text chronicles the development of dramatic writing and performance in South Africa from 1910, when the country came into official existence as a partially post-colonial Union, to the advent of post-apartheid. It discusses well-known figures and famous phenomena, and lesser known actors, directors and impressarios that have enriched the theatre of South Africa. As well as discussing conventional dramatic texts, the book investigates the impact of sketches and manifestos, and the oral preservation of scripts that for various reasons, political and otherwise, could not be written down. This text challenges the familiar binary oppositions that have defined the field - black/white, imported/indigenous, purist/hybrid, and text/performance. and shows how the contributions of America and African-American influences complicate oppositions between European and African. It also highlights the contribution of women, South Asians and other minorities, and concludes with a discussion of the post-apartheid character of South Africa at the end of the 20th century.

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0415179831
• ISBN 13: 9780415179836
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 292