1st Edition

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

By Loren Kruger Copyright 1999
    292 Pages
    by Routledge

    292 Pages
    by Routledge

    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.

    1 Introduction: the drama of South Africa 2 The progress of the national pageant 3 New Africans, neocolonial theatre, and “an African national dramatic movement” 4 Country counter city: urbanization, tribalization, and performance under apartheid 5 Dry white seasons: domestic drama and the Afrikaner ascendancy 6 The drama of black consciousnesses 7 Spaces and markets: the place of theatre as testimony 8 Theatre in the interregnum and beyond

    Biography

    Loren Kruger is Associate Professor of English, Comparative Literature, and African and African-American Studies at the University of Chicago. She is the author of The National Stage and currently editor of Theatre Journal.

    '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 dieas clear and well expressed.' - Lizbeth Goodman, University of Surrey

    'A much needed book.' - Richard Schechner, New York University

    'Kruger's research is impressive: thorough, wide-ranging, and clearly documented with an excellent bibliography of scripts and secondary sources. The Drama of South Africa is certain to become a cornerstone of all subsequent studies of South African theatre, and an often-cited reference in studies of African and postcolonial theatre more generally.' - Catherine M. Cole, Theatre Journal

    'A much needed textbook for students of drama and theatre.' - Artsmart

    'Loren Kruger has done the South African theatre research community a singular service with her attempt to break through the artificial barriers of the apartheid cultural heritage it is both timely and valuable.' - Temple Hauptfleisch, Research in African Literatures

    'The Drama of South Africa is an outstanding book it should be read by all who care about (per)forming post-apartheid society.' - Simon Lewis, H-Net Review