CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY
Directed by Heinrich Reisenhofer
Adaptation by Roy Sargent
Set Design Peter Cazlet
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Set in 1946, this is a moving story of a father's search for his son, the terrible discovery of the young man's crime and punishment, and the fate of their home village in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Remaining true to the novel, the play explores the themes of family relationships, human suffering and racial reconciliation in a uniquely South African way.
In search of missing family members, Zulu priest Stephen Kumalo leaves his South African village to traverse the deep and perplexing city of Johannesburg in the 1940s. With his sister turned prostitute, his brother turned labor protestor and his son, Absalom, arrested for the murder of a white man, Kumalo must grapple with how to bring his family back from the brink of destruction as the racial tension throughout Johannesburg hampers his attempts to protect his family.
In search of missing family members, Zulu priest Stephen Kumalo leaves his South African village to traverse the deep and perplexing city of Johannesburg in the 1940s. With his sister turned prostitute, his brother turned labor protestor and his son, Absalom, arrested for the murder of a white man, Kumalo must grapple with how to bring his family back from the brink of destruction as the racial tension throughout Johannesburg hampers his attempts to protect his family.
REVIEWS
"The overall visual and aural effects make this production a deep aesthetic experience, as well as showing simple but profound emotional depth. A truly theatrical rendering of his poignant novel… has brought out the essence of Paton's work while keeping its spirit intact in an arresting and novel manner.…the direction by Heinrich Reisenhofer has a rapid, skilful flair." - Owen Williams
"Superbly cast… it is gratifying to see such a seamless final product is gratifying and a worthy tribute to Paton. Tight direction and sustained pace also help to keep Paton's aesthetic ideals in place, without turning the work into a dumbed-down didactic nightmare - as has happened all too often to stage works dealing with our traumatic past." - Wihelm Snyman
"Superbly cast… it is gratifying to see such a seamless final product is gratifying and a worthy tribute to Paton. Tight direction and sustained pace also help to keep Paton's aesthetic ideals in place, without turning the work into a dumbed-down didactic nightmare - as has happened all too often to stage works dealing with our traumatic past." - Wihelm Snyman
In loving memory of great actors
and beautiful people who have left us:
Ramalao Makhena | Thobeka Maqhutyana
Rodger Dwyer | Joko Scott
Garth Stead (who took these incredible rehearsal photos)
and beautiful people who have left us:
Ramalao Makhena | Thobeka Maqhutyana
Rodger Dwyer | Joko Scott
Garth Stead (who took these incredible rehearsal photos)
Ramaloa, who was cast to play the Reverend but never got to play the role on stage despite being extraordinary in rehearsal. Due to failing health he left the show and passed a few days afterwards. Joko Scott played the Reverend. Joko, Rodger and Thobeka left us in the years that followed.
Below are a series of rehearsal photographs taken by Garth Stead, who took his life years later.
They were all beautiful souls who were a gift to all of us who got to experience them.
Below are a series of rehearsal photographs taken by Garth Stead, who took his life years later.
They were all beautiful souls who were a gift to all of us who got to experience them.
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Rodger Dwyer
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Thobeka Maqhutyana
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Ramalao Makhena
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Morena Medi
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Joko Scott
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Nkuli Sibeko
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Roy Sargent- Writer and Producer
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David Muller
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Matthew Wild
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