The Methuen Drama Guide to Contemporary South African Theatre

South Africa has a uniquely rich and diverse theatre tradition which has responded energetically to the country's remarkable recent history. This volume focuses on the work of the major playwrights and theatre companies to offer a ground-breaking study of South African drama. During the last fifty years South Africa's playwrights and theatres have given voice to the battle against apartheid and then subsequently have helped to redefine a new national identity and spirit. Following a detailed introduction exploring the nation's recent history, the volume features: - seven overview essays on South African theatre pioneers and theatre forms (including Physical Theatre, Popular Melodrama and Drama at South African Festivals); - fourteen focused essays on major playwrights such as Athol Fugard, Fatima Dike and Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom; - an essay on emerging contemporary playwrights; Written by a team of 24 leading international scholars, The Methuen Drama Guide to Contemporary South African Drama is a unique resource that will be invaluable to students and scholars from a range of different disciplines, as well as theatre practitioners.