UMabatha explained

uMabatha is a 1970 play written by South African playwright Welcome Msomi.[1] It is an adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth set in the Zulu Kingdom during the early 19th century, and details how Mabatha overthrows Dangane.

Described as Msomi's "most famous" work,[2] uMabatha was written when Msomi was a student at the University of Natal; it was first performed at the University's open-air theater in 1971. In 1972, it was performed at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Aldwych Theatre as part of that year's World Theatre Season,[3] and has subsequently been performed in Italy, Scotland, Zimbabwe, and throughout America,[4] including a "very successful off-Broadway season in 1978".[5]

Reception

Peter Ustinov said that, before seeing uMabatha, he did not truly understand Macbeth,[6] while Gregory Doran stated that the 1995 Johannesburg production of uMabatha was "the best production of [Macbeth]" he had ever seen.[7]

In response to the 1995 Johannesburg production, Nelson Mandela told Msomi that "(t)he similarities between Shakespeare's Macbeth and our own Shaka become a glaring reminder that the world is, philosophically, a very small place."[4]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: UMABATHA: THE ZULU MACBETH (When Birnam Wood Comes To South Africa, Look Out) . Brantlet . Ben . The New York Times . 27 July 1997. 5 October 2009 .
  2. News: Daphney Hlomuka: Much-loved actress . The Times . 5 October 2008. 5 October 2009 .
  3. Web site: Umabatha, West End (1972) . Broadway World International Database . 14 October 2009.
  4. News: 'UMABATHA – The Zulu Macbeth' Celebrates Origins of Zulu Nation With Drama, Music and Dance Oct. 2–5 at Wiltern . UCLA News . 19 August 1997 . 5 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110614122405/https://www3.scienceblog.com/community/older/archives/O/a/ucl1212.shtml . 14 June 2011 . dead.
  5. Web site: Shakespeare in South Africa: African Appropriations . Internet Shakespeare . 14 October 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080330002706/https://internetshakespeare.uvic.ca/Library/Criticism/shakespearein/sa7.html . dead . 30 March 2008 .
  6. News: A New Stage for South Africa . McNeil Jr. . Donald G . The New York Times . 6 July 1997. 10 October 2009 .
  7. Woza Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus in South Africa, by Gregory Doran and Antony Sher; published 1996 by Bloomsbury Publishing

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