Political shifts and black theatre in South Africa

Abstract

Oral communication, especially through performance, has always been the basis through which Africans/blacks communicated. This became particularly so under apartheid given the fact that blacks were denied a voice, and theatre gave them that voice.

The democratisation of South Africa has not only changed Black Theatre from its original protest and militant nature under apartheid South Africa, but also fragmented it into three different camps based on both the age and gender of the South African black playwrights. These are the Older Generation, the Young Generation and the Female black playwrights. Each group addresses issues that it considers to be of major significance in a democratic South Africa, and consequently need urgent attention. Furthermore, the new political dispensation has changed the state attitude towards both Black Theatre and black institutions of dramatic art which were founded by and meant for blacks. As a result, this has compelled the two institutions to assume a different stand towards the State as well. This demonstrates the impact and influence political shifts have on Black Theatre in South Africa as it keeps up with changes in the society and reflects blacks' lives and experiences under them.