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
editPeter 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]
References
edit- ^ Brantlet, Ben (27 July 1997). "UMABATHA: THE ZULU MACBETH (When Birnam Wood Comes To South Africa, Look Out)". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ "Daphney Hlomuka: Much-loved actress". The Times. 5 October 2008. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ "Umabatha, West End (1972)". Broadway World International Database. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ^ a b "'UMABATHA – The Zulu Macbeth' Celebrates Origins of Zulu Nation With Drama, Music and Dance Oct. 2–5 at Wiltern". UCLA News. 19 August 1997. Archived from the original on 14 June 2011. Retrieved 5 October 2009.
- ^ "Shakespeare in South Africa: African Appropriations". Internet Shakespeare. Archived from the original on 30 March 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ^ McNeil Jr., Donald G (6 July 1997). "A New Stage for South Africa". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
- ^ Woza Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus in South Africa, by Gregory Doran and Antony Sher; published 1996 by Bloomsbury Publishing