shakespeare in townships in south africa

We draw on postcolonial theory, which highlights the domination of South African theatre curricula by a canon of works whose values enshrine the colonial domination from which higher education is still struggling to emerge. This chapter looks at a doctoral research project in which co-author Nellie Ngcongo developed a methodology to transform interpretation-through-performance of the Shakespearean texts which are the traditional property of Drama departments. It is an issue we as academics have to face right now, not wait for committees to take years to decide. As pointed out at the UKZN Decoloniality Summer School 2019, this is at the core of student protests, and not just fees. It is hoped that analysis of the results will contribute to a model of teaching methodology for creative interpretation of traditional dramatic texts.Īs with the 2015 #RhodesMustFall student protests, the 2019 #FeesMustFall protests have once again raised the issue of transforming outdated, irrelevant and decontextualized university curricula based on Eurocentric models. The theory framing this study is that of postcolonial studies, and will be used to analyse the data generated. Digital technology is being used as an innovative part of the case study methodology, as the current student body are now the 'virtual generation'.

Within a constructivist approach, my research explores combining Text Study with workshop theatre to facilitate interpreting traditional texts, as well as integrating discrete syllabus items into a holistic teaching and learning process. Shakespeare is still the most read and most often produced playwright in the world, but if his texts are to be taught, this cannot be in an ahistorical or political vacuum, and the focus should be on performance. This paper describes work-in-progress on developing a methodology for creative interpretation of traditional Shakespearean texts in post-apartheid theatre. While student demographics in higher education have changed to reflect South Africa's multicultural society, universities are still offering traditional drama curricula with colonial-based content.

Shakespeare in townships in south africa