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Playwrights => Athol Fugard discussion => Topic started by: Iain Fisher on September 12, 2026, 01:59:38 PM
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BBC Radio 4 and the Royal Court Theatre, which this year marks its 70th anniversary, have confirmed details of a collaboration that will bring acclaimed contemporary drama from the Royal Court's rich history and the BBC archive to audiences nationwide. This includes Sizwe Bansi is dead on 28 September 2026.
"This stark, funny and moving play is set in 1970s South Africa at the height of apartheid. When a man arrives in a photographic studio to have his picture taken for his passbook, the characters discover what it means to lose such a document in a country where your passbook is your identity. The chilling reasons of how and why the man needed a new photograph are revealed. A thought-provoking, captivating drama about oppression, racism and identity. Recorded in front of an audience at Patrick Studio, Birmingham Hippodrome as part of the spoken word festival. With a specially recorded introduction by Athol Fugard in South Africa".
The Producer/Director is Pauline Harris and the cast are Tonderai Monyevu (Styles) , Sibusiso Mamba (Man/Robert Zwelinzima/Sizwe Banzi) and Adetomiwa Edun (Buntu).
Music is composed and played by Xhosa Cole and Azizi Cole, the Production Co-ordinators are Vicky Moseley and Pippa Day, the Sound team are Simon Highfield, Sharon Hughes and John Benton.
It was a Radio Drama Manchester production for BBC Radio 3 (the broadcast now will be on BBC Radio 3). Originally broadcast in 2022.
For the BBC Radio4 website click here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/schedules/bbc_radio_fourfm (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/schedules/bbc_radio_fourfm)
For more on Sizwe Bansi is Dead click here
https://iainfisher.com/fugard/athol-fugard-statements.html (https://iainfisher.com/fugard/athol-fugard-statements.html)
(https://iainfisher.com/fugard/fugard-bbc-radio%204.jpg)