The Dead Wait
Encyclopedia
The Dead Wait is a play by Paul Herzberg
which tells the tale of a young South Africa
n athlete, conscripted
as a soldier in the Angolan Civil War
, who tries to own up to a crime on arriving back home. Partly autobiographical, it draws on Herzberg's similar experiences prior to his leaving South Africa. It was aired for a spell on BBC Radio
.
Although the play stems from and has its roots in the context of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it does not, unlike its coevals Ubu and the Truth Commission
and The Story I Am About To Tell
(with which it was shown at The Laboratory in Johannesburg
's Market Theatre), embrace it directly. It is also, unlike the other two, built along traditional theatrical lines.
Audiences were generally and genuinely touched by the play. "A friend was deeply moved by the Dead Wait," recalled William Kentridge
, "the play about the war in Angola
. He had served as a soldier in that war."
The play was staged during Autumn of 2002 under the direction of Jacob Murray, at the Royal Exchange Theatre. The Dead Wait was nominated for Best New Play and production by the Manchester Evening News awards, and in 2002 it won Best Supporting Actor.
Paul Herzberg
Paul Herzberg is a South African-born actor and playwright.Born in Cape Town, he studied acting at the University of Cape Town and scriptwriting at the University of Pretoria. He moved to the UK in 1976, after having served as a conscripted soldier on the Namibian border, during the period of the ...
which tells the tale of a young South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n athlete, conscripted
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
as a soldier in the Angolan Civil War
Angolan Civil War
The Angolan Civil War was a major civil conflict in the Southern African state of Angola, beginning in 1975 and continuing, with some interludes, until 2002. The war began immediately after Angola became independent from Portugal in November 1975. Prior to this, a decolonisation conflict had taken...
, who tries to own up to a crime on arriving back home. Partly autobiographical, it draws on Herzberg's similar experiences prior to his leaving South Africa. It was aired for a spell on BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
.
Although the play stems from and has its roots in the context of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it does not, unlike its coevals Ubu and the Truth Commission
Ubu and the Truth Commission
Ubu and the Truth Commission is a South African play by Jane Taylor first performed under the directorship of William Kentridge at The Laboratory in Johannesburg's Market Theatre on May 26, 1997....
and The Story I Am About To Tell
The Story I Am About to Tell
The Story I Am About to Tell was a successful South African play by Duma Kumalo. Produced by a support group for survivors giving testimony at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and starring three of them, it ran for five years both at home and abroad.- Concept :The play was designed for...
(with which it was shown at The Laboratory in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
's Market Theatre), embrace it directly. It is also, unlike the other two, built along traditional theatrical lines.
Audiences were generally and genuinely touched by the play. "A friend was deeply moved by the Dead Wait," recalled William Kentridge
William Kentridge
William Kentridge is a South African artist best known for his prints, drawings, and animated films. These are constructed by filming a drawing, making erasures and changes, and filming it again. He continues this process meticulously, giving each change to the drawing a quarter of a second to two...
, "the play about the war in Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. He had served as a soldier in that war."
The play was staged during Autumn of 2002 under the direction of Jacob Murray, at the Royal Exchange Theatre. The Dead Wait was nominated for Best New Play and production by the Manchester Evening News awards, and in 2002 it won Best Supporting Actor.