(Renowned
cartoonist Nanda Soobben)
When
internationally acclaimed South African cartoonist, Dr Nanda Soobben, was asked
to create artwork for a new staging of the late Kessie Govender’s play, Stablexpense, he jumped at the
opportunity to pay tribute to the playwright, whom he fondly recalls.
“During
the dark years Kessie and I often spoke of working together, but our focus was
on finding work that would put food on the table, so we never got the chance to
collaborate,” he says. “Like the name of another one of his plays, Working Class Hero, Kessie was a man of
the people and a man of many talents who fearlessly used his skills to expose
the injustice of Apartheid.”
One of
Durban’s cultural struggle icons, Kessie Govender refused to perform in front
of segregated audiences, as was the Apartheid law at the time. In the
mid-1970’s, Govender started his own company, Stable Theatre. Its first
location was on Queen Street (now Denis Hurley Street), then West Street (Dr
Pixley KaSeme Street) until Govender discovered an abandoned electrical
warehouse in Princess Alice (now Johannes Nkosi) Street. He moved in with his
Stable Theatre Company and refused to vacate the premises, despite efforts by
the Corporation to evict him. He eventually claimed squatters’ rights and won
his case and this is where Stable Theatre is today. It became the first
independent black-owned theatre company in South Africa.
First
performed in 1974, Stablexpense makes
a biting comment of the fact that the Durban Municipality of the time allocated
more money to the building of a stable for a horse than it did to one of the
new low-cost houses for Indians in Chatsworth after their eviction from areas
that were rezoned for whites only.
Soobben
was approached by directors, Caroline Smart and Jayashree Govender - the
playwright’s widow - to recreate the art depicted in the play.
“I
remember that scene,” recalls Soobben with a chuckle, “a shebeen featuring
paintings of voluptuous women baring body parts.”
Soobben, who is Director of the Centre for
Fine Art, Animation and Design, in Durban and Cape Town, wishes that Govender
was still alive. Referring to the recent brouhaha over scholars producing contentious art, he reckons that
“Kessie should have been here in the new South Africa, to speak out in this
environment where picking on a corrupt government is deemed to be racist. Kids
should not be thwarted. They should have freedom of expression. In Stablexpense, the playwright was
comparing skewed priorities during Apartheid. He would have had a lot to say
about the current skewed priorities.”
“Kessie was not only an actor, director and
playwright, but also a good artist, a sculptor. He was helpful and was always
willing to go out of his way to assist other artists. One fond memory I have of
him illustrates this. One evening, about 25 years ago, he was asked to judge a
fashion show which was miles away. Not only did he agree to help out, but he
also drove for miles in the opposite direction to come and fetch me, so that I
could be part of the event. This sort of commitment was par for the course for
Kessie.’
Soobben
initiated the Too Little Too Late Awards, to acknowledge contributions towards
the Arts and the Struggle during the time when people of colour were sidelined.
Govender was a recipient of this award, which was presented to the playwright
by the late Aziz Hassim.
And now,
thanks to sponsorship from the National Arts Council and support funding from
the KZN Performing Arts Trust, Stable Theatre will honour its founder by
presenting a revival of his first play.
“We are
very proud to have been given permission by Kessie Govender’s family to do this
work, which represents the first time any of his plays have been performed
since his death in 2002,’ says Stable Theatre Centre Manager, Thanduxolo Zulu.
‘Without Kessie Govender, Stable Theatre itself would not exist and it is
fitting that we honour him in his own home.”
Stablexpense runs at Stable Theatre at 115 Johannes
Nkosi Street from November 22 to 30. Tickets R50 (R40
pensioners/students/scholars) booked through Computicket. For block bookings
(R40pp for more than 10) contact Stable Theatre on 031 309 2513 or email stabletheatre@telkomsa.net or csmart@iafrica.com
There is safe off-street parking. For
directions (to navigate the approach via various one-way streets) visit www.stabletheatre.co.za
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