Thesis (DPhil (Dept. of Drama.Centre for Theatre Research))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / Following the socio-political change in South Africa after the democratic elections of 1994 the relationship between the state and the arts changed markedly. Whereas, under apartheid, the white population groups benefited greatly from government support for the primarily Eurocentric cultural heritage and the arts, the new South Africa recognised a multi-cultural and multi-lingual population whose every human right was protected under the new Constitution. Under the new government priorities shifted and this resulted in a transformation of the state-subsidised Performing Arts Councils and generally in the financial dynamics of the arts and culture sector. During the first decade of democracy an arts festival circuit emerged which provided opportunities for specific population groups to celebrate their cultural heritage and also for new independent theatre-makers to enter the industry. After the demise of apartheid there was no longer a market for the protest theatre that had become a hallmark of much South African performing arts in the 1970s and 80s and the creative artists had to discover new areas of focus and find alternative creative stimuli. This dissertation identifies and examines a number of major trends that emerged in the professional theatre in post-apartheid South Africa during the first decade of its new democracy.

Thesis (MDram)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The musical is one of the many forms of musical theatre and consists of certain qualities that define the genre. This form developed out of various genres en there are many approaches and definitions for the musical.This study investigates the nature and changing nature of the musical in South Africa, and it also studies the various factors that contributed and still contributes to the development of the concept musical.The economic-, socio-economic, historical- en cultural background of South Africa is used throughout the study to understand and interpret the nature and context of this theatrical art form. The study is divided into periods; pre – colonial South Africa, Colonial South Africa, Apartheid South Africa and Post-Apartheid South Africa. The above periods are furthermore organized into the following categories; historical background, available theatre spaces, the involvement of theatre makers, forms of musicals found and examples of musicals present during the specific periods.Various forms of the musical are researched; the indigenous community musical, the urban black musical, the anti-apartheid musical, the township musical, independent musicals, international phenomena, contemporary trends as well as the appearance and relevance of the musical at festivals in South Africa.The conclusion of the study is that the nature of musicals in South Africa is bound to various factors that influence this theatrical form, and the form is thus adaptable due to elements such as social-, cultural-, economic- en socio-economic factors. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die musiekblyspel is ‘n onderafdeling van musiekteater en bevat spesifieke eienskappe wat dié genre definieer. Die vorm het ontwikkel vanuit verskeie genres en daar bestaan verskillende benaderings tot en definisies vir die musiekblyspel. Hierdie studie ondersoek die wese en aard en verandering van dié genre in Suid-Afrika, en ook die verskeie faktore wat bygedra het en steeds bydra tot die ontstaan en ontwikkeling van die konsep musiekblyspel. Die ekonomiese-, sosio-ekonomiese-, historiese- en kulturele agtergrond van Suid-Afrika dien as deurlyn, om sodoende ook die aard van die teatervorm in konteks te verstaan en te interpreteer. Die studie is voorts ook verdeel in Pre – koloniale Afrika, gevolg deur Koloniale Suid-Afrika, die Apartheid-era en laastens die Post-Apartheidsera. Die onderskeie tydperke is verder in die volgende onderadelings verdeel; historiese agtergrond, beskikbare teaterruimtes, betrokkenheid van teatermakers, vorme van musiekblyspele aanwesig en voorbeelde van musiekblyspele gedurende bogenoemde tydperke. Verskeie vorme van die musiekblyspel word bestudeer, onder andere die inheemse gemeenskapsmusiekblyspel, die inheemse swart musiekblyspel, die anti-apartheid musiekblyspel, die township-musiekblyspel, onafhanklike, nie staatsgesubsideerde musiekblyspele, internasionale verskynsels, hedendaagse tendense, asook die voorkoms en relevansie van musiekblyspele by kunstefeeste. Die gevolgtrekking van die studie is dat die aard van musiekblyspele in Suid-Afrika gebonde is aan verskeie faktore wat die teatervorm beïnvloed en sodoende is die vorm aanpasbaar weens elemente soos sosiale-, kulturele-, ekonomiese en sosio-ekonomiese faktore.

Thesis (MDram)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Creative expression is influenced by social structures and the political climate of the day. Therefore theatre as a social structure has been directly influenced by colonialism and apartheid. Restricting legislation had a limiting influence on cultural activities and freedom of creative expression. The following terms all refer to community based theatre activities: Community Theatre, Popular Theatre, Theatre for Development, People's Theatre and sometimes Workshop Theatre. Community theatre in post-colonial African countries take place in locations easily accessible to the communities it serves. These activities make use of creative techniques that the target communities can identify with. The subject-matter is generally relevant and is therefore accessible. The conscientisation- and mobilisation-potential of community theatre become evident in post-colonial African countries. The uses of this term in South Africa is closely connected with the above, but the applications in practice are more diverse because of a longer period of Western influence. Popular Theatre encapsulates theatre activities focussing on mass-appeal and popular entertainment as well as theatre activities by and for marginalised communities. "Popular Theatre" activities that take place within marginalised communities make use of collective creative approaches that are aimed at community conscientisation and mobilisation. Like Community Theate and Popular Theatre, Theatre for Development is theatre for, by and of the people (marginalised people, ordinary workers and the unemployed). Certain Theatre for Development projects approach the target communities with pre-planned agendas and creative subject-matter. Theatre for Development, like other community based theatre forms, are aimed at conscientisation, mobilisation and organisation to encourage political liberation and promote a higher standard ofliving. Workshop Theatre encourages people to express themselves by using a democratic and collective creative approach. These characteristics are also present in the previously mentioned theatre forms. Community Theatre, Popular Theatre and Theatre for Development can all be categorised as community based theatre and the terms are interchangable in pracitce. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Politieke omstandighede en daaglikse gebeure beïnvloed die keuse van uitdrukkingsvorme. Kolonialisme en veral die apartheidsbeleid in Suid-Afrika het sosiale strukture, waaronder teater, beïnvloed. Wetgewing en beperkte infrastruktuur het kulturele aktiwiteite, kreatiewe uitdrukking en kulturele vloei beperk. Gemeenskapsgebaseerde teateraktiwiteite in Suid-Afrika word meestal benoem met die volgende terme: Gemeenskapsteater, Populêre Teater, Teater vir Ontwikkeling, "People's Theatre", asook Werkswinkelteater wat in Suid-Afrika soms sosio-polities van aard is. Gemeenskapsteater in post-koloniale Afrika-lande is ten opsigte van vorm en inhoud vir die teikengemeenskap toeganklik en vind plaas in maklik bereikbare ruimtes. Die bewusmakings- en mobiliseringspotensiaal van Gemeenskapsteater kom sterk na vore in post-koloniale Afrika-lande. Die gebruike van die term "Gemeenskapsteater" in Suid- Afrika sluit by bogenoemde aan, maar het ook meer diverse toepassings wat by ontwikkelde lande se beskouings aansluit. Populêre Teater ondervang teateraktiwiteite wat fokus op massa-aanhang, sowel as teateraktiwiteite wat gemik is op gemarginaliseerdes. In laasgenoemde konteks is dit gerig op bemagtiging en word 'n kollektiewe skeppingsproses gebruik. Teater vir Ontwikkeling is soos Gemeenskapsteater en Populêre Teater, teater vir, deur en van "die mense" (gemarginaliseerdes, massa gewone werkers en werkloses). Anders as Gemeenskapsteater kan daar 'n voorafopgestelde agenda of gekose onderwerp wees. Soos ander gemeenskapsgebaseerde teater strewe dit na bewusmaking, mobilisasie en organisasie ter wille van bevryding en verhoogde lewensstandaarde in gemarginaliseerde gemeenskappe. Werkswinkelteater het 'n demokratiese en kollektiewe skeppingsproses wat selfvertroue en die vermoë tot uitdrukking aanmoedig. Dit is 'n eienskap wat ook teenwoordig is in die voorafgenoemde teatervorme. Teateraktiwiteite wat met die terme Gemeenskapsteater, Populêre Teater en Teater vir Ontwikkeling benoem word, kan gekatagoriseer word as gemeenskapsgebaseerde teater en is dikwels in die praktyk omruilbaar.