Engaging with the South African Past: the TRC and how theatre performs back

Francesca Mussi

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    Abstract

    Focusing on the analyses of two exemplary South African plays - Ubu and the Truth Commission, and Nothing But the Truth - this essay explores how the country has been negotia­ting its traumatic past through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. These plays use dramatic performance to challenge and expose some weaknesses of the TRC - regarding, in particular, the concepts of truth, amnesty, and reconciliation - suggesting the necessity to keep the dialogue about the past open.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)91-101
    Number of pages11
    JournalCommonwealth Essays and Studies
    Volume38
    Issue number1
    Publication statusPublished - Sept 2015

    Keywords

    • South Africa
    • Theatre
    • Truth
    • Reconciliation
    • Amnesty
    • Confession
    • Ubu and the Truth Commission
    • Nothing but the truth

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