NAT NAKASA's remains were repatriated to the land of his birth last month, and now the story of his life is being immortalised in a theatre production.
This year marks the 49th anniversary of the death in exile of the iconic Drum journalist who fell from a New York building when he was only 28.
A Distant Drum - The Story of Nat Nakasa is currently in the works at the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs) it is directed by Jerry Mofokeng.
Mofokeng admits that the idea of directing a play on the life of a "giant" left him in a nervous state.
"It is certainly very different from anything I have ever done before. It was good in a sense that, by doing this play, I could not copy myself. It was, however, very daunting and for days I could not sleep, wondering if it will work," Mofokeng says.
Despite his achievements in theatre, he says doubts often crept in on how he would measure up against the production team.
"The scriptwriter is Christopher Hope, who left South Africa many years ago because of the political situation in the country. His son Daniel plays violin in the play. These are very big names and I am happy to be working with them because, in a way, it made me step up my game."
Despite the pressure of living up to expectations, Mofokeng says that his job was made simple by the cast.
"Nat Ramabulana plays Nat," he says, roaring with laughter at the coincidence of the name.
"Then we have Christian Schoombie who plays the apartheid police."
Asked about the experience of working with this star-studded cast, Mofokeng leans back in his chair, closes his eyes and flashes a smile.
"It is very good. These are very good actors who make my job very easy. They breathed life into the script in a way I never could have imagined. With such people as your cast, 50% of your job is done."
Mofokeng promises to do justice to Nakasa's story. "It's painful," he says of Nakasa's tragic death. "These are the Steve Bikos of this world. I can only imagine the contribution he could have made if he were still alive. But we must try not to get angry when telling his story. This is a piece of legacy everyone will be proud of and an artistic feast for the audience."
The play premieres at Pacofs on Monday and then at New York's Carnegie Hall on October 28.
selebim@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
Beating the drum for writer Nat Nakasa
NAT NAKASA's remains were repatriated to the land of his birth last month, and now the story of his life is being immortalised in a theatre production.
This year marks the 49th anniversary of the death in exile of the iconic Drum journalist who fell from a New York building when he was only 28.
A Distant Drum - The Story of Nat Nakasa is currently in the works at the Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Pacofs) it is directed by Jerry Mofokeng.
Mofokeng admits that the idea of directing a play on the life of a "giant" left him in a nervous state.
"It is certainly very different from anything I have ever done before. It was good in a sense that, by doing this play, I could not copy myself. It was, however, very daunting and for days I could not sleep, wondering if it will work," Mofokeng says.
Despite his achievements in theatre, he says doubts often crept in on how he would measure up against the production team.
"The scriptwriter is Christopher Hope, who left South Africa many years ago because of the political situation in the country. His son Daniel plays violin in the play. These are very big names and I am happy to be working with them because, in a way, it made me step up my game."
Despite the pressure of living up to expectations, Mofokeng says that his job was made simple by the cast.
"Nat Ramabulana plays Nat," he says, roaring with laughter at the coincidence of the name.
"Then we have Christian Schoombie who plays the apartheid police."
Asked about the experience of working with this star-studded cast, Mofokeng leans back in his chair, closes his eyes and flashes a smile.
"It is very good. These are very good actors who make my job very easy. They breathed life into the script in a way I never could have imagined. With such people as your cast, 50% of your job is done."
Mofokeng promises to do justice to Nakasa's story. "It's painful," he says of Nakasa's tragic death. "These are the Steve Bikos of this world. I can only imagine the contribution he could have made if he were still alive. But we must try not to get angry when telling his story. This is a piece of legacy everyone will be proud of and an artistic feast for the audience."
The play premieres at Pacofs on Monday and then at New York's Carnegie Hall on October 28.
selebim@sowetan.co.za
For more stories like this one, be sure to buy the Sowetan newspaper from Mondays to Fridays
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