Durban University of Technology presents
Courtyard Theatre: 15, 16, 17 October
The Durban University of Technology’s Department of Drama and Production Studies proudly presents Gibson Kente’s Too Late at The Courtyard Theatre on 15, 16, and 17 October 2025 at 18:00.
The Durban University of Technology revives and reimagines Kente’s Too Late as part of its curriculum, presented as a second-year performance techniques production. This staging not only honours Kente’s golden-era contribution to South African theatre but also situates the work within contemporary pedagogy—ensuring that emerging theatre practitioners engage critically with its historical, political, and cultural significance.
Directed by Sikhuthali Oliver Bonga, choreographed by Mduduzi Mtshali and Mandisa Mngoma and musically directed by Zenneth Cibane, this reimagined DUT staging of Too Late bridging historical township theatre with contemporary creative practice.
Audiences can expect a dynamic performance filled with music, movement, and emotional depth that honours Gibson Kente’s enduring legacy as the father of South African township theatre.. His 1975 play Too Late occupies a pivotal position in the evolution of township theatre, shifting it from primarily light-hearted entertainment to a vehicle of political defiance and cultural protest. Kente’s theatre drew heavily from the cultural performativity of African tradition imibongo (praise poetry), vigorous articulation, song, comedy, and stock characters.
At the heart of the play is Madinto, a shebeen queen whose humanity, generosity, and maternal love defy stereotypical portrayals of women in township spaces. Through her, Kente explores the dignity of black womanhood amid deprivation and oppression. The play also stages intergenerational tensions—between the radical youth, represented by Saduva and the Majitas, and the reformist elders—mirroring the broader tensions of the liberation struggle.
The play embodies what Kente termed “angry theatre”—a balance between cultural sympathy and defiant critique of apartheid. Historically, Too Late was censored and banned by the apartheid state, with Kente himself arrested in 1976. Yet its legacy endures as a cornerstone of South African protest theatre, often credited with igniting the cultural flame that contributed to the Soweto Uprising. Its exploration of human interest, community solidarity, and resistance continues to resonate in post-apartheid reflections on theatre and society.
Event Details:
Venue: The Courtyard Theatre, Durban University of Technology
Dates: 15, 16 & 17 October 2025
Time: 18:00
Available through secretary Bawinile at 031 373 2194, email: BawinileM1@dut.ac.za
or at the door.
Trigger Warning: Contains strong language and scenes of violence
Gibson Kente’s Too Late
