Doing Plays for a Change marks the convergence of my thought-processes, creativity and activism as a playwright since the mid-1970s. I have engaged in a dialogue with myself for many years to rediscover myself and create my own consciousness to guide me through the milieu of contradictions. This collection emphasises this consciousness. In the process of writing and presenting the plays, I went through interesting experiences, some of which are included in the plays themselves, others of which have never been discussed with or known by the broader public. Not that these were unique experiences. Most writers, politically-conscious artists and activists can tell the same stories.

I conceived the idea of The Hungry Earth in 1978. After doing a few performances with my group Bahumutsi Drama Group at the Moravian Church Hall in Diepkloof, I was struck by a sudden sense of insecurity. The play astounded audiences who had not seen such heavily political work before and their response prompted me to send the script for legal advice. It went to the lawyer via Bishop Desmond Tutu, then General Secretary of the SACC.

In his reply to Bishop Tutu, attorney Raymond Tucker advised as follows: ‘I am of the view that the play would constitute a contravention of the laws relating to racial incitement and the Publications Act and, in addition, the presentation would result in severe harassment of both the author and the performers’ (Tucker R, 28 February 1978). He did not mention the title of the play in the letter. I assume that he did not want to compromise the group should the letter be intercepted.

I went to the homes of every member of the group and told them that the play was no more. I was not prepared to discuss the contents of the letter with them, except to tell them it was for their own safety.

A few months later I was discussing my progress in play writing with friends. During these discussions, my frustrations at having a play ‘aborted at birth’ emerged and I heard one of them mention the phrase ‘publish and be damned’. That stuck in my mind and I went back to the members of the group to discuss the contents of the letter and told them that I was prepared to be ‘damned’and that the play would go on if they were still committed to it.