DURBAN theatre practioners, Emma Durden and Roel Twijnstra, launched their book, Theatre Production in South Africa at Think!Fest, during the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.

Theatre directing in South Africa, Skills and Inspirations stems from a series of workshops the pair conducted with drama departments, festivals, theatre groups and community groups in KwaZulu-Natal.

“It contains interviews with producers, stage managers and project managers,” Twijnstra says of the book, which gives an overview of the theatre production industry in South Africa.

It also highlights new production models for young up-and-coming producers with entrepreneurial skills; and includes interviews with ten contemporary South African directors, exploring their journeys into theatre and how they came to find themselves in the director’s chair.

Interviewed directors and writers include: Prince Lamla, Neil Coppen, Zinzi Princess Mhlongo, Greg Homann, Paul Grootboom, Pusetso Thibedi, Lara Foot, Amy Jephta, Bheki Mkhwane and Brett Bailey.

The book has been published by Twist Theatre Development Projects and Jacana, with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Twist Projects is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund (NLDTF).

The book costs R100 (excluding postage and packaging) and can be ordered through info@twistprojects.co.za

The cost of compiling this book have been subsidised by funders such as the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Academic and Non-Fiction Authors’ Association of South Africa (ANFASA) and Twist Projects (sponsored by the National Lotteries Commission). –  Books Editor