The astonishing Impact of South African Theatre

As the ‘new South Africa’ sought a cultural identity, so the idea of culture had to be completely redefined to include the full spectrum of cultural activity by all citizens. The initial focus was on multi-cultural, interdisciplinary work that crossed boundaries in an attempt to appeal to all. Political theatre lost its appeal, with a sudden rise in more commercial theatre becoming rapidly available. Once the Boycott was lifted, audiences enjoyed a wealth of international productions - especially the likes of comedy and musicals. Serious theatre struggled to find an audience. The rapid changes impacted the economics of the theatre industry too; the Provincial Performing Arts Councils were replaced by a National Arts Council, whose focus was to provide access to funding for all South African performers.