A black and white photo of the Forum in Harman Hall

KUNENE AND THE KING SYMPOSIUM

Feb 9, 10am – 12pm
The Forum at Harman Hall

Join us for a symposium to discuss the issues represented in Kunene and the King with prominent theatre artists and historians.

Kunene and the King, written and performed by Dr. John Kani, is a powerful examination of Shakespeare and post-apartheid South Africa. It examines the ways that people can remain divided along lines of race, class, and political sentiment, and the power of art to bridge those divides.

Panel 1: South Africa & Shakespeare, Then and Now

This panel will examine the last half century of South African history, from the apartheid era to its contemporary realities, as reflected through the remarkable career of John Kani, a theatre artist who collaborated with Athol Fugard, brought the realities of apartheid to international attention, and was even imprisoned for speaking truth to power. It will also look at Shakespeare’s unique role in bridging South Africa’s divided worlds.

Panelists:
John Kani, Kunene and the King playwright and actor
Phiwokuhle Mnyandu, assistant director of Howard University’s Center for African Studies

Moderator:
Drew Lichtenberg, STC Artistic Producer and Dramaturg

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Panel 2: The Great Continuum, from Lloyd Richards, August Wilson and Athol Fugard to Kunene and the King

Tony Award-winning actor and director Ruben Santiago-Hudson, like Dr. Kani, is another living link to a storied past. Join us for a special conversation in which he discusses working with George C. Wolfe, August Wilson, and Lloyd Richards, all part of the great continuum of Black American theatre artists who helped to redefine modern drama on this side of the Atlantic.

Panelists:
Ruben Santiago-HudsonKunene and the King director
LeeAnét Noble, STC Director of Belonging

Moderator:
Drew Lichtenberg, STC Artistic Producer and Dramaturg

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