The audience atthe National Arts Festival in Makhanda were moved by the revival of Sizwe Banzi is Dead, a powerful play by Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona.
First staged in 1972, the production continues to speak to issues of identity and dignity.
This years performance marked 50 years since the plays international acclaim, honouring its legacy and ongoing relevance. Set against the backdrop of Gqeberha in the 1970s, the story follows Sizwe Banzi, a man grappling with the oppressive pass laws that dictate his existence.
Director of the play, Xabiso Zweni, says he used a blend of humour and heartache, to capture the resilience of the human spirit in the face of systemic injustice.
"Feeling very honoured to direct such a powerful production, marked the landscape of theatre in South Africa, and the world. They shook the world during the apartheid era and opened the eyes of the Eastern and Western to see what was happening in South Africa."