Tshepang: The Third Testament

‘And besides, nothing ever happens here. Nothing. Niks.’

Outside a South African town a silent woman, Ruth, goes through her self-imposed rituals, a child’s crib strapped to her back. An observer, Simon, who has loved Ruth since childhood, tells her story. Tshepang was inspired by the horrifying rape in 2001 of a nine month-old child. The child, Tshepang, gave her name to Lara Foot Newton’s award-winning play, though it is also ‘based on twenty thousand true stories’ - the number of child rapes estimated to occur in South Africa each year. Having premiered in Amsterdam in June 2003, Tshepang opened at the Gate Theatre, London, in September 2004.

Winner of the Fleur du Cap Award for Best New South African Play 2003