Cry, the beloved country: the playscript

This classic South African novel by Alan Paton has now been successfully adapted for the stage by acclaimed playwright Roy Sargeant. Set in 1946, this is a moving story of a father’s search for his son, the terrible discovery of the young man’s crime and punishment, and the fate of their home village in rural KwaZulu-Natal. Remaining true to the novel, the play explores the themes of family relationships, human suffering and racial reconciliation in a uniquely South African way. This publication offers the authentic script for the two-act play, tried and tested on the South African stage a comprehensive introduction including links to the curriculum, background information on the historical context, and theatre techniques thought-provoking activities guiding learners and teachers through a study of the characters, themes and staging of the play difficult words explained on the page to build vocabulary skills.