A Human Being Died That Night

Overview

A Human Being Died That Night opened at the Fugard Studio Theatre in Cape Town on 20 February 2014 and then transferred to the Market Theatre in Johannesburg before a formal London season back at the Hampstead Theatre in May 2014. The Production also played at BAM in New York for a limited run in 2015.

Eugene de Kock was a paid white political assassin nicknamed “Prime Evil” for his crimes against anti-apartheid activists. While serving his two life sentences, black psychologist Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela went to interview him, hoping to seek humanity and forgiveness from the government-sanctioned monster. The thought-provoking interrogation moves from clinical to intimate in a cell where fear and compassion coexist.

Details

First performance
20 February 20

Final performance
21 June 2015

Venue
The Fugard Studio
(20 February–15 March 2014)

The Market Theatre
(19 March–6 April 2014)

The Hampstead Theatre
(22 May–21 June 2014)

The Brooklyn Academy of Music
(29 May–21 June 2015)

Cast

Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela
Noma Dumezweni

Eugene de Kock
Matthew Marsh

Prison Guard
Gantane Kusch (SA)
Martins Imhangbe (UK)
Femi Wilhelm (UK Matinees)
Motell Foster (USA)

Creative team

Writer
Nicholas Wright

Director
Jonathan Munby

Designer
Paul Wills

Lighting Designer (UK)
Tim Mitchell

Lighting Designer (SA)
Daniel Galloway

Associate Lighting Designer
David Ayton

Sound Designer
Christopher Shutt

Associate Director
Greg Karvellas

Production team

Production Manager (UK)
Tariq Rifaat

Production Manager (SA)
Ben du Plessis

Stage Manager (UK/USA)
Julia Slienger

Stage Manager (SA)
Juanita Ferreira

Costume Supervisor
Jackie Orton

Dialect Coach
Jan Haydn-Rowles

Photography (UK)
Robert Day

Photography
(SA) Jesse Kramer

Reviews

★★★★★
“A Five-star piece of theatre”

WhatsOnStage

★★★★★
“Unmissable. Marsh is magnificent”

Independent

★★★★
“Remarkable. Intense. Thrilling and cut with humour. Marsh is phenomenal. Brilliant Dumezweni”

The Times

★★★★

The Guardian

★★★★

The Telegraph

★★★★

Time Out

★★★★

The Evening Standard

★★★★
“… tightly scripted, intense, well-crafted …”

Cape Argus

“… Ms. Dumezweni and Mr. Marsh’s impeccable performances, under the direction of Jonathan Munby, ground the play in a vivid reality…”

The New York Times

“Watching A Human Being Died That Night is both a terrible and wonderful experience … This theatrical experience will leave you breathless .. A suspenseful, profound production that hits you hard in all the right places. You need to see it”

The Cape Times

“If there is one play you see this year – or even if this is the first in ages – make the effort to see A Human Being Died That Night

Sunday Independent

“A rare, perfect theatrical experience”

Broadway World

“… a brilliant, searing play …”

Daily Maverick