DUT brings Gibson Kente’s Too Late back to the stage
It's not too late to witness music, movement, and meaning collide on stage at The Courtyard Theatre, DUT, in the bold reimagining of a protest theatre classic, Too Late, by Gibson Kente today and tomorrow.
THE Drama and Production Studies Department at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) has revived one of South Africa’s most powerful protest plays, Too Late by Gibson Kente, which is being staged at The Courtyard Theatre on October 16 and 17, from 18:00.
The production forms part of DUT’s second-year performance techniques curriculum while repositioning Kente’s 1975 work within a contemporary context. Under the direction of Sikhuthali Oliver Bonga, choreography by Mduduzi Mtshali and Mandisa Mngoma, and musical direction by Zenneth Cibane, this staging bridges historical township theatre with modern creative practice.
Audiences can expect a high-energy, emotionally charged production that not only honours Kente’s legacy as the “father of South African township theatre” but also pushes his work into new creative territory. Too Late was a turning point in Kente’s career, shifting his focus from comedic entertainment to political defiance, cultural critique, and community upliftment through the performing arts.
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At the centre of Too Late is the unforgettable character of Madinto — a shebeen queen whose compassion and maternal strength transcend the stereotypical representations of township women. Through her story, the play confronts themes of poverty, oppression, and resistance, while portraying the dignity and strength of black womanhood.
The production also stages the tensions between generations: the radical, politically charged youth symbolised by Saduva and the Majitas, and the more conservative elders, reflecting the broader ideological divides during South Africa’s liberation struggle. Originally banned by the apartheid government, and with Kente himself arrested in 1976, Too Late remains a cornerstone of South African protest theatre. Its blend of praise poetry, song, satire, and social realism — what Kente described as “angry theatre” — continues to inspire post-apartheid theatre-makers and audiences alike.
To witness the powerful staging of Too Late, book by contacting Bawinile at 031 373 2194 or email: BawinileM1@dut.ac.za. Alternatively you can purchase a ticket at the door.
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