The Fall

The Fall is a play collaboratively written by the original cast as a reaction to and reflection on the South African student protests in 2015 and part of 2016. The #RhodesMustFall and subsequent student-led movements in South Africa alerted the country and the world to the latent ongoing issues brought about by colonialism and apartheid in South Africa. Students were also protesting about the lack of change in the way black Africans were educated and treated at South African universities more than two decades after the end of white-minority rule. They were also angry about fee increases, which disproportionately affected black students, in a country of continued extreme income inequality. The Fall details the experiences of seven students within this movement and how they deal with their traumas, while still moving towards activism for a free decolonised education. This powerful ensemble piece goes to the heart of how race, class, gender, power and history's voices intersect. It premiered at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town, toured to other venues in South Africa and to the Edinburgh Festival and the Royal Court Theatre, London. It was awarded The Stage Cast Award and a Scotsman Fringe First award in Edinburgh, and was described in The Stage as:"a truly ensemble production which has both teeth and heart. And one which stands for student revolt around the world and down the ages."