THE START OF THE SERPENT PLAYERS
The first rehearsal of the Serpent Players took place in July 1963. The members of the group were mostly from New Brighton – a clerk, two teachers, a bus driver, and women who worked as domestic servants.
The first rehearsal of the group took place at the abandoned Museum and Snake Park which had closed and relocated to new premises in Humewood (today known as Bayworld). At the time, Rhodes University was attempting to establish a campus in Port Elizabeth and had acquired the premises and offered it to the group as a venue for performances.
The group chose the abandoned snake pit as a theatre with the snake pit as a stage, and the audience around the walls of the snake pit. The group decided to call themselves the Serpent Players.
The first rehearsal of the Serpent Players was disrupted by a visit from the Special Branch of the Police.
SOME OF THE SERPENT PLAYERS
Sarah Blauw
Fats Bookholane
Welcome Duru
Athol Fugard
Mdange Gonya
Mangaliso Grootboom
Simon Hanabe
John Kani
George Luse
Mabel (May) Magada
Sylvia Mapela
Lloyd Mbikwana
Mulligan Mbiquane
Sipho Mguqulwa
Gwyn Mjuza
George Mnci
Mike Ngxocolo
Humphrey Njikelana
Nomhle Nkonyeni
Norman Ntshinga
Winston Ntshona
