ANDOVER, Mass.—The American premiere of “The Bells of Amersfoort” by Zakes Mda, an award-winning South African playwright, will open at Phillips Academy on Thursday, Dec. 4. “Bells” traces the plight of a black South African woman who has been living in exile from apartheid in Holland. This extraordinary play is a series of juxtapositions, elusive contradictions and unexpected collaborations, celebrating the hope of new South Africa while recognizing the hurdles that face the average human. The story mixes the traditional Xhosa theatrical technique known as Intsomi (the same manner storytellers would use around a fire) with realistic and expressionistic theatrical forms.

The play calls for the cast to perform songs and dances from African, Dutch and Afrikaaner traditions. Mda, the playwright, visited the Phillips Academy campus and held a series of workshops for the cast. The aura of
authenticity begun with Mda’s visit was extended by the collaboration of Vuyelwa and Temba Maqubela, South African members of the Phillips Academy faculty. The Maqubelas taught the cast Xhosa and Afrikaans dances, songs and pronunciations. Students in an art class volunteered to make the South African township-style wire cars and bicycles used as props in the play. A costuming class researched African, Dutch and Surinamese traditional and modern dress and purchased authentic material and created costumes for the Xhosa wedding scene. The collaboration between cast and community, and the concentration on authenticity, has created a multi-cultural triumph.

Phillips Academy faculty are so enthusiastic about this program they have entered “The Bells of Amersfoort” to be considered for the New England Theatre Conference’s prestigious Moss Hart Memorial Award.

“The Bells of Amersfoort” will be performed at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4; Friday, Dec. 5; and Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Steinbach Theatre. Seating is limited and reservations will be necessary. Admission is $3. Tickets can be reserved by calling the Phillips Academy box office at 978-749-4433.