A SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. TITLE

The Shadow of the Hummingbird

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  1m, 1boy(s)

Athol Fugard

Legendary playwright Athol Fugard returns to the stage for the first time in fifteen years in his newest play.

The Shadow of the Hummingbird

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  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    1m, 1boy(s)
  • Duration
    Duration
    60 minutes (1 hour)
  • SubGenre
    Subgenre
    Not Applicable
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult, Senior, Teen (Age 14-18)

Details

Summary
When Oupa is visited by his ten-year-old grandson (who is playing hooky from school) the two spend a memorable afternoon together.  The boy reminds the old man of his lost sense of wonder, while the child is given a bit of hard-earned wisdom.  In a charming meditation on the beauty and transience of the world around us, Fugard continues to mine the depths of the human spirit with profound empathy and heart.
History

The Shadow of the Hummingbird premiered at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven, CT in March of 2014 under the direction of Gordon Edelstein.

Keywords
Performing Groups
  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting Oupa's study in Southern California
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 60 minutes (1 hour)
  • Cautions
    • Mild Adult Themes

Media

REVIEWS

"To lose yourself in the imagined universe of a play is perhaps one way of retaining a sliver of the innocence Mr. Fugard’s Oupa so cherishes." - The New York Times, Read More 

"Fugard's metaphors...are unforgettable." - BroadwayWorld, Read More 

"[The Shadow of the Hummingbird] wants to pass on the experience and wisdom of an elderly man. It wants to show how important it is to respect and retain the wonderment and curiosity and openness of childhood. And it wants to entertain. . . admirable goals which, in the hands of a master, Athol Fugard . . . are easily met." - New Haven Independant, Reaed More 

"The Shadow of the Hummingbird soars." - New Haven Register, Read More 


Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £55 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

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Authors

Athol Fugard

Athol Fugard

Athol Fugard (1932-2025) was an internationally acclaimed South African playwright whose best-known work dealt with the political and social upheaval of the apartheid system in South Africa. He was educated at the University of Cape Town. His plays include “Master Harold”...a ...

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