A 1980s classic and a most unusual play, Topokana Martyrs' Day is a comedy about famine relief in Africa. Falla's own experiences as a disaster worker, and tha diary he kept, are the sources for "a delightfully stinging double-edged jab at your typical relief team" (City Limits). Set in a small field station, the play watches two European staffers and their two African counterparts embroigled ever-deeper in impossible situations as the food rots and the locals don't do as they're told.
Premiered at London's Bush Theatre, the play had several productions, including two in the US and on BBC radio.
"An original, unfliching work on a subject of desperate importance." New York Times.
"Falla's play is exceptionally mature and multi-layeredand walks a fine line between reality and night, realism and satire." Time Out
"The most interesting piece of new writing in months." James Fenton, Sunday Times.
"Famine relief is not exactly a subject one thinks of in terms of comedy... takes you into uncharted theatrical territory." Michael Billington, The Observer
Premiered at London's Bush Theatre, the play had several productions, including two in the US and on BBC radio.
"An original, unfliching work on a subject of desperate importance." New York Times.
"Falla's play is exceptionally mature and multi-layeredand walks a fine line between reality and night, realism and satire." Time Out
"The most interesting piece of new writing in months." James Fenton, Sunday Times.
"Famine relief is not exactly a subject one thinks of in terms of comedy... takes you into uncharted theatrical territory." Michael Billington, The Observer
Used availability for Jonathan Falla's Topokana Martyrs' Day