Joe Blog

“Coal Yard” is a play about Tshepo, a young man who flees home owing to his father’s sexual assault. He works in the coal yard, which is run by the exploitative Mr. Naidoo, and meets Matshepo, who at first dismisses him. Tshepo’s trauma causes him to equate sex with guilt, making it difficult for him to perform. Matshepo initiates a romance with the promiscuous Pepsi. Later in the play, Matshepo realizes Pepsi is deceiving her and attempts to return to Tshepo, but is it too late? Tshepo also meets his old friend Itumeleng, who hails from a wealthier household than his. During the play, Itumeleng and his family are engaged in a car accident, and both of his parents are killed. He relocates to
“Coal Yard” follows the events that mark the transition from boyhood to manhood in the life of Tshepo, a young man who runs away from home at the beginning of the play because his father is sexually abusing him. Tshepo goes to stay with his older friend and mentor, Samson, who gets him work at the coal yard where he works. The exploitive Mr. Naidoo is running the coal yard. At first, Tshepo struggles with the work – and Mr. Naidoo deducts money from both his and Samson’s pay. While on duty, Tshepo also meets the beautiful Matshepo – who does not take this “coal yard boy” seriously at first. However, when he convinces her to see how it goes, Tshepo proves a disappointment in bed. Tshepo’s abuse by his father has led to Tshepo associating sex with guilt, so he finds it difficult to “perform”. Instead, Matshepo starts a relationship with the promiscuous Pepsi. Later in the play, Matshepo will realize that Pepsi is two-timing her and will try to go back to Tshepo, but will it be too late? Along the way, Tshepo also encounters his old friend Itumeleng, who comes from a wealthier family than Tshepo’s. During the play, however, Itumeleng and his family are involved in a car accident, and both his parents are killed. The inheritance is put under the care of Itumeleng’s drunken uncle, who kicks Itumeleng out of the house and starts to spend the money himself. Itumeleng goes to live with Samson and Tshepo, and finds work at the coal yard. In order to become a man, Tshepo will need to confront his father, and, together with his friends Samson and Itumeleng, and their co- workers, he will have to stand up to his employer, Mr Naidoo. Then there is Matshepo, whom he cannot get out of his head… and Itumeleng’s uncle, and Matshepo’s father, and Tshepo’s mother, who wants him to quit the coal yard, come home and study at university… [Performed with extraordinary energy, humour and skill, this is a piece of physical and traditional storytelling par excellence. The performers constantly transform themselves to play a wide range of different characters, both male and female, with set and props kept to a minimum.]