The original production of Gangsters premiered at the Market Theatre, Johannesburg in 1984 as part of a double bill with Dirty Work. WHITEBEARD was played by Jon Maytham, JONATHAN by Sol Rachilo and RASECHABA by Maishe Maponya.

During the three week run at the Market Theatre, it was slapped with a restriction order by the Director of Publications under the Publications Act of 1974: Public Entertainment and could not be performed in South Africa without the approval of the Publications Control Board.

GANGSTERS was originally published in the United States in a collection of South African plays entitled Woza Afrika(Brazillier Publications). It has been performed in South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The poem ‘Ridovhakunda Ridovhavulaya’ by Dumakude ka-Ndlovu in the original text has been replaced by ‘Hoyini!’ written by the author.

CHARACTERS

MAJOR WHITEBEARD a white Security Police Officer

JONATHAN a black Security Policeman

RASECHABA a poet

SETTING: The stage is divided into two acting areas, stage left and stage right, by lighting or other means. Stage right is a security cell. Stage left represents Major Whitebeard's office and various settings. Additional lighting needed is a blue cover (for the recitation of poems) and a special, used twice only. The transitions between these states are marked in the text.

PROPS: Cross-like structure, table, two chairs, cell window bars, gown (black), thick rope (two metres), two tape recorders (one small, one large), note pad and pen, one Bible, a briefcase, books, papers and files, two photographs, a gun and holster, handcuffs. Suits for JONATHAN and WHITEBEARD, Pyjamas for RASECHABA.

SOUND: A taped hymn.

OPENING – THE CELL

Black out both areas. Lights come up instantly on the cell area.RASECHABA's body dressed in black with a hood on his head is balanced on a cross-structure. Dead… WHITEBEARD stands to the left of the structure with JONATHAN on the opposite side. Something has horribly gone wrong. JONATHAN puts on his jacket. They nervously pace round and round contemplating RASECHABA, ending up in the same positions as before.

WHITEBEARD: So, this is what you did?

JONATHAN: Yes my lord.

WHITEBEARD: How long has he been like this?

JONATHAN: My lord knows.