Shakespeare and the Robben Island prisoners that inspired a play
On the day that one of the last political prison mates of Nelson Mandela died, a South African play capturing life at the notorious Robben Island was released. South Africa's diverse cultures © South African High Commission, London Written by Matthew Hahn, the play is based on selected texts from the complete works of William Shakespeare that became an important source of support and inspiration for inmates. The book - 'The Robben Island Shakespeare' (formerly known as The Robben Island Bible) was smuggled into the prison by the wife of political prisoner Sonny Venkatrathnam. Sonny was one of 33 political prisoners sentenced to life after being convicted of sabotage in the Rivonia Trial . The trial took place in South Africa between 9 October 1963 and 12 June 1964 and resulted in those famous pictures we know showing Mandela and his comrades imprisoned on Robben Island. Inspiring texts Apart from a Bible, inmates were forbidden access to reading materials. ...