The Flag Is flying: A very Personal History Of Theatre In The Old South Africa By Leonard Schach
The Flag Is flying: A very Personal History Of Theatre In The Old South Africa
An Engrossing Personal History and Visual Celebration of Twentieth-Century South African Stagecraft and Cultural Evolution
An Engrossing Personal History and Visual Celebration of Twentieth-Century South African Stagecraft and Cultural Evolution
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: The Flag Is flying: A very Personal History Of Theatre In The Old South Africa
- Author: Leonard Schach
- Publisher: Human & Rousseau Ltd, Cape Town / Johannesburg
- Publication Date: 1996
- ISBN-13: 9780798135511 (ISBN-10: 0798135514)
- Edition Details: First Edition, First Printing.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium textured cloth boards with crisp gold/gilt-stamped typography to the spine; complete with original illustrated dust jacket.
- Physical Format: Quarto (4to), 200 pages. Richly enhanced with an extensive, generous archive of historical monochrome photographs, behind-the-scenes stage plates, performance playbills, and rare portrait studies—some never previously published.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Near Fine (NF) / Mint
- Exterior / Boards: The original cloth boards are in flawless, immaculate condition—exceptionally flat, rigid, and completely square. The corners are razor-sharp with no trace of edge storage friction or bumping. The spine is completely sturdy, upright, unbent, and structurally flawless.
- Interior: The text block is robustly bound, tight, and remarkably fresh. Internal pages and the historical photographic illustrations are clean, bright white, and entirely free of foxing, reader annotations, modern highlighting, or dog-ears.
- Provenance: Pristine collector's state; entirely free of previous owner signatures, institutional library stamps, gift dedications, or dealer pencil marks.
- Protection: Safely housed and beautifully preserved inside a removable, archival-grade cellophane protective sleeve.
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The Dust Jacket: Very Good Plus (VG+)
- Condition: Bright, complete, and unclipped. Displays only very limited, superficial signs of minor handling and trace storage friction at the extreme edge tips, entirely consistent with careful archival shelf housing. Free of major chips, fading, or edge tears.
Synopsis & Historical Value
Published by Human & Rousseau in 1996, The Flag Is Flying is a monumental, deeply immersive memoir that chronicles the dramatic evolution of the performing arts in South Africa across nearly seven decades. Written by the legendary director Leonard Schach—frequently hailed as a true "whole theatre man"—the volume delivers an authoritative, firsthand account of a visionary who actively participated in every foundational stage of South African theatre development between 1925 and 1994.
Schach, who produced and directed some of the finest, most groundbreaking plays ever staged in the country, infuses his recollections with an unmatched artistic passion. The text goes beyond standard historical data to weave an engrossing narrative filled with notable, highly perceptive anecdotes and sharp, sympathetic pen-portraits of major theatrical personalities, actors, and playwrights who defied political and cultural barriers. Complemented by a generous selection of rare, previously unpublished historical illustrations, this out-of-print monograph acts as both a vital historical time capsule and a visual masterpiece for serious collectors of mid-century Africana, theatrical history, and South African heritage preservation.
Author Profile: Leonard Schach
Leonard Schach (1918–1996) was one of the most prolific, globally respected theatre directors, producers, and cultural pioneers in South African history. Educated at the University of Cape Town, he founded the legendary Cockpit Players in 1947, a company that transformed the local stage by introducing cutting-edge international drama and nurturing native playwriting talents. Over a storied career spanning South Africa, Israel, and Europe, Schach directed over 200 productions, earned numerous academic and civic accolades, and remained a towering force dedicated to maintaining elite artistic integrity through decades of shifting social landscapes.
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