Skip to main content
Theatre: A Lesson from Aloes, Finborough Theatre London
Athol Fugard's play is an acute reminder of the horrors of apartheid-era South Africa
Frightened people: Dawid Minnar and Janine Ulfane [Alixandra Fazzina]

THE opening of A Lesson From Aloes lulls you into false sense of security.

Piet and Gladys Benzuidenhouts are having a lazy afternoon in their isolated Port Elizabeth back yard, awaiting a visit from his old friend Steve and his family. There’s talk of sunburn, the resilience of aloes and the significance of names — underlined by a Romeo and Juliet quote — but little more.

Fortunately, when you are in the hands of South Africa’s master dramatist you know you won’t be underwhelmed for long and, slowly, Athol Fugard begins to turn up the heat.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
fun home
Theatre Review / 10 July 2026
10 July 2026

PAUL FOLEY revels in the coolest, most joyful piece of theatre you’ll get this summer

price
Theatre review / 28 April 2026
28 April 2026

MARY CONWAY applauds the timely revival of Miller’s study of people fatally deformed by the economics of survival

MILES
Theatre Review / 10 February 2026
10 February 2026

MAYER WAKEFIELD has reservations about a two-handed theatrical homage to jazz’s most mercurial musician

hamlet
Theatre Review / 6 October 2025
6 October 2025

MAYER WAKEFIELD is gripped by a production dives rapidly from champagne-quaffing slick to fraying motormouth