Eleven Men Dead at Hola Camp

Synopsis

A stark, oppressive prison camp in colonial Kenya, where tension and brutality hang heavy in the air

Eleven detainees, members of the Mau Mau rebellion, find themselves at the heart of a tragic confrontation with British colonial authorities in Keith Johnstone’s powerful drama Eleven Men Dead at Hola Camp. Set against the backdrop of the infamous 1959 Hola Camp Massacre, the play explores the events leading up to and following the deaths of these men, exposing the brutal realities of colonial rule and the human cost of resistance.

Johnstone and Gaskill’s work dives deep into the moral complexities of the colonial system, examining the motivations and actions of both the British officials and the Mau Mau fighters. Through a series of intense confrontations and revelations, Eleven Men Dead at Hola Camp forces audiences to confront uncomfortable truths about power, racism, and the legacy of imperialism. As the tragedy unfolds, the play serves as both a historical indictment and a reflection on the enduring impacts of colonialism.