Abstract
M.A.
Since 1983 there has been a revival in the publication of one-act plays in Zulu. The study
attempts to examine a new aspect, namely theme, in one-act plays. In order to highlight the thematic shift in one-act plays, the themes in full-length plays are examined and a comparison is then made to see how the themes in one-act plays differ from these. The study is based on certain aspects of the theory of Semiotics and works with concepts proposed by Pfister (1988)
namely:
a) A-perspectival structure
b) Open perspective structure
c) Closed perspective structure
There seems to be a change in what dramatists are focusing on in their plays. This change is discussed and it is established to what extent the shift has occurred.