Kurt Egelhof unveils his tetralogy exploring race and identity

Muizenberg-based actor, director, playwright and producer Kurt Egelhof has launched a four-part fictional autobiography, with each title forming part of a tetralogy that traces a lifetime of personal and political reflection.

The books — The Adventure Boys, The Palace of Broken Dreams, The Accidental Death of a Good Coloured Man, and Man Overboard — were launched at Maker's Landing at the V&A Waterfront recently.

Mr Egelhof, 66, was born in Durban and has lived in Cape Town since the early 2000s. He is a drama graduate from the University of Natal and began his professional acting career in 1981. He has worked across film, television and theatre since the 1980s.

Each of the four books can be read independently, but together they form a broader narrative rooted in Mr Egelhof’s lived experiences, artistic journey and reflections on social injustice.

He said writing had been a deeply emotional process, particularly with the final title, which he worked on for six years. “Once I had cracked the formula of that book, I could write the others,” he said.

During the book launch, Mr Egelhof presented video pieces, artificial intelligence (AI) content, and performed original songs written for each title.

“It is up to you to put things together for anyone from age 17 to 60 or death,” he said.

Mr Egelhof acknowledged the challenge of balancing creative work with earning a living. Alongside acting, he has directed more than 250 episodes of local television series including Isidingo, Scandal, and Backstage, and continues to tour with his stage scripts while mentoring younger performers.

His film credits include The Ghost and the Darkness, The Last Victims, Zulu Love Letter, The Native Who Caused All the Trouble, Windprints, and Perfume of the Cyclone.

Each title in the tetralogy addresses a distinct theme:

• The Adventure Boys follows a teenage protagonist in Grabouw whose life is shaped by a tragic event, and examines how apartheid reinforced toxic masculinity.

• The Palace of Broken Dreams explores race, privilege and talent in the South African arts industry, highlighting how the political climate of the 1980s impacted a close-knit creative community.

• Man Overboard contrasts the luxury experienced by cruise ship passengers with the working conditions of the crew.

• The Accidental Death of a Good Coloured Man is based on Mr Egelhof’s stage production and investigates themes of racial identity, resistance and legacy.

The books are available in digital format via Lulu.com and in hard copy via Amazon, both locally and internationally.