Duet for One

Duet for One is a British play, a two-hander by Tom Kempinski, about a world-famous concert violinist named Stephanie Anderson who is suddenly struck with multiple sclerosis. It is set in London and The story is based on the life of cellist Jacqueline du Pré, who was diagnosed with MS, and her husband, conductor Daniel Barenboim, and only marginally fictionalized.

The original text
Duet for One premiered at the Bush Theatre in 1980 with Frances de la Tour and David de Keyser in the leading roles. It had successful runs in the West End and on Broadway. A major revival was staged by the Almeida Theatre in 2009, starring Juliet Stevenson and Henry Goodman. This revival too was lauded by the critics, and it subsequently transferred to the Vaudeville Theatre in the West End.

Translations and adaptations
A film adaptation was directed by Andrei Konchalovsky in 1986.

Performance history in South Africa
1994: John Kani and Lesley Nott starred in Tom Kempinski’s Duet for One which opened 21 July 1994 at the Laager Theatre, directed by Malcolm Purkey.

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