The Living Corpse

The Living Corpse (Russian: Живой труп, Zhivoy trup) is a play by Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910).

Also known as The Live Corpse or alternatively as Buried Alive in English.

The original text
The Living Corpse was written in 1900, but it was only performed and published shortly after his death, since he never considered it completed. The première took place at the Moscow Art Theatre on 5 October 1911, directed by Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, with Konstantin Stanislavski as co-director, and featuring Stanislavsky. The text was published in 1911. The work was an immediate success, still being performed today.

Translations and adaptations
Has been translated into English as The Living Corpse, The Live Corpse or Buried Alive.

Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page