Exit the King

Exit the King (French: Le Roi se meurt) is an absurdist drama by Romanian playwright Eugène Ionesco (1909-1994) that premiered in 1962. It is the third in Ionesco's Berenger Cycle, preceded by The Killer (1958) and Rhinoceros (1959), and followed by A Stroll in the Air (1963).

Le Roi se meurt has also been translated as The Ceremony.

Translations and adaptations
Translated into Afrikaans by Bartho Smit as Die Koning Sterf. Published by HAUM-Literêr (1984) in Bartho Smit-vertalings; 1, also including Die Les and Die Renosters.

Performance history in South Africa
1966: Productions in South Africa include University Theatre Stellenbosch in the Botha Hall in May 1966, produced by Jocelyn de Bruyn and starring Johan Esterhuizen, John Cartwright, Bie Engelen, Rina la Grange, Woutrine Theron, Piers Nicholson. This production was subsequently staged in the Beattie Theatre in Cape Town.

1967: Die Koning Sterf presented by SATS.

1969: Die Koning Sterf: Direction, décor and costumes by Jo Gevers for CAPAB, opening in the Bellville Stadskouburg on 28 January 1969 and in the Hofmeyr Theatre on 3 February 1969. The cast: Louw Verwey, Kita Redelinghuys, Bie Engelen, Pieter Joubert, Nerina Ferreira, Pieter Geldenhuys. This production was taken on tour to Paarl, Worcester, Ceres, Strand, Port Elizabeth (Opera House 18-22 February), Grahamstown, East London (Guild Theatre 27 February - 1 March), Stellenbosch (H.B. Thom Theatre, 4-8 March).

1970: Presented by PEMADS at the Little Theatre, Port Elizabeth, directed by Peter Kleinschmidt, from 17 December 1970 to 2 January 1971. 1972: Dinkteater/Think Theatre, Pretoria (1972?*, dir Danie Burger).

1977: By the experimental theatre company Fringe (1977, dir Dawie Malan).

1982: Presented by Stud Productions, directed by Dawie Malan in the The Laager opening 21 June 1982, starring Vanessa Cooke, Ralph Lawson, Beverley Melnick, Deon Stewardson, Chris van Niekerk, Brümilda van Rensburg, Warwick Greenaway.

1983: Presented by Natal University (Durban) at the National Arts Festival Student Drama in 1983, directed and set designed by Themi Venturas, stage manager Linda Nichol. The cast included Mark Faith, Irene Theotokatos, Brenda Radloff, Robyn Glenn, Bradley Mart, Maureen Lahoud, Chris Wells, Terance Zeeman, Robert Sember.

1984: Presented by CAPAB at the Nico Arena opening 14 September 1984, directed by Marthinus Basson starring David Dennis, Dawid Minnaar, Megan Kruskal, Jennifer Steyn, Victoria Bawcombe and Romano Gorlei. Design by Penny Simpson, lighting design by Pieter de Swardt.

1997: UCT Drama Department, 1997, directed by Cory McLeod, costumes by Clare Berlein.

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