Jack and the Beanstalk

Jack and the Beanstalk is an old English fairy tale, often dramatized.

=The original story=

Written down as an English nursery-tale by Joseph Jacobs,

=Translations and adaptations for the stage=

The story has become the basis of numerous traditional British pantomimes, wherein the Giant is a villain, Jack's mother the Dame, and Jack the Principal Boy.

English versions
Jack and the Beanstalk, a one act South African version was written by Michelle Botha and Thomas Barlow.

Jack and the Beanstalk, a pantomime version by Janice Honeyman and Ralph Trewhela.

Jack and the Beanstalk by Glynn Day.

Jack and the Beanstalk, with Peter Noble as Jack 26.6.1992

Jack and the Beanstalk, a puppet version by Teatro dei Piccolo ('Theatre of the Little People') and Keith Anderson.

Afrikaans versions
Jan en die Boontjierank (("Jack and the beanstalk"), a puppet version in Afrikaans, adapted by Tine Balder from the English nursery-tale as written down by Joseph Jacobs.

Jan en die Boontjierank by Nerina Ferreira, a translation of the English pantomime by Janice Honeyman.

Jan en die Boontjierank, a pantomime text by Francois Toerien, 2006.

= Performance history in South Africa =

1967: Jan en die Boontjierank (a puppet version in Afrikaans) and directed by Tine Balder for UTS Stellenbosch.

1968: Jan en die Boontjierank (a puppet version in Afrikaans) performed by SUKOVS, opening on 29 June 1968 at the Stadskouburg ("Civic Theatre") in Bloemfontein. Directed by Tine Balder with Paul Eilers, Rentia Human, Johan Botha, Mees Xteen, Maryann Johnston.

1984: Jack and the Beanstalk, the one act South African version by Michelle Botha and Thomas Barlow, produced by Children's Theatre in 1984, with Michael Brunner, **.

1986: Jack and the Beanstalk, performed in the Baxter Studio, written and directed by Glynn Day, with John Dennison, Pippa Duffy, Joey Wishnia and Patrick Walton. (Chad Abrahams, James Plaatjies, Annette Hamilton, Liana Collet, Bronwyn van Graan, Matthew Roberts??).

1988: Jack and the Beanstalk, performed in the Baxter Studio, written and directed by Glynn Day, with Paul Buckby

1991: Jan en die Boontjierank the pantomime produced by PACT,, directed by Francois Swart with Antoinette Kellermann and Henriëtta Gryffenberg.

1992: Jack and the Beanstalk performed with Peter Noble as Jack (26.6.1992)

1999: Jack and the Beanstalk staged by the People's Theatre in June 1999 as their first production in the new Thabong Theatre at The Civic, directed by Jill Girard and Keith Smith, with Isadora Verwey, Francois Theron, Izak Taljaard, Vicky Friedman, Rochelle Palm, Grete Lochner, Warren Arends and Hinor Shushan.

2003: ''Jack and the Beanstalk, the pantomime version by Janice Honeyman and Ralph Trewhela, staged in December in the Nelson Mandela Theatre at The Civic as a pantomime, written and directed by Janice Honeyman, with Francois Schreuder, Val Donald Bell, Tobie Cronjé, Basil Appollis, Tessa Denton, Bronwyn Evans, Philip Godawa, Jeffrey Sebogodi, Byron-Lee Olivato and James van Helsdingen.

2006: Francois Toerien's text presented by the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department, directed by Toerien, starring Roeline Daneel, Mbulelo Ntlanga, Philip Lotz, Andrea Winckler and others.

= Sources =

"Jack and the Beanstalk", in Wikipedia at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_and_the_Beanstalk

Teater SA, 1(1), 1968.

NELM:Collection: FLETCHER, Jill: 2005. 75. 19. 49).

PACT Info, (1) and (2), 1992.

Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. ''Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987''.

The Citizen, 23 June 1999.

The Citizen, 11 November 2003.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

= 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