The Vagina Monologues

An episodic play written by Eve Ensler which ran at the Off Broadway Westside Theatre after a limited run at HERE Arts Center in 1996. Ensler originally starred in the production which was produced by David Stone, Nina Essman, Dan Markley, The Araca Group, Willa Shalit and the West Side Theater. When she left the play it was recast with three celebrity monologists. The play has been staged internationally, and a television version featuring Ensler was produced by cable TV channel HBO.

Performance history in South Africa
Staged at Caesars in Gauteng in April 2002, directed by Dawn Lindberg, with Gerry Rantseli, Basetsana Kumalo, Charlene Smith, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Lebo Mathosa, Lara Bye, Marianne Tham, Jenny Crwys-Williams, Kerishnie Naiker, Amanda Strydom and Thembi Mtshali.

In March 2003 it was staged in the Baxter Theatre and the State Theatre, directed by Dawn Lindberg, with a cast including Precious Simelane, Debora Patta, Irene Bester, Michelle McLean, Zuraida Jardine, Penny Lebyane, Nicole Fox, Rosie Motene and others. The same production was performede in the André Huguenet Theatre in Bloemfontein in August 2003.

In October 2003 it was staged in the Nu Metro Privé Theatre at the Village Walk in Sandton, directed by Dawn Lindberg, with Lindberg, Rosie Motene, Rachel Tambo, Tselane Tambo and Nobuntu Mpahlaza.

Translations and adaptations
The Afrikaans version is entitled Die Vagina Monoloë , translated and adapted by Antoinette Louw and first performed in 2012 by Antoinette Louw, Lulu Botha, Simone Alexia Biscombe and Nanine Wessels at The Artscape Theatre Centre as part of the  Women's Day celebrations.

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