August August, August

August August, August is a one-act play by Pavel Kohout (1928- )[1].

Also known August August, the Clown in the English.

The original text

A play about a clown who dreams about Lipizzaners, originally written in Czech and first performed in 1966-7. The Chech text was published in 1968 as August August, August: cirkusové představení s jednou přestávkou by Orbis.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into German as August August, August: eine Zirkusvorstellung ("August August, August. A circus performance") by Lucie Taubová. First performed on 2 June 1973 at the Theater Freie Volksbühne Berlin. The text was published by Felgentreff & Goebel, Berlin as well as by Bärenreiter in 1973.

Translated into English as August August, the Clown.

Translated and adapted into Afrikaans from the German version by Nerina Ferreira as August August, August. 'n Sirkusvertoning ("August August, August. A circus performance"), usually billed simply as August August, August. The text is unpublished, though a photocopy of the typed Afrikaans text was found among Antoinette Kellerman's papers in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

Performance history in South Africa

1970: First performed in Afrikaans, directed for CAPAB by German director Peter Kleinschmidt at the Hofmeyr Theatre, 1970, starring Pieter Joubert (Meneer Klapperdop), Peter Grobbelaar (Die Ringmeester), Wiebke Gröndahl (Evelyne), Percy Sieff (August, 'n Hanswors), Grethe Fox (Lulu), Johan Malherbe (Bumbel), Johan Esterhuizen (Klein August), Mees Xteen (Die Orkesleier). This production toured to Worcester, Bellville, Stellenbosch and Paarl in August 1970. Stage director Mavis Lilenstein, decor and costumes designed by Manfred Glaesmann, lighting designed by Pieter de Swardt.