Beecham
Beecham is a play with music by Caryl Brahms and Ned Sherrin. A one-man play about the famous conductor Sit Thoams Beecham.
Contents
The original text
Written in 1979, first produced in London in 1980.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1981: First produced in South Africa by the Company of Four at the Grahamstown Festival 1981 and subsequently opening 22 July 1981 at the Baxter Theatre, directed by Rosalie van der Gucht with Michael Atkinson and Glynn Day. Musical adviser Michael Tuffin. Setting by Emile Aucamp, stage director Mavis Lilenstein, lighting and sound operator Louwrens Strydom.
Feb 1984 - Directed by Leonard Shach Cast : Michael Atkinson, Ron Smerczak at the Market Theatre.
1985: Leonard Schach directed a new version at the Market Theatre with Michael Atkinson in the lead, also starring Ron Smerczak. Musical adviser Michael Tuffin, lighting by Per-Olof Fernlund. This production was presented by the Baxter Theatre at the Oude Libertas Theatre on 8, 9 and 10 January 1985. Mavis Lilenstein was the stage director. This production restaged at the Johannesburg Civic’s Youth Theatre in 1993.
1993: Leonard Schach also directed a production of the play starring Michael Atkinson with Peter Krummeck at the Baxter Theatre for a short season opening Thursday 17 June 1993. Design by Brian Collins. Also presented at the National Arts Festival from 4 to 6 July.
Sources
Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne 1988.
Oude Libertas Theatre pamphlet 1984-1985.
National Arts Festival programme, 1993. p.47.
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