Bitterbessie Dagbreek (How to Dance in Afrikaans)

Bitterbessie Dagbreek (How to Dance in Afrikaans) is an improvised physical theatre piece in seven scenes by students of the Stellenbosch Drama Department.

The main title, Bitterbessie Dagbreek ("Bitter berry daybreak"), was taken from the famous poem of that name by Ingrid Jonker.

The original text

Created through improvisation and scripting sessions by the students, led by lecturers and directors Ilona Frege and Maulise Marais, and later refined during the rehearsal period, the piece is an exploration in physical performance of the physical manifestation of the metaphoric and transcendental in human consciousness, with the angel metaphor as central image. It was developed as the University's entry for the annual Student Drama Festival in Grahamstown and was later also performed in Stellenbosch.

The piece was first performed in 1996, but there is no formal playtext, only an outline performance text contained in a prompt copy found in the archives of the Stellenbosch Drama Department.

Performance history in South Africa

1996: Performed in the Rhodes Box theatre at the Standard Bank National Arts Festival from 5 to 7 July. Directed by Ilona Frege and Maulise Marais with Nicole Holm, Paul du Toit, Marliza Eloff, Paul van Wyk, Gaerin Hauptfleisch and Dawn Matthews. The production manager was Ross van der Vyver, stage managers Eugenie Loots and Juneta Senekal, publicist Suné de Villiers, lighting designer Kobus Rossouw and costumier Elaine Aucamp.

1996: Performed by the same cast in the H.B. Thom Theatre in Stellenbosch from 27 July to 3 August.

Sources

Bitterbessie Dagbreek, a prompt copy found in the archives of the Stellenbosch Drama Department in 2022.

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