Brer Rabbit

Brer Rabbit can refer to one of several dramatisations of the Brer Rabbit trickster tales [1]. It draws its inspiration from the 19th century journalist Joel Chandler Harris's assortment of folk tales.

The original text

The American character known as Br'er Rabbit (or Brer Rabbit, an abbreviation of Brother Rabbit) to a large part derives from the oral tradition passed down by African-Americans of the Southern United States and is portrayed as a trickster figure who succeeds by his wits rather than by brawn. Quite probably inspired by similar trickster figures in Africa, particularly the hare that figures prominently in the storytelling traditions in West, Central, and Southern Africa.[2]

Adaptations and translations

Brer Rabbit adapted and dramatised by John English (1976), fist presented by the Library Theatre Company, at the Library Theatre, Manchester (December 1959 – January 1960).

Brer Rabbit adapted for the South African Academy of Drama and Ballet (1977).

Brer Rabbit by Craig Higginson and Gina Shmukler (2009).

Performance history in South Africa

1976: The John English adaptation presented by PACT Playwork at the Breytenbach Theatre, Pretoria and the Arena Theatre, Rosebank, directed by John Rogers.

1977: Staged by South African Academy of Drama and Ballet at the Open Air Theatre, directed by Roger Holt.

2009: Produced at the Market Theatre, directed by Gina Shmukler. Cast: Ilse Klink (Brer Wolf/Mr Man), Nkoto Malebye (Brer Bear.Turtle/Wild Cat), Thembisa Mdoda (Brer Fox/Moon/Aunt Mommy-Bammy Big Money), Khutjo Mmola (Brer Turtle/Five Wild Cat Kittens), Sivan Raphaely (Brer Rabbit), Nobumtu Sizolibusa (Mother Rabbit/Miss Meadows) and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder as the music director and composer.

Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%27er_Rabbit

https://www.britannica.com/art/trickster-tale

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

Theatre programme, production information and other material held by NELM.

Sunday Independent, 1 November 2009.

Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.

Go to ESAT Bibliography