The Sacred Flame

The Sacred Flame is a play by Somerset Maugham (1874-1965).

The original text

A three act play about euthenasia and a man's love for his dying brother's wife.

Directed by Gilbert Miller, The Sacred Flame premiered at Henry Miller's Theatre in New York City on 19 November 1928.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans as Die Heilige Vlam in 1935, probably by André Huguenet.

Adapted as an early Hollywood sound film called The Sacred Flame in 1929[1], followed by a German-language version in 1930, called Die Heilige Flamme[Die heilige Flamme) ]. In 1935 the studio remade the play as a film called The Right to Live[2].

Performance history in South Africa

1935: Performed in Afrikaans as Die Heilige Vlam by André Huguenet and his company in their first sponsored event, under the auspices of African Theatres.

1949: Presented by the Brian Brooke Company at the Hofmeyr Theatre in 1949. Set design by Frank Graves.

1956: Produced by the East Rand Theatre Club and performed at the FATSSA Festival in 1956.