Macbeth

Macbeth may refer to a the historical figure of Macbeth, the King of Scotland (c. 1005 – 15 August 1057) [1] (and a character in many dramatic and other works), as well as a number of plays - most of them derived from or inspired by what is probably the original play by William Shakespeare.

The Tragedy of Macbeth by Shakespeare (c1600)

Most often simply referred to as Macbeth (or "The Scottish Play" by more superstitious theatre makers). Also billed as Macbeth, King of Scotland in some cases.

The original text

Based on Holinshed's version of the life of the real King of Scotland [2], this version was originally written c. 1600 by William Shakespeare (1564—1616)[3], and thought to have been first performed in 1606. Shakespeare's shortest tragedy, it was first published in the Folio of 1623, possibly from a prompt book. The character of Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare's most compelling and enduring creations, possibly overshadowing Macbeth himself.

It is a well-known theatrical superstition that the play is cursed and that its title is not to be spoken aloud. It is then often referred to as "The Scottish Play" instead.

Translations

Besides translations into virtually all the European languages, and a multitude of other global languages, including three of the South African languages

South African translations

1950: Translated into Afrikaans as Macbeth by L.I. Coertze.

1959: Translated into Xhosa by uMacbeth by B.B. Mdledle.

1965: Translated into Afrikaans as Macbeth by W.J. du P. Erlank

1982: Translated and adapted into Zulu as Umabatha by Welcome Msomi.

1982: Translated into Tsonga as Macbeth by Felix M. Shilote and Charlotte Nkondo. Published: Braamfontein : Sasavona, 1982. 1st Edition.

South African productions of the original text of Macbeth (in English and in translation)

Always a popular work, this play has been performed in various guises in South Africa, including excerpts used as parts of Shakespeare readings and other performances by individuals such as Mrs Greig (1851 and possibly 1853).

1854: Mr Nightingale, the Port Captain, obtained the African Theatre for two (unspecified) nights in 1854, to put on scenes from Macbeth with the mariners of Simonstown, under the patronage of the Lt. Governor. (Bosman, 1928: pp. 409.)

1858: Performed by Sefton Parry and his company in the Cape Town Theatre, on 27 May (and subtitled "King of Scotland"), with The Good-for-Nothing (by "a Captonian") as afterpiece. The production had music by Locke and the "assistance of several amateurs, musical and dramatic" (probably members of the newly founded Cape Town Theatrical Club). The leading roles were taken by Sefton Parry ("Macbeth"), Mrs Parry ("Lady Macbeth"), and James Lycett ("MacDuff").

1858: Performed again by Sefton Parry and his company in the Cape Town Theatre, on 1 June, with A Young Man in a Hurry ("an original farce in One Act written for this Theatre by a Gentleman of the Cape") as afterpiece.

1859: A scene from Macbeth (performed "in character" by Captain Nightingale), by the amateurs of "the Royal Naval Theatre of the H.M.S. Megaera" in the Simon's Town Theatre on 28 March, along with Fish out of Water (Lunn), Make your Wills (Mayhew and Smith) and The Thumping Legacy (Morton). (Bosman, 1980: p. 165.)

1859: A scene from the play performed on 9 May by Charles Fraser and his company in the Cape Town Theatre, with Ben Bolt (Johnstone) and To Paris and Back for £5 (Morton) .

1859: A selection from the play performed on 15 June in the Cape Town Theatre by Charles Fraser and his company, with Luke the Labourer (Buckstone), Samuel in Search of Himself (Coyne and Coape) and a comic song written and sung by H. Connerton.

1860: Performed on the Eastern Cape border on 15 October by the Sergeants of the Regiment (North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot), with The Camp at Chobham as afterpiece. The Macbeth cast consisted of Sergeant T. Murnane (Duncan, King of Scotland), Corporal G. Brown (Malcolm, his son), Drummer J. Murray (Donaldbain, his son), Sergeant-major T. H. Smith (Macbeth, General in the King's Army), Private A. M'Laughlin (Banquo, General in the King's Army), Sergeant J. Lydon (Macduff), Sergeant F. Edwards (Lennox), Sergeant J. Chesters (Rosse), Sergeant J. Roberts (Monteith), Sergeant J. Murray (Caithness), Drummer J. Murray (Fleance, son to Banquo), Sergeant H. Davies (Siward, Earl of Northumberland, General of the English Forces), Lance Corporal J. Davies (Young Siward, his son), Sergeant T. Coughlin (Seyton, an officer attending on Macbeth), Corporal [T. [M'Kay]] (First Murderer), Sergeant J. Murray (Second Murderer), Sergeant J. Hanrahan (Doctor), Corporal T. M'Kay (Wounded Soldiers), Sergeant T. Coughlin (Porter), Lance Corporal J. Davies (Lady Macbeth), Sergeant J. Quinn (Gentlewoman attending on Lady Macbeth), Sergeant H. Davies (Hecate), Lance Corporal J. Davies (First Witch), Sergeant J. Quinn (Second Witch), Corporal G. Brown (Third Witch). (See the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot for contemporaneous commentary on the performance.)

1860: Performed on the Eastern Cape border on 29 October by the Sergeants of the Regiment (North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot) once more, this time with My Son Diana as afterpiece.

1862: Performed as Macbeth, King of Scotland by Sefton Parry and his company in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, on 20 January, with an unnamed farce. Besides Parry himself, the cast included Mrs Tellett as "Lady Macbeth" and the young tragedian Samuel Wolfe (probably as "Macbeth").

1875: Performed as Macbeth by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Bijou Theatre, Cape Town, on 12, 14, 16 and 17 June, with the music used for the production said to be by "Lock" - probably a reference to Matthew Locke (c. 1621–1677[4]) who composed the original music for William Davenant's revised Macbeth of the mid 1660s.

1876: Performed as Macbeth by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Theatre Royal in Burg Street, Cape Town, on 20 and 25 May.

1876: Performed as Macbeth by Disney Roebuck and his company in the Theatre Royal in Burg Street, Cape Town, on 14 November, as a benefit for Geo. Yates.

1888-9: The play was part of the repertoire of Lillian Beddard and her Shakesperian company that toured South Africa in this period, visiting Cape Town in 1888, and Johannesburg and Kimberley in 1889. Specifically mentioned are performances of her appearances as "Lady Macbeth" in the "Sleepwalking Scene" in Cape Town (as part of an event called Grand Classical Performance in the Exhibition Theatre, Cape Town, on 3 May 1888) and what was apparently a full production of the play in the Theatre Royal, Johannesburg on 8-13 July, 1889.

1891-2: Performed by the Geneviève Ward Company during a nine months' tour of South Africa, under the auspices of Luscombe Searelle, featuring Geneviève Ward and W.H. Vernon in the leading roles.

1906: Performed by William Haviland and his company as part of their repertoire while on tour, appearing in the Opera House, Cape Town, during July and August, with Edith Latimer as Haviland's leading lady.

1907: Performed by the Leonard Rayne company as part of its touring repertoire, including performances at the Opera House, Cape Town, during April.

1942: Produced by Henry Miles at the Standard Theatre, 1942.

1950: Produced in Afrikaans by African Theatres in association with National Theatre Organisation, and directed by Gwen ffrangçon-Davies, with André Huguenet (Macbeth), Anna Neethling-Pohl (Lady Macbeth), M.S. du Buisson (Duncan), Johann Nell (Macduff), Gert van den Bergh (Malcolm) and Berdine Grünewald (Lady Macduff). It was staged in Johannesburg and eventually in the Alhambra Theatre in Cape Town. (Source: Leonard Schach: The Flag is Flying, 62)

1961: Performed by the District Six based Drama Centre at the Crispin Hall in Port Elizabeth at the end of June and in the Cape Town City Hall in July. The cast included John Ramsdale.

1967: Produced in Afrikaans in the W.J. du P. Erlank translation of 1965. Directed by Fred Engelen, presented by University Theatre Stellenbosch in 1967, performed in the H.B. Thom Theatre, subsequently in the Van Zyl Hall, in the Cango Caves, Oudtshoorn. Décor, costumes and lighting by Elaine Aucamp and Pieter de Swardt. Tine Balder as Lady Macbeth, Fred Engelen as Macbeth, Charles Fryer as Banquo. Other members of the cast were Jocelyn de Bruyn, Johan Esterhuizen, Ben Dehaeck, Mees Xteen. The three witches were portrayed by Gretchen Holzapfel, Rahila Steyn and Bettina Camerer.

1967: Presented by René Ahrenson and Cecilia Sonnenberg at Maynardville, directed by Leslie French starring himself as Duncan, King of Scotland, Michael Atkinson as Macbeth, Michael Newell (Malcolm), Peter Curtis (Banquo), Cecilia Sonnenberg (Lady Macbeth), and others.

1970s: Performed in the Bloemfontein Civic Theatre during the early 1970s by the Bloemfontein Shakespeare Circle (possibly in association with PACOFS), directed by Marlene Kotzen, with George Jackson as "Macbeth" and Otto Bohlmann as "Malcolm".

1971: Presented by NAPAC Drama at the Alhambra Theatre, Durban, directed by Michael Meacham, from 7 September 1971.

1972: Presented by CAPAB Drama opening at the Nico Malan Theatre on 15 May 1972, directed by Bernard Brown, with Michael Atkinson as Macbeth, Marika Mann as Lady Macbeth, aslo starring Keith Grenville, Ronald France, Phillip Birkinshaw, Michael Drin, Stephen Gurney, Christopher Prophet, Peter Curtis, John Whiteley, Pietro Nolte, John Ramsbottom, Glynn Day, Liz Dickand others. Set designed by Keith Anderson, costumes by Jennifer Craig and Penny Simpson.

1979: A Rhodes University Drama Department production was directed by Roy Sargeant in May, lighting design by John T. Baker of CAPAB and Ken Robinson, starring Lawrence Hilton and Paul van Zyl.

1980: Performed by PACT at the Breytenbach Theatre, Pretoria and the Alexander Theatre, Johannesburg. Directed by Leonard Schach with Ron Smerczak and Sandra Prinsloo. (The play at the time was laughingly referred to as "MacBed" because of the central role played in the production by a noisy trundling bed on rails used as a key site of the action from time to time.)

1981: Directed by Philip Grout in a CAPAB production in the Nico Malan Theatre in 1981, starring Sandra Duncan as Lady Macbeth, Roger Dwyer as Macbeth, Tom Holmes, Alan Swerdlow and Sean Taylor as his sons, John Whiteley as Duncan. Others in the cast were Diane Wilson, Neville Thomas, Nigel Daly, Deon van Zyl, John Dennison, Paul Bosman, Blaise Koch, Phillip Boucher, Russel Savadier, Liz Dick, Clare Stopford and Mary Dreyer. Decor and costumes by Penny Simpson, lighting by Leon Benzakein, music by Ian Kellam. This production was also staged at the H.B. Thom Theatre on 14 April.

1985: Presented by Young People's Theatre at the Little Theatre, Cape Town, directed by Phyllis Klotz, starring André Jacobs, Terry Norton and Shirley Johnston, among others. Design by Jenny Gillis.

1989: Directed by Gina Benjamin for SODA, Wits Theatre.

1990: Presented by NAPAC, first performance The Drama, the Natal Playhouse on April 4, 1990. Direction Nicholas Ellenbogen, design Peter Cazalet, lighting design Graham Eales. The cast: Sean Taylor as Macbeth, Lady Macbeth played by Brenda Radloff, John Whiteley, David Dennis, Gary D'Alessandro, Ian Hadfield, Graham Weir and others.

1990: Staged by PACT, directed by Dieter Reible, with Graham Hopkins/Jonathan Rands (Macbeth), Bill Curry (Duncan), Terence Reis (Malcolm), Wayne Robins (Donalbain), Graham Hopkins (Banquo), Jonathan Rands/Christopher Wells (Macduff), Sandra Prinsloo/Mitzi Booysen (Lady Macbeth), Mitzi Booysen/Sandra Prinsloo (Lady Macduff), Dale Cutts (Everyman I), Martin Le Maitre (Everyman II), Andre Odendaal (Witch), Embeth Davidtz (Witch), Dan Sebogodi (Witch) and others.

1992: Staged by PACOFS, directed by Desmond Hughes, with Dawid Minnaar (Macbeth), Ernst Eloff (Duncan), James van Helsdingen (Malcolm), Hannes van Wyk (Donalbain), Pieter Brand (Banquo), Zane Meas (Macduff), Anton Welman (Lennox), Nigel Kane (Ross), Nico Luwes (Menteith), Isadora Verwey (Lady Macbeth), Corien Pelt (Lady Macduff), Marga van Rooy (Witch), Christo Compion (Witch), Petro-Nelise Trichardt (Witch) and others. Decor by Johan Badenhorst and costumes by James Parker.

1996: Presented by CAPAB, directed by Marthinus Basson with Keith Grenville as King Duncan, André Roothman as Macbeth, Terry Norton as Lady Macbeth, Joshua Lindberg as Banquo, Nicholas Dallas as Donaldbain, also featuring Diane Wilson and Graham Weir and others. At the Nico in Cape Town and the National Arts Festival, 1996.

1997: Directed by David Peimer, Nicole Krowitz and Monique Garden for SODA, Downstairs Theatre.

2000: Presented by University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in the H.B. Thom Theatre, directed by Johan Esterhuizen with André Weideman as Macbeth.

2004: Presented by DSN Productions at the Port Elizabeth Opera House in April 2004, adapted and directed by Darryl Nel, with Nel (Macbeth), Niqui Cloete-Barrass (Lady Macbeth), Annaline Stiglingh (Macbeth's Psyche), Vanessa Grebe (Lady Macduff), Marelize Booyens (Ross), Anton Calitz (Seyton), Anton Steyn (Macduff), Alan Williams (Duncan), Wesley Hayter (Malcolm), Clifford Kleb (Banquo), Nina Holderness (Fleance), Du Toit Bredenkamp (Macduff's son), Jenni Zeelie, Candice Johnstone and Jerry Fortuin (as the Witches). The same production was performed again at the Port Elizabeth Opera House in July 2006, predominantly with the same cast, with Alison Canter (Banquo), Marlene Pieterse (Duncan), Francois Malan (Malcolm), Bennie Gerber (Witch).

2006: an Actors Centre production directed by Mark Graham, assisted by Dorothy-Ann Gould, in 2006 in the Tesson Theatre. Carl Beukes as Macbeth, Ilanit Shapiro as Lady Macbeth, David Dennis as Duncan, David Butler as Banquo, Nick Boraine as Macduff, Sivan Raphaely Lady Macduff. Decor by Denis Hutchinson, choreography by Ivan D. Lucas.

2008: Student production by the Drama Department at the University of Pretoria, directed in the Die Maskerteater theatre by Estelle Zeeman

2009: A Farce to be reckoned with By Pieter-Dirk Uys at the Market Theatre,. Directed: Pieter-Dirk Uys. Cast: Meme Ditshego (Nurse/businessman/second witch/journalist/messenger), Kenneth Fok (doctor/third witch/Guildenstern/businessman/journalist), Lizz Meiring (porter/Celine Dion), Coco Merkel (Prince McTrev), Arthur Molepo (celebrating comrade/Maduba the old King), Nthati Moshesh (Lady Manta/Winnie), Fezile Mpela (MacBeki), Mpho Osei-Tutu (Lord Ramabanko), Sello Sebotsane (Lord MacZum), Renate Stuurman (first witch/journalist/Rosenkrantz/businessman/servant)

2013 Presented in the PEMADS Little Theatre, as a joint production between PEMADS and the Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival. Directed by Lesley Barnard, with Gareth Bain, Helen Flax, Andrew White, Robert van den Ordel, Liz Yates, Mark Farrow , Yolande Farrow and David Roll.

2018: A trimmed down re-imagining of the play by director Fred Abrahamse, with a cast of six playing all 20 the roles, was performed at the Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino. The cast of six consisted of Matthew Baldwin, Stephen Jubber/Nicholas Campbell, Tristan de Beer, Marcel Meyer, Tailyn Ramsamy and Jeremy Richard. Design by Fred Abrahamse (set and lighting), Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer (costumes), Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (composer).

Adaptations of the original play

Macbeth has been adapted numerous times and in a variety of ways over the ages, notably into an Italian opera by Giuseppe Verdi, Orson Welles's 1936 controversial "Voodoo Macbeth"[5] and theatrical works by Heiner Müller and Charles Marowitz, as well as a range of films. Here we consider only those versions created and/or performed in South Africa.

In addition there have been a number of burlesque and/or travesty versions of the play, including works by Francis Talfourd (1847 and 1853), .

International versions seen in South Africa

Macbeth Travestie by Francis Talfourd (1847)

Macbeth Travestie seems to have been but one of the various names given to Talfourd's reworking of Macbeth, other titles found are Macbeth, Somewhat Removed from the Text of Shakespeare (1853), Travestie of Macbeth and Extravaganza Macbeth. On occasion also referred to as Talfourd's Travestie of Macbeth.

The original version of the two act travesty or burlesque was written by Francis Talfourd (1828-1862)[6] and first performed at Henley during the Regatta on June 17 1847, published by E.T. Spiers in Oxford in the same year. It then went to the Strand Theatre on 10 January 1848, and the Olympic Theatre on 25 April 1853 (billed as Macbeth, Somewhat Removed from the Text of Shakespeare), and played with the comedian Frederick Robson as "Macbeth".

South African performances

1856: Performed as Talfourd's Travestie of Macbeth in the Simon's Town Theatre on 27 December by officers from the H.M.S. Penelope, under the command of Sir William Wiseman, with The Wandering Minstrel (Mayhew). The cast probably also included local amateurs, with "Macbeth" played by Mr Forrest and "Lady Macbeth" by Mrs L. Barstowe.

1858: According to F.C.L. Bosman (1980:pp.69 and 71), a burlesque version billed as an "entirely new Extravaganza" Macbeth! N.B. not written by Shakespeare!" was sung [sic] by J.E.H. English in the Cape Town Theatre, as part of an evening's entertainment by Sefton Parry and his company on 23 March, as afterpiece to The Lady of Lyons (Bulwer-Lytton) and followed by The Dancing Barber (Selby). (In addition Bosman wrongly ascribes the extravaganza to a "C. Talfourd", though it clearly was the work of Francis Talfourd. The notion that the piece was sung was possibly a typographical error, and it should read that English sang an unnamed song and they performed Talfourd's play.)

1859: Performed as part of the bill of An Evening of Tragedy, Melodrama and Light Comedy, given in the Cape Town Theatre on 2 June by E.C. de Jocelyn Harvey , with the support of local amateurs and members of the Cape Town Garrison. Other pieces done were a death scene from a melodrama entitled Friendship (Anon.), the closet scene from Hamlet (Shakespeare) and Town & Country, or Which is Best? (Morton). Supporting performers for the evening's entertainment included Mr Devere, Miss Delmaine, Mr Connorton, Mr Keens and Mr Stenner (the latter three with permission of Colonel Graham of the local regiment).

1861: Performed on the Eastern Cape border on May 27 and 3 June by the Sergeant's Dramatic Club (North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot), with an opening recitation, in character, of Lord Macaulay's Lay of "Virginia," by Sergeant-Major T. H. Smith and John Dobbs (Morton) as afterpiece. The Travestie cast consisted of Colour-Sergeant P. Fox (Duncan), Sergeant G. Brown (Malcolm), Dr J. Murray (Donaldbain), Sergeant-Major T. H. Smith (Macbeth), Sergeant T. M'Kay (Banquo), Sergeant J. Lydon (Macduff), Sergeant G. E. Gill (Rosse), Private J. F. Gay (Lennox), Private W. Dansie (Family Physician), Corporal T. Smith (Family Porter), Corporal J. Davies (Lady Macbeth), Private J. Durney (Gentlewoman), Corporal J. Logan, Private W. Dansie and Private J. F. Gay (The Three Witches). "Apparitions, Murderers, Messengers, and an army of 200,00 Men (more or less) who have been expressly engaged on this occasion, - with the Enemy." (For more on contemporary responses to the performances, see the entry on the North Lincolnshire Regiment of Foot)

1867: Performed on 4 March 1867 during a Benefit Performance for the Somerset Hospital in Cape Town was arranged by the officers of the 9th Regiment, led by Captain Borton, and performed in the Theatre Royal in association with Mrs Marie Duret and Mrs Cooper. It also featured the regimental orchestra, led by Signor Bonicoli and a performance of Lend Me Five Shillings (Morton).

1867: The performance of 4 March repeated on 13 September in the Theatre Royal, Cape Town, as a benefit for madame Marie Duret. Again done by Madame Duret and the Le Roy-Duret Company in association with Captain Borton and the officers of the 9th Regiment, and included a performance of the Shylock Burlesque (Talfourd).

Macbeth (opera) by Giuseppe Verdi (1847)

An opera in four acts by Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) [7] it was based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name and first performed in Florence, Italy in 1847.

South African performances

1967: Presented by PACT Opera.

1968: Presented by PACT Opera.

2001: One act adaptation by Péter Louis van Dijk presented by Cape Town Opera (14–23 September), conducted by Christopher Dowdeswell with the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra. This version was set in a guerrilla war in Sierra Leone. Although sung in Italian, the opera was substantially shortened with the specific goal of highlighting a postcolonial message. Sections of Verdi’s music were also transcribed for alto saxophone, marimba and djembe.

2002: One act adaptation by Péter Louis van Dijk presented at the State Theatre in Pretoria, directed by Brett Bailey.

2007: The adaptation by Péter Louis van Dijk presented as a collaboration between Brett Bailey's company (Third World Bunfight) and Cape Town Opera at Spier (15–23 March), directed by Brett Bailey, conducted by Christopher Dowdeswell, with Fikile Mvinjelwa (as Macbeth) and Nobulumko Mngxekeza (as Lady Macbeth).

A Summer Day (cantata) by Leveridge and Stallybras (ca. 1870)

A cantata based on the witches scene from Macbeth, with music by Richard Leveridge (1670?-1758)[8] and a text prepared by a Mr Stallybras. According to the Wikipedia entry on Leveridge, he himself apparently sang the role of "Hecate" for nearly 50 years, and the music remained popular for more than a century after his death. (F.C.L. Bosman, 1980, p. 287, has the composer as "John Leveridge".)

South African performances

1870: Performed by the "Intermediate Tonic Solfa Class" of the YMCA in Cape Town, under the direction of Mr Ashley, the composer listed as "John Leveridge".

Shakespeare's Macbeth by Heiner Müller and Tjaart Potgieter

A German adaptation of the play by Heiner Müller (1929-1995)[9], done in in 1971 it was entitled Macbeth, or Macbeth after Shakespeare in English translation.

Another English translation of Heiner Müller's work was done by the South African playwright and director Tjaart Potgieter and given the title Shakespeare's Macbeth

South African performances

1989: Presented as Shakespeare's Macbeth by CAPAB Drama, directed and produced at the 1989 Grahamstown Festival by Marthinus Basson (who also designed the costumes). Gustav Geldenhuys assisted the director. Design by Reiner Leist. Lighting by Malcolm Hurrell. Ron Smerczak as Macbeth, Antoinette Kellermann as Lady Macbeth. Also featuring Norman Coombes, Li Newman, Damon Galgut, David Clatworthy, André Roothman, Diane Wilson, Ralph Lawson, David Butler, Bo Petersen, Mark Hoeben, Pauline O'Kelly, Warrick Grier, Neels Coetzee and others. This production was also staged at the Nico Malan Theatre, opening 15 July 1989.

A Macbeth by Charles Marowitz

South African performances

1973: Directed by Charles Marowitz for PACT Drama in the Alexander Theatre, starring Siegfried Mynhardt, Molly Seftel, Billy Matthews and Ken Leach.

South African adaptations

Umabatha by Welcome Msomi (1970)

A Zulu reworking of Shakespeare's Macbeth . First published by Heinemann, 1998.

South African performances

1970: First presented in the University of Natal’s Open Air Theatre under the direction of Pieter Scholtz and Elizabeth Sneddon in 1970. It also travelled to London in 1972, where it played to acclaim in the *** theatre.

1974: Staged in Maynardville by Rene Ahrenson and Cecilia Sonnenberg with The Zulu Theatre Company.

1978: Performed in the Baxter Theatre, directed by Phillip Msomi.

1995 and 1996: A new production of Umabatha, written and directed by Welcome Msomi, played seasons at the Civic Theatre and the Playhouse Theatre.

1998: Revived and once more taken to London

2001: played in London to acclaim once more, as part of the Celebrate South Africa Festival in London.

2016: Produced by University of Pretoria’s Drama Department as their contribution to the 400th year commemoration of Shakespeare's birth. Re-interpreted (with references to the current political situation) and directed by Josias Dos Moleele, choreographed by Luyanda Sidyia, with set design by Karabo Legoabe and costume design by Nthabiseng Makone. Members of the Usuthu community theatre groups from Atteridgeville and Mamelodi form part of the cast. Performed in the Masker Theatre, Pretoria, 20 – 23 September.

Macbeth the African opera by Brett Bailey

The opera was adapted into an African setting by Brett Bailey in 2014. "Shakespeare's story of ambition, treachery and witchcraft is set in the Great Lakes region of Central Africa, amongst the wars and ruthless exploitation that tear this invisible corner of the world apart." (Programme note at the first production)

Performance history in South Africa

2014: The premiere production of Brett Bailey's African adaptation was staged by Third World Bunfight at the Artscape in Cape Town, designed and directed by Bailey, with a cast of ten black South African opera singers, including Owen Metsileng (Macbeth), Nobulumko Mngxekeza (Lady Macbeth) and Otto Maidi (Banquo) and twelve South African musicians. Verdi's music was arranged for the African setting by Fabrizio Cassol and conducted by Premil Petrovic. Choreography by Natalie Fisher. The same production was subsequently staged in various countries across Western Europe.

2015: Staged in Australia, New Zealand, South America and Europe.

MacBeki - A Farce to the Reckoned With by Pieter-Dirk Uys

A farce broadly based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth, providing a comic and satiric version of the events surrounding the deposition of Thabo Mbeki, South Africa's second president after Apartheid, using the Scottish play as a framework. Originally devised and written for production by University of Cape Town students.

South African performances

2009: First produced by the University of Cape Town Drama Department, directed by Christopher Weare in the Little Theatre, Cape Town on the 25th February, 2009, with Themba Mchunu, Lerato Motshwarakgole, Gabriel Marchand, Gerald Dhunrajah, Rudi Swart, Chase Downs, Rosa Whitcher, Mpho Kgosana, Abongile Kroza, Mandisi Sindo, Siyabulela Sikawuti.

2009: The first professional production at the Market Theatre in 2009, directed by Pieter-Dirk Uys, with Fezile Mpela, Nthati Moshesh, Lizz Meiring, Mpho Osei-Tutu, Coco Merckel, Sello Sebotsane, Kenneth Fok and others. Costumes by Thando Lobese, Set/Props. Nicholas de Klerk. Lighting Declan Randall.

Published by Peninsula , in association with Junkets Publishers, 2009.

macbeth.slapeloos by Marthinus Basson and cast

(Translation: "macbeth.sleepless". Also written Macbeth, slapeloos.)

An adaptation of Shakespeare's play, using the original Afrikaans translation by Eitemal (nom de plume of W.J. du P. Erlank), and adapted by Marthinus Basson and the cast.

South African performances

2014: Performed at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK), produced by Hugo Theart and TEATERteater, in association with Clover Aardklop and Artscape. Directed by Marthinus Basson, with Dawid Minnaar, Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Jana Cilliers, Antoinette Kellerman, Stian Bam, Charlton George, Ludwig Binge, Edwin van der Walt en Senzo Madikane. Lighting design by Albert Snyman and choreography by Estelle Olivier.

2015: Performed at the Baxter Theatre with the same cast.

The Okavango Macbeth by Alexander McCall Smith

Adapted into a chamber opera set in Southern Africa, entitled The Okavango Macbeth by Alexander McCall Smith.

The Tragedy of Macbeth by Walter Greyvenstein

This is an adaptation of the original Shakespeare work as a one-act play, for educational use. Published in Drama, Action and Interaction by Academica Publishers, 1989.

Sources

"Macbeth" in Wikipedia[10]

"Macbeth (opera)" in Wikipedia [11]

https://www.areditions.com/music-for-macbeth-b133.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Leveridge

Listing of productions in the UTS programme for Arms and the Man, H.B. Thom Theatre, Stellenbosch, 1968 (held in ESAT Archive)

Facsimile version of the Macbeth Travestie by Talfourd (3rd edition), The Internet Arhive[12]

Richard W. Schoch. 2002. Not Shakespeare: Bardolatry and Burlesque in the Nineteenth Century. Cambridge University Press: p. 95[[13]]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voodoo_Macbeth

F.C.L. Bosman. 1928. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel I: 1652-1855. Pretoria: J.H. de Bussy. [14]: pp. 401, 441

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: pp.129, 392

P.J. du Toit. 1988. Amateurtoneel in Suid-Afrika. Pretoria: Academica

Jill Fletcher. 1994. The Story of Theatre in South Africa: A Guide to its History from 1780-1930. Cape Town: Vlaeberg: p.

Loren Kruger 1999. The Drama of South Africa: Plays, Pageants and Publics Since 1910 London: Routledge

Percy Tucker. 1997. Just the Ticket. My 50 Years in Show Business. Johannesburg: Witwatersrand University Press.

Third World Bunfight website [15]

Trek, 7(12):17, 1942.

Theatre programmes (CAPAB), 1972, 1981.

The Zulu Theatre Company theatre programme (Maynardville), 1974.

Newspaper clippings and photographs of the 1967 production, collected by Johan Esterhuizen.

PACT theatre programme, 1990.

PACOFS theatre programme, 1992.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

Beeld, 23 February 2006.

Die Burger, 28 February 2009 (MacBeki - A Farce to the Reckoned With).

National Arts Festival programme, 1996

Aardklop 2013 Programme

Macbeth finds new home in PE's Little Theatre Bob Eveleigh (Artslink 02/11/2014 10:20:05)

Marié-Heleen Coetzee. 2016. "uMabatha takes centre stage", Artslink, 09/18/2016[16]

North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 3. November 1, 1860.

North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 7. June 13, 1861.

North Lincoln Sphinx Vol 1, No 8. September 30, 1861.

E-mail correspondence from Laurence Jacobs, August, 2020, containing information supplied by John Ramsdale.

https://robynsassenmyview.com/2018/08/19/hold-shakespeares-magic-in-a-hand-that-trembles/

https://www.enca.com/life/macbeth-reimagined

'A culture for everyone'. Mail and Guardian. 18 July 2002.

The Herald, 26 April 2004

The Herald, 6 July 2006

Wayne Muller. 2018. A reception history of opera in Cape Town: Tracing the development of a distinctly South African operatic aesthetic (1985–2015). Unpublished PhD thesis.

Alexandra Xenia Sabina Mossolow. 2003. The career of South African soprano Nellie du Toit, born 1929. Unpublished Masters thesis. University of Stellenbosch.

'Is this an aria that I see before me?'. IOL. 7 March 2007.

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

Hilde Roos. 2012. 'Indigenisation and history: how opera in South Africa became South African opera'. Acta Academica Supplementum. 2012(1).

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