Puss in Boots

Puss in Boots [1] is the name of a famous European fairytale.

Often also found as Puss-in-Boots.

The original text

The origins of the story are vague and varied, since it appears in a large variety of publications and other forms over the ages.

Translations and adaptations

The basic story has been used for virtually all art forms, notably the performing arts such as stage, dance, and film.

A popular theme for pantomime[2] in the UK and its dominions and colonies, and - in the spirit of pantomime - the text is usually devised or adapted by each director for the particular circumstances, cast, audience, etc.

The Marvellous Story of Puss in Boots: A Play for Children by Nicholas Stuart Gray first published in 1955.

In 1971 a free Afrikaans stage adaption called Katjie-stewels and described as "'n Sprokie vir kinders" ("a fable for children"), was devised by the P.O.S. Groep at the Stellenbosch Drama Department, the text edited by Jocelyn de Bruyn and published by DALRO.

A number of English versions were also written/adapted/created by South African directors over the years (see list below).

Performance history in South Africa

1914: Puss-in-Boots by J. C. Williamson presented by The Williamson Company at the Opera House, Cape Town (April), His Majesty's Theatre, Johannesburg (May) and Theatre Royal, Durban (June-July), directed by Minnie Everett.

1971: An Afrikaans stage version of thee tale, called Katjie-stewels (lit. "kitten boots") was developed and probably performed by the P.O.S. Groep at the Stellenbosch Drama Department, directed by Jocelyn de Bruyn or/with Marina le Roux.

1971: David Bryant's version of Puss-in-Boots presented by The Lodge Players at the Little Theatre, Pretoria, directed by Joy Wood.

1972: The Marvellous Story of Puss in Boots presented by NAPAC at the Alhambra Theatre, Rowe Theatre and on tour, directed by Geoffrey Sutherland.

1974: Presented by AMADA in Aston Manor, Johannesburg, directed by Enid Fearnley.

1976: Presented by Herald Players at the Rowe Theatre, Pietermaritzburg, directed by Sybil Curtis.

1986: Presented by Greenwood Players at the Little Theatre, Pretoria, directed by Joy Woods.

1987: Presented by Just Us Company in the Nico Malan Theatre Foyer and St George's Mall, directed by Cindy Just.

2003: Presented by the Westville Theatre Club, directed by Paddy Bell-Fisher in November.

2008: Adapted by Garth Anderson, presented by The Actors Co-operative at the Durban Botanic Gardens, December .

2015-6: Performed by KickstArt in the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, University of Natal, Durban. Written and directed by Steven Stead with Rory Booth, Bryan Hiles, Darren King, Londiwe Dhlomo, Peter Court, Lyle Buxton, Belinda Henwood, Nhlakanepho Manqele and Caitlin Kilburn. Designs by Greg King.

2017: Performed by KickstArt at the Lyric Theatre at Gold Reef City in July. Written and directed by Steven Stead with Earl Gregory, Caitlin Kilburn, Michael Richard, Darren King, Sean John Louw, Zak Hendrikz, Ilse Klink. Designs by Greg King and music supervision by Rowan Bakker.

2022: A performance of Puss in Boots, directed by Ivor Jones for the National Children's Theatre, Parktown, Johannesburg was written .

2026: Performed by KickstArt Theatre 26 June - 18 July 2026 in The Pam Golding Theatre at the Baxter Theatre. Text written and directed by Steven Stead and designed by Greg King, the cast includes Rory Booth, Belinda Henwood, Bryan Hiles, Kyran Brady Taylor, Blessing Xaba, Lyle Buxton, Roshanda Lewis, Mthokozisi Zulu and Grace MacIlroy. Choreographed by Simone Mann, with lighting by Franky Steyn.

Sources

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

The performance text of Katjie-stewels, DALRO Playscripts, 1971.

Copy of the Afrikaans text of Katjie-stewels found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department's theatre archives and now held in the Performing Arts Research Collection (PARC) at the Africa Open Institute for Music, Research and Innovation, with offices at Pieter Okkers House, 7 Joubert Street, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

NELM: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 26. 68.

NELM: [Collection: KORT, Maurice]: 2012. 379. 26. 70.

http://esat.sun.ac.za/index.php?title=Puss_in_Boots#Performance_history_in_South_Africa

A review by Bruce Dennill (19/03/2022)

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

https://baxter.uct.ac.za/events/puss-boots

Go to ESAT Bibliography