The Devils

The Devils [1] is a play, commissioned by Sir Peter Hall [2] for the Royal Shakespeare Company [3] and written by British dramatist John Whiting (1917-1963) [4], based on Aldous Huxley's [5] book, The Devils of Loudun [6].

The original text

First performed at London's Aldwych Theatre in February, 1961, with Dorothy Tutin portraying the deformed and hysterical Sister Jeanne of the Angels, and Richard Johnson as the existential hero, Father Urbain Grandier. Diana Rigg appeared in the supporting role of Philippe and Max Adrian played the zealot exorcist, Father Pierre Barre. Whiting revised his text in 1963, shortly before his death from cancer.

Published in New English Dramatists 6 edited by Tom Maschler. Penguin, 1963.

Performance history in South Africa

1966: First performed in South Africa at the Alexander Theatre by PACT from 14 July to 20 August 1966, directed by Peter Ebert, featuring Norman Ettlinger (Mannoury), Ronald Wallace (Adam), Bruce Anderson (Louis Trincant), Arthur Hall (Jean D'Armagnac), Hal Orlandini (Guillaume de Cerisay), Siegfried Mynhardt (The Sewerman), Francois Swart (Urbain Grandier), Fiona Fraser (Ninon), John Hayter (De la Rochepozay), John Whiteley (Father Rangier), Kerry Jordan (Father Barre), Babs Laker (Sr Jeanne), Ziona Garfield (Sr Claire) Maureen McAllister (Sr Louise), Patrick Mynhardt (De Laubardemont), George Moore ( Father Mignon), Elaine Lee (Sr Gabrielle), Anthony Fridjhon (Louis XII), Phillip Boucher (Bontemps), Frank Douglass (Father Ambrose) and others. Sets by Raimond Schoop and costumes by Aubrey Couling. The same production was moved to the National Theatre in Pretoria to be staged from 24 August to 10 September.

Sources

Wikipedia [7]

PACT theatre programme, 1966.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

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