View source for Much Ado about Nothing

''[[Much Ado about Nothing]]'' is a comedy by [[William Shakespeare]] (1564 – 1616)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare]. 

== The original text ==



== Translations and adaptations ==

Translated into [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Bohaai oor Boggerol]]'' by [[Martelize Kolver]] in 2004. Performed in the same year, the text is unpublished.

== Performance history in South Africa ==

First produced in South Africa by ** in 18**. 

1864: A reading of the play performed by [[Thomas Brazier]], as one of his series of [[Dramatic Readings]] held every alternate Monday in the Cape Town [[City Hall]] between 4 July and 7 November. (Other plays in the series of seven works read were Knowles's ''[[The Hunchback]]'', Bulwer-Lytton's ''[[The Lady of Lyons]]'' and five plays by Shakespeare: ''[[Hamlet]]'', ''[[The Merchant of Venice]]'', ''[[Romeo and Juliet]]'' and  ''[[King John]]''.)  


1898: The [[Haviland and Lawrence Shakespearian & Dramatic Company]] presented [[William Shakespeare]]'s comedy, [[Much Ado About Nothing]], at the [[Port Elizabeth Opera House]] on January 3 & 4, 1898. Directed by [[William Haviland]]. Starring William Haviland and [[Amy Coleridge]], supported by [[Gerald Lawrence]]. 

1938: Presented by the Repertory Theatre Society, later known as the [[Cape Town Repertory Theatre Society]], opening on 21 December 1938 at the [[Little Theatre]] for the University of Cape Town, directed by [[Archibald Wilson]]. 

1951: Performed as the opening production in the new [[Johannesburg Repertory Theatre|Johannesburg REPS Theatre]] ( 7th November), directed by [[Gwen ffrangçon-Davies]] and starring [[Margaret Inglis]], [[Jack Ralphs]], [[Vuivienne Drummond]], [[Richard Kissack]], [[David Lander]] and [[Richard Gray]].

1957: Presented b y the [[University of Cape Town]]'s Speech and Drama Department in April at the [[Little Theatre]].directed by [[Mavis Taylor]].

1964: Produced by the [[Port Elizabeth Shakespearean Festival]] 

1969: Staged in May 1969 by [[USAT]] in the [[Libertas Theatre]] in Stellenbosch, directed by [[Bie Engelen]], with [[Johann van Heerden]] (Don Pedro), [[Jan Engelen]] (Don John), [[Bryan Andrews]] (Claudio), [[Tom Henderson]] (Benedick), [[Robert Sceales]] (Leonato), [[Charles Kitching]] (Antonio), [[Tjaart van der Walt]] (Balthasar & Friar Francis), [[Oskar Prozesky]] (Conrade & Messenger), [[Nick Jourdan]] (Borachio), [[John Cartwright]] (Dogberry), [[Howard Bradshaw]] (Verges), [[Stephen Goodson]] (Sexton), [[Douglas Wade]] (various), [[Shelley Berger]] (Hero), [[Marianne Roux]] (Beatrice), [[Laurika Rauch]] (Margaret) and [[Hester Ballot]] (Ursula).

1971: Directed by [[Francois Swart]] for [[PACT]], [[Breytenbach Theatre]], Pretoria, 1971, starring [[Helen Bourne]], [[Ken Leach]].

1976: Directed by [[Pieter Scholtz]] for the Durban [[Theatre Workshop]] Company with [[Alan Auld]], [[Clive Rodel]], [[Diana Hamilton-Fowle]] and [[David Attwell]] in the cast.

1977: Presented by [[CAPAB]] Drama with [[René Ahrenson]] and [[Cecilia Sonnenberg]] at [[Maynardville]] directed by [[Roy Sargeant]] opening 14 January. The cast: [[John Whiteley]], [[Roger Dwyer]], [[Philip Godawa]], [[Michael Atkinson]], [[Dugald Thomson]], [[Willie Esterhuizen]], [[Bill Jervis]], [[Peter Cartwright]], [[Lois Butlin]], [[Helen Bourne]], [[Estelle de Gouveia]], [[Colin Duell]], [[David Crichton]], [[John Maythem]], [[Michael Drin]], [[Peter Krummeck]] and others. Set designed by [[Ken Robinson]], costumes by [[Jennifer Craig]], lighting by [[Brian Kennedy]]. Musical director [[Michael Tuffin]]. Choreography by [[Jennifer Craig]].

1990: Performed at the [[Oude Libertas Theatre]], Stellenbosch and [[Maynardville]], Cape Town,  directed by [[Ralph Lawson]] 1990. Design by [[Peter Cazalet]], lighting by [[Malcolm Hurrell]]. Musical arrangement by [[David Nissen]]. The cast: [[Phillip Boucher]], [[Mary Dreyer]], [[Diane Wilson]], [[Neels Coetzee]], [[Bo Petersen]], [[Victoria Bartlett]], [[Rick Everett]], [[David Dennis]], [[Peter Butler]], [[Keith Grenville]], [[André Roothman]], [[Royston Stoffels]], [[Gérard Rudolf]], [[David Nissen]], [[Jonathan Pienaar]], [[Willie Fritz]], [[Jozua van der Lucht]], [[André Samuels]]. 

2004: Performed in [[Afrikaans]] as ''[[Bohaai oor Boggerol]]'' in the [[H.B. Thom Theatre]]. The text translated and directed by [[Martelize Kolver]], with students of the Drama Departement, Stellenbosch University.

2005: Performed at [[Maynardville]] directed by [[Fred Abrahamse]] with [[Anthea Thompson]], [[Grant Swanby]], [[David Muller]], [[David Johnson]], [[Mbali Kgosidintsi]], [[Matthew Wild]], [[Marcel Meyer]] and full cast.

2007: Directed by [[Megan Wilson]] at the [[Tesson Theatre]], 6-17 March, starring [[Martin le Maitre]], [[Ashleigh Harvey]], [[Camilla Waldman]], [[Chantal Nativel]], [[Zizana Peteni]], [[Jannes Eiselen]], [[Theo Landey]], [[Steven Feinstein]], [[Russel Savadier]], [[Omphile Molusi]] and [[Peter Terrey]].

== Sources ==
[[ESAT Bibliography I|Inskip]], 1972. p.124.

http://www.maynardville.co.za/pages/archive.php

[[ESAT Bibliography I|Inskip]], 1972.

[[USAT]] theatre programme, May 1969.

Theatre programmes, 1977, 1990.

[[NELM]]: [Collection: SNEDDON, Elizabeth]: 2007. 11. 8. 3 (Theatre Workshop 1976 production).

[[ESAT Bibliography Mam-Mar|Martin]] 2008. p.58. ([[PACT]] 1971 production).

Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]]

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