View source for Jack the Giant Killer

[[Jack the Giant Killer]] is the name of a popular figure from English folklore. Often dramatised and used in pantomime.

Also written [[Jack the Giant-Killer]] and the name [[Jack the Giant Slayer]] (or [[Jack the Giant-Slayer]]) also occurs. 


'''''Not to be confused with the character in or plays about ''[[Jack and the Beanstalk]]''''' 

=The character and the original tale=

''Jack the Giant Killer'' is described as an English fairy tale and legend about a brave young farmer's boy who slays a number of giants during King Arthur's reign and - in some versions - is seen as the successor to Arthur himself. In some versions he is purported to be a cousin of the other "Jack", of the Beanstalk fame. 

The story only appeared in print in 1711.

'''See also "Jack the Giant Killer" in ''Wikipedia''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_the_Giant_Killer]'''

=Dramatized versions of the tale=


==''Jack the Giant Killer, or Harlequin King Arthur and ye Knights of ye Round Table'' by H.J. Byron==

''[[Jack the Giant Killer, or Harlequin King Arthur, and ye Knights of ye Round Table]]'' is described as "a burlesque extravaganza, preceding a mirthful, magical, comical, Christmas pantomime" and was written by Henry James Byron (1835-1884)[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_James_Byron]. 

First performed in the Royal Princess's Theatre, London, on 26 December, 1859. 

Published by [[Thomas Hailes Lacy]], 1859 (Vol 43 of Lacy's Acting Edition of Plays).

= Performance history of ''Jack the Giant Killer'' in South Africa =

1862: Performed as a "grand Comic pantomime " called '''''[[Jack the Giant-Killer, or Harlequin King Arthur and Queen of the Fairy Bees]]''''' (possibly Byron's version?) by [[Sefton Parry]] in Cape Town in the [[The Cape Town Theatre]] in Harrington Street. It had 11 performances between 12 and 24 March. For most of the time the accompanying play was ''[[To Oblige Benson]]'' (Taylor), except on 18 March when the accompanying play was ''[[An Alarming Sacrifice]]'' (Buckstone). On 22 March a children's matinee was offered and the final performance on 24 March was done as a benefit for [[R.S. Cooper]].

=Sources=

Facsimile version of Lacy's 1859 printed version of Byron's text, Google E-book[https://books.google.co.za/books?id=ZNhUAAAAcAAJ&dq=Jack+the+Giant-Killer,+or+Harlequin+King+Arthur+and+Queen+of+the+Fairy+Bees&source=gbs_navlinks_s]

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

Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]

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