Vorstenschool

Vorstenschool ("school for kings") is a Dutch play in five acts by Multatuli (pseudonym of Eduard Douwes Dekker, 1820-1887)[1]

The original text

A play about the intrigues and power struggles in a royal court, it was originally published as a text by G. L. Funke in 1872. However, being rather controversial in its theme, it took three years for a company to undertake a production of it. The play ultimately had its first performance on 1 March, 1875 in Utrecht by the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Schouwburg-Vereeniging. It soon became a great success, apparently performed regularly till well after the World War II, and is still considered an masterpiece of Dutch dramatic art.

Translations and adaptations

The play has seen a number of translations, most of them into German under the title Fürstenschule, including versions by Wilhelm Spohr (1900), Karl Mischke (1901), and Emil Ludwig and Dirk Troelstra (1902).

Performance history in South Africa

1908: Performed in Dutch (as Politiezaken) in the Empress Theatre, Pretoria, on 27 June, by the Rederijkerskamer by Onze Taal, Pretoria, probably directed by P.A. Welswijk.

Sources

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorstenschool

https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eduard_Douwes_Dekker

F.C.L. Bosman. 1980. Drama en Toneel in Suid-Afrika, Deel II, 1856-1912. Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik: p.485

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