Periandros van Korinthe

Periandros van Korinthe ("Periandros of Corinth") is an Afrikaans verse drama by D.J. Opperman.

The original text

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The play is set in the court of the Greek ruler Periandros in Corinth in the sixth century before Christ.

A verse drama in classic format, the work has often been prescribed for study at schools and universities. First published by Nasionale Boekhandel in 1954 and awarded the Hertzog Prize for Drama, 1956.

Performance history in South Africa

1954: The play was broadcast on the Afrikaans radio programme of the SABC on 29 October.

1955: First performed by the Cape Town Little Theatre, with several players drawn from Kaapstadse Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging, and directed by Ria Olivier. This production was staged both in the Little Theatre and in the Botha Hall in Stellenbosch.

1956: First professional production was by the National Theatre Organisation (NTO), directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl, who also played "Melissa". The rest of the cast consisted of Jan Schutte (as "Periandros"), Cobus Rossouw (the poet "Arioon"), Siegfried Mynhardt (the grandfather "Prokles"), Jannie Gildenhuys ("Kúúpselos"), Eghard van der Hoven (the second son "Lúkophroon"). Other roles were played by Elsa Fouché, Pieter Geldenhuys, Iris Coertze and Kobus van Staden. Décor and costumes by Kobus Esterhuysen, with Michal Grobbelaar technical advisor. One of the venues was at the Technical College Theatre in Eloff Street, Johannesburg, where it was staged from 3 to 9 October.

1957: The NTO production is repeated.

1972: Presented by the Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in the H.B. Thom Theatre in April, directed by Ria Olivier with Philip du Plessis, Johann van Heerden, Tarina Kleyn, Eugenie Kruger, David Malan, Jannie Botes, Fred Nel, Rika Sennet, Pieter Bredenkamp, Robin Malan, Fred le Roux and others. Music composed by Hubert du Plessis, décor and lighting by Emile Aucamp, costumes designed by Elaine Aucamp.

1987: Performed by CAPAB in collaboration with Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch. Directed by Herman Pretorius with Neels Coetzee, Belinda Koning, Gustav Geldenhuys, Willie Fritz and others. Décor by Peter Wright, costumes by Elaine Aucamp, lighting by Skip Wright. The music composed for the 1972 production was used again.

Sources

Rand Daily Mail radio schedule, 29 October 1954, page 10.

Inskip, 1972.

Lantern, 6(2):166-167, 1956.

Die Taalgenoot, 26(8), 1957.

Nel, 1972

Periandros van Korinthe theatre programme, 1972.

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