Difference between revisions of "Dear Mrs Steyn"

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One-woman play inspired by and based upon the letters and journals of [[Emily Hobhouse]] to Mrs Rachel Steyn, script by [[Deon Opperman]], [[Garth Holmes]] and [[Wilna Snyman]] (1999).
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''[[Dear Mrs Steyn]]'' is a one-woman play by [[Deon Opperman]], [[Garth Holmes]] and [[Wilna Snyman]] (1999).
  
== Subject ==
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== Subject and text==
During the Second Boer War (1899-1902) [[Emily Hobhouse]] wrote a series of letters to her close friend and soul mate Mrs Rachel Isabella Steyn, wife of the State President of the Orange Free State, M.T. Steyn. Her focus was on the suffering of the Afrikaner women and children incarcerated in the British concentration camps during the war.
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During the [[South African War|Second Boer War]] (1899-1902) [[Emily Hobhouse]] wrote a series of letters to her close friend and soul mate Mrs Rachel Isabella Steyn, wife of the State President of the Orange Free State, M.T. Steyn. Her focus was on the suffering of the [[Afrikaner]] women and children incarcerated in the British concentration camps during the war.
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The play was inspired by and based upon these letters.
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
Premièred in [[Die Teaterhuisie]] in May 1999 (centenary year of the start of the South African War, 1899-1902), with [[Wilna Snyman]] and directed by [[Deon Opperman]]. The same production played in The [[Baxter Theatre]] Concert Hall in May 1999, the [[Windybrow]] in October 1999 and at the [[KKNK]] of 1999. It was staged, with [[Wilna Snyman]] a number of times since the 1999 première.
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1990: Premièred at the 1990 [[Grahamstown Festival|Grahamstown Festival of the Arts]], presented by the [[Baxter Theatre]] with [[Wilna Snyman]], directed by [[Deon Opperman]].
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1990: Performed at The [[Loft Theatre]] in Durban, August 1990.
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1991: Performed at the [[Baxter Theatre]], opening on 2 May.
 +
 
 +
1999: Staged once again, in this, the centenary year of the start of the [[South African War]] (also called the [[Second Boer War]], 1899-1902). Directed by [[Deon Opperman]] with [[Wilna Snyman]]. It opened at at the [[KKNK]] in April.  
 +
 
 +
1999: The same production also played at [[Die Teaterhuisie]] in Pretoria and the [[Baxter Theatre]] Concert Hall (in May) and the [[Windybrow Theatre]] in Johannesburg  (in October) and of 1999.
 +
 
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The original production went on to a long run over many years, with [[Wilna Snyman]] still performing it at [[Die Boer]] in Cape Town on  16th February 2011. It was also performed at a number of embassies around the world.
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2014: In 2014 [[ItsTaboo Productions]] put on a new production of the play at [[Seabrooke's Theatre]], DHS, St Thomas Road, Musgrave, Durban. Directed by [[Thomie Holtzhausen]], with [[Alison Cassels]] as [[Emily Hobhouse]].
  
 
==Translations and adaptations==
 
==Translations and adaptations==
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
KKNK Festival programme, 1999.
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Baxter Theatre programme, 1991.
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[[KKNK]] Festival programme, 1999.
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[Van Heerden (2008)][http://www.google.co.za/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCUQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fscholar.sun.ac.za%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10019.1%2F1443%2Fvanheerden_theatre_2008.pdf%3Fsequence%3D1&ei=_egBU77CNYWJhQeE5oCADQ&usg=AFQjCNEWnD1BzeLnFmOV2tvyGLoMyNeT6Q&bvm=bv.61535280,d.Yms]. p. 130.
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Review by [[Sjoerd Meijer]], ''[[Daily News]]'', 10 August 1990.
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Review by [[André le Roux]], ''[[Die Burger]]'', 6 May, 1991.
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http://www.durbanhighschool.co.za/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=1160
  
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[South African Theatre/Bibliography|ESAT Bibliography]]
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== Return to ==
  
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Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
  
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Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
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Return to [[Main Page]]
 
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Latest revision as of 09:47, 13 January 2022

Dear Mrs Steyn is a one-woman play by Deon Opperman, Garth Holmes and Wilna Snyman (1999).

Subject and text

During the Second Boer War (1899-1902) Emily Hobhouse wrote a series of letters to her close friend and soul mate Mrs Rachel Isabella Steyn, wife of the State President of the Orange Free State, M.T. Steyn. Her focus was on the suffering of the Afrikaner women and children incarcerated in the British concentration camps during the war.

The play was inspired by and based upon these letters.

Performance history in South Africa

1990: Premièred at the 1990 Grahamstown Festival of the Arts, presented by the Baxter Theatre with Wilna Snyman, directed by Deon Opperman.

1990: Performed at The Loft Theatre in Durban, August 1990.

1991: Performed at the Baxter Theatre, opening on 2 May.

1999: Staged once again, in this, the centenary year of the start of the South African War (also called the Second Boer War, 1899-1902). Directed by Deon Opperman with Wilna Snyman. It opened at at the KKNK in April.

1999: The same production also played at Die Teaterhuisie in Pretoria and the Baxter Theatre Concert Hall (in May) and the Windybrow Theatre in Johannesburg (in October) and of 1999.

The original production went on to a long run over many years, with Wilna Snyman still performing it at Die Boer in Cape Town on 16th February 2011. It was also performed at a number of embassies around the world.

2014: In 2014 ItsTaboo Productions put on a new production of the play at Seabrooke's Theatre, DHS, St Thomas Road, Musgrave, Durban. Directed by Thomie Holtzhausen, with Alison Cassels as Emily Hobhouse.

Translations and adaptations

Sources

Baxter Theatre programme, 1991.

KKNK Festival programme, 1999.

[Van Heerden (2008)][1]. p. 130.

Review by Sjoerd Meijer, Daily News, 10 August 1990.

Review by André le Roux, Die Burger, 6 May, 1991.

http://www.durbanhighschool.co.za/content/news/News_Item.asp?content_ID=1160

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page