Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty is a well known fairy tale, based on various folk tales from the 14th century, and written up by various authors over the ages.

The original texts

The best known textual versions are perhaps La Belle au bois dormant ("The Beauty Sleeping in the Wood") by Charles Perrault and Dornröschen ("Little Briar Rose") by the Brothers Grimm. The story has been staged in a variety of ways over the years, very often as a pantomime, operetta, ballet, or musical, on stage, ice, and film. The classical stage example is of course Tchaikovsky's 1890 ballet The Sleeping Beauty[1], while the quintessential film version is inevitably the 1954 Walt Disney animated film[2].

Usually referred to in English as Sleeping Beauty or The Sleeping Beauty

Sleeping Beauty in South Africa

Besides the various international films and filmic adaptations seen in the country, and performances of the classic ballet, a large number of local stage versions of the tale have been created and performed in the country.

South African texts and adaptations

Translated and/or adapted into English and Afrikaans a number of times, the latter versions variously named Doringrosie (Die Slapende Skone), Doringrosie, Die Skone Slaapster or Die Slapende Skoonheid.

Sleeping Beauty by Darryl Nel.

This is an operetta, written for use by primary school children.

The Sleeping Beauty by Janice Honeyman

Also billed as The Sleeping Beauty Pantomime, written for PACT in 1990.

Doringrosie van Roosfontein by Lizz Meiring

Doringrosie van Roosfontein ("Sleeping Beauty of Roosfontein") is a one act Afrikaans pantomime. Published in Sewe Kleure Boeke by ???

Doringrosie by Appel van Rensburg

A one-act play in Afrikaans by Appel van Rensburg. Also adapted as an operetta version for children by Alyzzander Fourie and George Rautenbach.

Performance history in South Africa

1968: Sleeping Beauty: A Panto performed by Carousel Productions, directed by ** and featuring inter alia Craig Curtis,

1980: A burlesque version of the tale was used in Henry Mylne's PACOFS production of Ian Ferguson's "entertainment" Confetti.

1990: The Sleeping Beauty Pantomime staged by PACT, adapted and directed by Janice Honeyman, with Gaby Lomberg (Princess Aurora Adora), Joanna Weinberg (Prince Harry the Handsome), James Borthwick (Sir Poensface Ponce-a-lot), Michael Richard (Nora the Royal Nurse), Shirley Johnston (Queen), Michael McCabe (King), Hannes Muller (Cracker Jack), Susan Danford (Floradora Daisy), Maralin Vanrenen (Khakibos), Itumeleng Wa-Lehure (Maaikie Mouse), Nomsa Nene(Miemsie Mouse) and Nicky Rebelo (Pierneef the Turtle). Sets and costumes by Andrew Botha. Musical director Bradley Miller and choreography by Jill Osborne. Assistant director: Maralin Vanrenen.

1992: Doringrosie (Die Slapende Skone), the Afrikaans translation by Nerina Ferreira was staged by PACT, opening 20 October in the Drama at the State Theatre, directed by Tobie Cronjé (assisted by André-Jacques van der Merwe), with Ilse Fourie-Mazzone, Karen Meiring, André-Jacques van der Merwe, Patrick Mynhardt, Louis van Niekerk, Marion Holm, James Borthwick, Sarah Theron, Antoinette Kellermann, Samson Khumalo, Wilmien Rossouw and Gustav Geldenhuys. Designer Andrew Botha, musical direction by Lolly Sönmez, choreography by Jill Osborn, lighting by Jane Gosnell. Deon Breytenbach was the stage manager.

19**: Produced by PACT Drama in association with Nedbank, directed by Hannes Muller and assistant director Lizz Meiring. Designer: Andrew Botha. Musical director: Lolly Sönmez. Choreography: Adéle Blank. Lighting: Jacques Mulder. The cast was: Vanessa Pike (Princess Aurora Adora), Chantal Nativel (Prince Harry the Handsome), Francois Theron (Sir Poensface Ponce-a-lot), Christo Compion (Nora the Royal Nurse), Ronel Kriel (Queen), Mike Huff (King), Samson Khumalo (Cracker Jack), Michelle Simpson (Floradora Daisy), Sarah Theron (Khakibos), Sello Sebotsane (Maaikie Mouse), Lizz Meiring (Mybil Mouse), Jan Stoop (Casper) and the Chorus: Mandy Bowen, Jessica Gilbert, Dinah Hlongwane, Samantha Bremridge, Jiana Fullard, Gary Lawson, Francois Henning, Arnold Hoon, Bertus Dreyer and Brandon Auret.

2000: Sleeping Beauty (Anon.) performed as a musical by Kempton Arts and Theatrical Society

2002: Produced in English at the Jo'burg Theatre,

2003: Sleeping Beauty (Anon.) performed as a musical by Kempton Arts and Theatrical Society

2005: The Sleeping Beauty on Ice, performed by the Imperial Ice Stars[3] at Artscape, Cape Town, under the auspices of Pieter Toerien

2011: Doringrosie van Roosfontein (Meiring) performed by Ferrum High School, Newcastle, Natal.

2014: The Sleeping Beauty on Icecccccc, performed by the Imperial Ice Stars[4] at Artscape, Cape Town

2015: Produced in English by Bernard Jay for the Jo'burg Theatre, with associate producers Simon James and Claire Pacariz. Directed by Janice Honeyman with Marga Sander (Musical Director), Drew Rienstra (Assistant Musical Director), Timothy le Roux (Resident Director), Graham McLusky (Lighting Designer), Trevor Peters (Sound Designer) and Nicol Sheraton (Choreographer). The cast included Tobie Cronje, Nicole Fortuin, Christopher Jaftha, Timothy Moloi, Michelle Botha, Matthew Berry , L.J. Urbani, Michele Levin, Clive Gilson , Daniel Fisher, Tshepo Ncokoane, Sean Louw, Keaton Ditchfield, Dale Scheepers, Bisi Bangiwe ka Jobela,Kiruna-Lind Devar, Sarah Richard, Venolia Manale, Mary-Jane Zimri, Suzaan Helberg, Maryanne van Eyssen and Carmen Pretorius.

Sources

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

Annotated script used for the 1980 PACOFS production of Confetti, found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

http://www.kats.org.za/

http://www.ferrum.org.za/?q=node/1564

http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=22880

http://www.netwerk24.com/Vermaak/Doringrosie-vat-vlam-20140116

Go to the 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