Oorlog is Oorlog

Oorlog is Oorlog (1937) ("War is war") by J.F.W. Grosskopf (1885–1948).

Also performed as Mara on occasion.

The original text

An excellent anti-war one-act play about the relationship between a Boer girl and a British soldier during the Anglo Boer war. First performed in 1937 and first published under its original title by Van Schaik in 1941 in the collection Die Klipdolk en ander kort-spele.

Later often included in collections for use in schools and performed by schools and amateur companies. Inter alia published in Vyfling by Nasboek and Skerm en Masker by Van Schaik.

Performance history in South Africa

1937: First produced by K.A.T. in 1937, directed by Dolly Pienaar.

1941: Produced under the title Mara in June by the Volksteater in Pretoria (in aid of the anti-war Reddingsdaadbond), directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl with Lydia Lindeque in the lead role.

1942: Directed by Anna Richter-Visser for K.A.T. in August 1942.

1944: Produced by Die Maskers in 1944 in the Library Theatre, featuring Hermien Dommisse.

1969: Produced by the Grey College Dramatic Society, Bloemfontein, directed by Charles Malan

The original text

J.F.W. Grosskopf. 1941. Die Klipdolk en ander kort-speleby Pretoria: J.L. van Schaik[1].

H.A. Mulder. 1941. Review: Die Klipdolk en ander kort-spele in Die Huisgenoot, 1 August, 1941.

South African Opinion, 1(4), 1944

Frederik Jacobus Nel 1972. Die Kaapstadse Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging, 1934-1962. Unpublished master’s thesis. Stellenbosch: University of Stellenbosch.

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