Difference between revisions of "N is vir Neurose"

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''N is vir Neurose'' by [[Christiaan Olwagen]] (19**-)*
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''N is vir Neurose''
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''N is vir Neurose'' (also styled ''N is vir neurose'') is an Afrikaans dark comedy (Afrikaans: ''swart komedie'') by [[Christiaan Olwagen]], first staged at the 2012 [[Woordfees]]. Set during a kitchen tea at the flat of a bride-to-be, Liz, it turns over the course of an evening — and a few glasses of wine — into a reckoning with anxiety, growing up and the expectations placed on young Afrikaans women, with a male stripper dressed as a policeman among the guests.
  
 
== The original text ==
 
== The original text ==
  
Written by [[Christiaan Olwagen]].The full text of the play was reproduced as an addendum to [[Maria Susanna Hattingh]]'s 2018 MDram thesis at the [[University of Stellenbosch]], which analyses ''N is vir Neurose'' and [[Nico Scheepers]]'s ''[[Amper, Vrystaat]]'' as Afrikaans festival comedies.
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The play was written by [[Christiaan Olwagen]] at the invitation of [[Saartjie Botha]], then drama coordinator of the [[Woordfees]], who encouraged the [[Polony Theatre Collective]] to create an original work rather than stage a translation of a well-known American comedy. It was one of the first three productions mounted by the collective, a group of [[Stellenbosch University]] drama graduates, presented alongside [[Wessel Pretorius]]'s one-man show ''[[Ont]]'' and an adaptation of [[Christopher Durang]]'s ''[[Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You]]''.
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The play remained unpublished. The script survived only in draft form, and a lightly revised version was reproduced, with the author's permission, as an addendum to [[Maria Susanna Hattingh]]'s 2018 [[Stellenbosch University]] MDram thesis ''Finding Balance: A Study of the Text and Context of Two Afrikaans Festival Comedy Scripts''.
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== Translations and adaptations ==
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None traced.
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
  
2012: Staged at the [[Woordfees|US Woordfees]], Stellenbosch, presented by [[Polony]], with text and direction by [[Christiaan Olwagen]], in the [[Klein Libertas Teater]], on 3, 7 and 11 March, on the [[Sanlam Dramafees]] programme. The cast was [[Hannah Borthwick]], [[Roeline Daneel]], [[Mariechen Vosloo]] and [[Wessel Pretorius]]. Age restriction: no under-16s.
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2012: Premiered at the [[Woordfees]] in the [[Klein Libertas Teater]], Stellenbosch (performances on 3, 7 and 11 March), produced by the [[Polony Theatre Collective]] and written and directed by [[Christiaan Olwagen]]. The cast was [[Roeline Daneel]] (Liz), [[Hannah Borthwick]] (Shani), [[Mariechen Vosloo]] (Rachelle) and [[Wessel Pretorius]] (Japie, a stripper).
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2012: Following sold-out performances, the production was included in the ''Fees van die Uitverkooptes'', a showcase of the festival's most popular productions, at the [[Baxter Theatre|Baxter Golden Arrow Studio]] and the [[Klein Libertas Teater]] in May, and went on to play at [[Aardklop]] and the [[KKNK]] later in the year.
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2013: The production received four nominations at the [[kykNET Fiësta]] awards* — Best Supporting Actor ([[Wessel Pretorius]]), Best Supporting Actress ([[Hannah Borthwick]]), and two for [[Christiaan Olwagen]] (Best New Afrikaans Production and Best Emerging Artist) — with a scene performed during the live televised broadcast.
  
 
== Sources ==
 
== Sources ==
  
Hattingh, Maria Susanna. 2018. ''Finding balance: a study of the text and context of two Afrikaans festival comedy scripts''. Unpublished MDram thesis. Stellenbosch: [[University of Stellenbosch|Stellenbosch University]]. http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/103790
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Hattingh, M.S. 2018. ''Finding Balance: A Study of the Text and Context of Two Afrikaans Festival Comedy Scripts''. MDram thesis, [[Stellenbosch University]].
  
[[Woordfees|US Woordfees]] 2012 programme.
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''Woordfeesprogram 2012''. Stellenbosch: US Woordfees.
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
 
  
 
== Return to ==
 
== Return to ==
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 N|N]] in Plays I Original SA Plays
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Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 N|N]] in Plays I: Original SA Plays
 
 
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
 
  
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
 
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Revision as of 18:25, 1 July 2026

N is vir Neurose

N is vir Neurose (also styled N is vir neurose) is an Afrikaans dark comedy (Afrikaans: swart komedie) by Christiaan Olwagen, first staged at the 2012 Woordfees. Set during a kitchen tea at the flat of a bride-to-be, Liz, it turns over the course of an evening — and a few glasses of wine — into a reckoning with anxiety, growing up and the expectations placed on young Afrikaans women, with a male stripper dressed as a policeman among the guests.

The original text

The play was written by Christiaan Olwagen at the invitation of Saartjie Botha, then drama coordinator of the Woordfees, who encouraged the Polony Theatre Collective to create an original work rather than stage a translation of a well-known American comedy. It was one of the first three productions mounted by the collective, a group of Stellenbosch University drama graduates, presented alongside Wessel Pretorius's one-man show Ont and an adaptation of Christopher Durang's Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You.

The play remained unpublished. The script survived only in draft form, and a lightly revised version was reproduced, with the author's permission, as an addendum to Maria Susanna Hattingh's 2018 Stellenbosch University MDram thesis Finding Balance: A Study of the Text and Context of Two Afrikaans Festival Comedy Scripts.

Translations and adaptations

None traced.

Performance history in South Africa

2012: Premiered at the Woordfees in the Klein Libertas Teater, Stellenbosch (performances on 3, 7 and 11 March), produced by the Polony Theatre Collective and written and directed by Christiaan Olwagen. The cast was Roeline Daneel (Liz), Hannah Borthwick (Shani), Mariechen Vosloo (Rachelle) and Wessel Pretorius (Japie, a stripper).

2012: Following sold-out performances, the production was included in the Fees van die Uitverkooptes, a showcase of the festival's most popular productions, at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio and the Klein Libertas Teater in May, and went on to play at Aardklop and the KKNK later in the year.

2013: The production received four nominations at the kykNET Fiësta awards* — Best Supporting Actor (Wessel Pretorius), Best Supporting Actress (Hannah Borthwick), and two for Christiaan Olwagen (Best New Afrikaans Production and Best Emerging Artist) — with a scene performed during the live televised broadcast.

Sources

Hattingh, M.S. 2018. Finding Balance: A Study of the Text and Context of Two Afrikaans Festival Comedy Scripts. MDram thesis, Stellenbosch University.

Woordfeesprogram 2012. Stellenbosch: US Woordfees.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to N in Plays I: Original SA Plays

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page