The Comedy of Errors

The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare. Much performed and studied over the years, this play was first performed in English by ** in ***.

South African performances

The first professional production in South Africa was performed by the touring Henry Herbert Company in 1913.

In July 1983 it was the first production in the new Wits Theatre with Ian Steadman directing Wits drama students. It featured students of the School of Music playing an especially written score by Professor Henk Temmingh.

Produced by Ken Leach for CAPAB at Maynardville, opening on 17 January 1986. It was revived at the beginning of 1988.

Also translated into Afrikaans as **** by *** (performed by ** in 19*, published by * in 19*)

Translated and adapted as Kinkels innie Kabel (="twists in the cable") by André P. Brink. It was a hugely popular adaptation to a Western Cape setting , utilizing the local regional variant of Afrikaans called "Kaaps" to good effect. Directed by Carel Trichardt for PACT in 1970. Published by Buren in 1971. CAPAB 1979.

PACT (the Afrikaans translation), 1981, directed by Carel Trichardt featuring Magda Beukes, Klasie Coetzee, Johan Blignaut, Nico Liebenberg, Pierre van Pletzen, Eric Nobbs, Graham Weir, Trudie Lamprecht. Designs by Frances Michaletos.

First performed by ***.

Later performed by CAPAB in 1989, directed by Marthinus Basson and featuring **, ** Antoinette Kellermann , **. First published by Tafelberg in 19**).

Sources

PACT theatre pamphlet, July 1981.

Teaterforum, 4(1), 1983, 113.

Quince, Rohan 1990. Crinkles in the carnival: ideology in South African productions of A Comedy of Errors. Shakespeare in Southern Africa, 4(1):73-81.

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