Germanicus

Germanicus, by N.P. van Wyk Louw (1906-1970). An Afrikaans verse play about about patriotism and loyal rebellion, set in Roman times and telling the story of a young hero, the roman general Germanicus. First published in 1956 and many times since. A standard prescribed work for schools and universities. Published by Tafelberg, 1956. Awarded the Hertzogprys for Drama, 1960.

Performance history in South Africa

One of the monumental works in the Afrikaans canon, it was first performed by NTO in 1957, directed by Tone Brulin with Pieter Geldenhuys and Francois Swart. (Athol Fugard was the stage manager).

In 1957 a NTO production of the play, supported by BAT, opened the new Bellville Civic Theatre under the direction of Anna Neethling-Pohl, with Johann Nell as Germanicus and Lydia Lindeque as Agrippina. Gerrit Wessels, Anna Neethling-Pohl, Kobus van der Colff, Pietro Nolte, Johan Malherbe, Hélène Scholtz, Pieter Bredenkamp, Ulrich Fobian, J.A. van der Vyver, Gottfried Scholtz, Cornelia Stander, Alto Loots, Laurie van der Merwe, Louis Pienaar, Fanie Bekker made up the rest of the cast. Costumes by Doreen Graves and Stephan de Villiers, décor by Frank Graves.

Under the direction of Tone Brulin, a NTO production opened the new theatre at the University of Pretoria in 1958. Francois Swart played Germanicus and Milla Louw Agrippina. The cast also included Pieter Geldenhuys, Aletta Gericke, Pietro Nolte, Dawid van der Walt, Bet Botha, Billy Pretorius and others. Michal Grobbelaar was the production manager, Laurie van der Merwe assistant director and Piet Bezuidenhout stage manager. Décor by Frank Graves. The costumes designed for the 1957 production in Bellville were used again.

Directed by Ria Olivier for Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in 1971, with Philip du Plessis as Germanicus, Fred Nel as Piso, the role of Agrippina alternating between Tarina Kleyn and Marianne Roux. Other members of the cast were, among others, Juanita Swanepoel, Fred le Roux, Johann van Heerden, Herman Pretorius, Laurika Rauch, Ben Dehaeck, Jocelyn de Bruyn and Marcel van Heerden.

In 1981 it was presented by PACT as part of the opening ceremonies for the State Theatre Pretoria, directed by Francois Swart and featuring Marius Weyers, Carel Trichardt and Wilna Snyman. Germanicus in nuwe skouburg van UP. (Gasregiseur Tone Brulin uit Belgie. Francois Swart, Milla Louw, Pieter Geldenhuys, Aletta Gericke, Pietro Nolte, Dawid v/d Walt, Bet Botha, Francois v Wyk, Billy Pretorius, André Beaumont, M. Adriaan Mocke, Hester Momsen, Collie Fick, Koof Snyman & Laurie v/d Merwe. Michal Grobbelaar (prod. Bestuurder) Laurie v/d Merwe (regie asst) Piet Bezuidenhout (verhoogdirekteur) Germanicus was die 1 e Afr beroepsopvoering i/d skouburg van UP. Frank Graves (dekor) Doreen Graves & Stephan de Villiers het kostuums vir Bellville opvoering ontwerp. Nuwigheid: elektroniese musiek nl. v. Louis de Meester in Belgie geskryf en op Bel. Radio opgeneem. Germanicus ook die 1e amptelike stuk by stadskouburg Bellville. Regie hier: Anna Neethling-Pohl.

Presented by the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in September 1991, 25 years after the inauguration of the H.B. Thom Theatre. On this occasion the play was directed by Johan Esterhuizen, starring Waldemar Schultz as Germanicus, André van der Merwe as Piso and Sandra Fourie as Agrippina. Costumes were designed by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.

Translations and adaptations

An English translation of the Afrikaans text was done by Jo-Marie Claassen between 2004 and 2006, and published as an e-book by Smashwords[1] in 2014.

Sources

Taalgenoot, 26(11), 1957.

Lantern, 8(2):183, 1958.

Germanicus theatre programme, 1991.

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