Difference between revisions of "Agamemnon"
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| − | ''Agamemnon'' by Aeschylus. Written approx. 458 BC, first part of | + | 1. ''Agamemnon'' by Aeschylus. Written approx. 458 BC, first part of ''[[The Oresteia]]'' trilogy. ** |
| − | + | First produced in South Africa by ** in 18*? . Also by the students of the Hugenote Gedenkschool in Wellington, directed by [[I.M.E. Fremantle]]. Other productions directed by **, **, | |
| − | + | 2. ''Agamemnon'', by [[Steven Berkoff]]. In the author's words: Agamemnon is about energy of a different kind, but overlaps with my play East. It is filtered through my own impression of Greece and is rooted more in the elements of landscape and sea.. It is also about heat and battle, fatigue, the marathon and the obscenity of modern and future wars. Naturally it is about the body and its pleasures and pains. I followed Aeschylus but chose to take my own route from time to time. Events smudge into each other and I have used from the Feast of Atreus the ghastly origins of the curse. This is a suitable horrific beginning, though horror was not what I wanted but a revelation of the crime. I described it as if it had happened to me.The final text evolved after a long workshop series during which the actors turned themselves into athletes, soldiers, horses and chorus. The text was chanted, spoken, sung, and simply acted, l am really grateful to two actors (Wolf Kahler and Barry Philips) who started the first day (sometime in April 1973) and finished with me on the 21st August. | |
| − | + | == The original text == | |
| − | + | ==Translations and adaptations== | |
| − | + | == Performance history in South Africa == | |
| − | + | 1981: A [[Troupe Theatre Company]] production was directed by [[Henry Goodman]], performed in the [[Baxter Theatre]] Studio opening 2 September 1981. The cast: [[Fred Abrahamse]], [[Neil McCarthy]], [[Fiona Ramsay]] as Clytemnestra, [[Ian Roberts]], [[Richard Grant]], [[Brümilda van Rensburg]], [[Hilary Jones]], [[Sean Taylor]]. (Source: Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. ''Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987''). | |
| + | 1987: Performed by students of the [[Rhodes University Drama Department]] at the [[National Arts Festival]] Student Drama Competition, July. | ||
| + | |||
| + | 1990: Presented by UCT Drama, directed by [[Geoffrey Hyland]], [[Little Theatre]] opening 29 May 1990. | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | == Sources == | ||
| + | Doollee [http://www.doollee.com/PlaywrightsB/berkoff-steven.html#2994] | ||
| + | |||
| + | ''Agamemnon'' (Berkoff) theatre programme, 1981. | ||
| + | |||
| + | Go to [[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|South African Festivals and Competitions]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | Return to [[The ESAT Entries]] | ||
| + | |||
Return to [[Main Page]] | Return to [[Main Page]] | ||
Revision as of 12:29, 24 December 2015
1. Agamemnon by Aeschylus. Written approx. 458 BC, first part of The Oresteia trilogy. **
First produced in South Africa by ** in 18*? . Also by the students of the Hugenote Gedenkschool in Wellington, directed by I.M.E. Fremantle. Other productions directed by **, **,
2. Agamemnon, by Steven Berkoff. In the author's words: Agamemnon is about energy of a different kind, but overlaps with my play East. It is filtered through my own impression of Greece and is rooted more in the elements of landscape and sea.. It is also about heat and battle, fatigue, the marathon and the obscenity of modern and future wars. Naturally it is about the body and its pleasures and pains. I followed Aeschylus but chose to take my own route from time to time. Events smudge into each other and I have used from the Feast of Atreus the ghastly origins of the curse. This is a suitable horrific beginning, though horror was not what I wanted but a revelation of the crime. I described it as if it had happened to me.The final text evolved after a long workshop series during which the actors turned themselves into athletes, soldiers, horses and chorus. The text was chanted, spoken, sung, and simply acted, l am really grateful to two actors (Wolf Kahler and Barry Philips) who started the first day (sometime in April 1973) and finished with me on the 21st August.
Contents
The original text
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1981: A Troupe Theatre Company production was directed by Henry Goodman, performed in the Baxter Theatre Studio opening 2 September 1981. The cast: Fred Abrahamse, Neil McCarthy, Fiona Ramsay as Clytemnestra, Ian Roberts, Richard Grant, Brümilda van Rensburg, Hilary Jones, Sean Taylor. (Source: Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987).
1987: Performed by students of the Rhodes University Drama Department at the National Arts Festival Student Drama Competition, July.
1990: Presented by UCT Drama, directed by Geoffrey Hyland, Little Theatre opening 29 May 1990.
Sources
Doollee [1]
Agamemnon (Berkoff) theatre programme, 1981.
Go to 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
