The Birds

The Birds (Greek: Ὄρνιθες "Ornithes") [1] is a comedy by Aristophanes [2]. Written and performed in 414BC. Numerous translations have been made of it over the years, inter alia by Eugene O'Neill Jr and Gilbert Murray.

Translations and adaptations

Die hand vol vere (Afrikaans for "The Hand Full of Feathers") an adaptation by André P. Brink(1971), a satire which comments on South Africans and the politics of the time (See Van Zyl Smit, 2005). Produced by the Youth Company of the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT) in 1970. A first version, directed by Carel Trichardt, was staged in Pretoria in December 1970; a revised version, directed by Francois Swart, was staged three months later in Johannesburg and then taken on tour. The choreography was done by Sandra Prinsloo. The text was apparently not published. PACOFS 1984, directed by David Matheson with Eric Nobbs, James Borthwick and Anita de Jager.

Izinyoni (isiZulu for "Birds") by Themi Gwala. Produced in 1974 at the Casa Cinema in Port Shepstone, Natal, in aid of the LEARN fund of the The Daily News. It was open to all race groups, even though theatres in South Africa were segregated till 1977.

Boklied (Afrikaans for "Goat Song") by Breyten Breytenbach, performed at the KKNK, Roodepoort and Bloemfontein, directed by Marthinus Basson. (1998). As both Van Zyl-Smit (2005, p.273) and Conradie (1998, pp. 15-22) have pointed out, the second act of Breytenbach's complex and controversial play is a reworking of The Birds.

Performance history in South Africa

1965: Performed by the Drama Society of the University of Cape Town, in the Little Theatre, directed by Peter Kleinschmidt, using the Arrowsmith translation.

1966: Performed by the Drama Department of the University of Natal, , directed by Pieter Scholtz using the D.Fitts and W. Arrowsmith translation.

1973: Performed by the Drama Department of the University of Natal, , directed by Peter Larlham, using the D.Fitts and W. Arrowsmith translation.

1980: Performed by the Drama Society of the University of Cape Town,

1982: Performed by the Drama Department of the University of Natal, adapted and directed by Mervyn McMurtry.

2004-2005: Presented at the Dionysus Festival in in the Kirstenbosh Amphitheatre, directed by Roy Sargeant.

2011-2012: Presented in the Gilbert Murray translation by Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company and Artscape in the Kirstenbosh Amphitheatre 20 December 2011-15 January 2012. Directed by Roy Sargeant, design by Keith Anderson, original music by Michael Tuffin, choreography by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Production manager Alfred Rietmann, stage manager Jerome Chapman, masks made by Corrine Smit and Hansie Visagie. Cast: Jeroen Kranenburg, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Armand Aucamp. Members of The Chorus: Francis Chouler, Frans Hamman, Lee Roodt, Anele Situlweni, Michael Inglis, Riaan Visman, Melissa Haiden, Wiseman Sithole, Zonda Njokweni.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birds_(play)

Van Zyl Smit in (SATJ No 19, 2005)

http://www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk/productions/production/8418

http://www.apgrd.ox.ac.uk/productions/production/8396

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988.

Programme: The Birds, Kirstenbosch Amphitheatre 20 December 2011-15 January 2012.

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