Die Verminktes

Die Verminktes ("The Maimed") is an Afrikaans play by Bartho Smit. A controversial Afrikaans play on miscegenation and Calvinist angst?*. Written in the 1950s, submitted to both National Theatre Organisation (in Afrikaans) and London's Royal Court Theatre (in English) in 1959. Rejected for production by the state funded NTO, it was for many years denied performance in Afrikaans. However the English version was performed in Britain in 1960 and won the Brittania Award. First published in 1960 by Afrikaanse Pers Boekhandel. A second edition was published by Perskor in 1976. The English version remains unpublished.

Smit was awarded the Hertzog Prize for Drama in 1978 with special reference to his dramas Moeder Hanna, Putsonderwater, Christine and Die Verminktes.

Performance history in South Africa

Eventually performed in Afrikaans by PACT in 1976*?, directed by Francois Swart?*.

Presented in Afrikaans by Theatre Workshop (year ?), directed by Farouk Valley-Omar, starring Sauli Esau, Suzie Jenneker, David Mettler, Addey Moolman, Richard Appies, Marillize Brink, Farouk Valley-Omar.

1977: Staged by PACT, directed by Louis van Niekerk, with Patrick Mynhardt (Senator Bart Harmse), Elise Hibbert (Elize), Johan Malherbe (Prof. Jones), Don Lamprecht (Frans Harmse), Nigel Vermaas (Jan Barnard), Louise Mollett-Prinsloo (Martha), John Harley (Zoeloe) and Gerben Kamper (Skollie). Decor by Martin Pelser and costumes by Frances Michaletos.

Translations and adaptations

Translated by the author as The Maimed.

Sources

Theatre programme notes.

PACT theatre programme, 1977.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

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