Fadren

Fadren ("The Father") is a naturalistic tragedy by Swedish playwright August Strindberg (1849-1912) [1], written in 1887.

Translations and adaptations

The play has been translated into many different languages. Translations into English, as The Father, have been done by i.a. Peter Watts (1958), Michael Meyer (1964), Harry G. Carlson (1981), Michael Robinson (1998), Gregory Motton (2000) and Laurie Slade (2012).

Translated into French as Le Père or simply Père. (Not to be confused with Le Père, the 2012 text by Florian Zeller.)

Translated into Afrikaans by Wilhelm Grütter, entitled Die Vader.

Translated into Afrikaans by Pieter-Paul Fourie, entitled Die Vader.

Translated into Afrikaans by Schalk Theron, entitled Die Vader. (Text available at the Stellenbosch University Library, Manuscripts Section. Reference 31/22/3.)

Performance history in South Africa

1969: Die Vader, the Grütter Afrikaans translation was staged by CAPAB, opening in the Hofmeyr Theatre on 8 April, directed by Mavis Taylor. The cast included Pieter Geldenhuys (Die Kaptein), Hermien Dommisse (Laura), Wena Naudé (Magriet), Annelisa Weiland (Bertha), Ernst Eloff (Kaptein), Jannie Gildenhuys (Die Pastoor), Johan Malherbe (Nojd) and Pieter Joubert (Dr Ostermark). Stage manager Mavis Lilenstein. Décor and costumes by Stephen Andrews.

1969: Produced in English by CAPAB in association with PACOFS, directed by Roy Sargeant, with Joe Stewardson, Joyce Bradley, Helen Braithwaite and Gillian Garlick.

1978: Die Vader, the Fourie Afrikaans translation was staged by PACT, directed by Louis van Niekerk, with Patrick Mynhardt (Die Kaptein), Wilna Snyman (Laura), Elise Hibbert (Berta), Don Lamprecht (Dr Ostermark), David van der Merwe (Die Pastoor), Anna Neethling-Pohl (Magriet), Gerben Kamper (Njod) and Fanie Bezuidenhout (Die Ordonnans). Décor and costumes by Johan Engels.

1986: Lindsay Reardon and Cornelia Schulz appeared in the Rhodes University Drama Department production of the play, directed by Brian Pearce.

2013: From 24 September to 5 October the Wits School of Arts/WitsMusic and Wits Theatre produced a student version, directed by Makhaola Ndebele.

Sources

The Father (Strindberg play) in Wikipedia [2]

Teater SA, 1(4), 1969

CAPAB theatre programme, 1969.

PACT theatre programme, 1978.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988.

Press clipping held by NELM: [Collection: DICKERSON, Beth]: 2009. 113. 4. 9.

Go to ESAT Bibliography

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