Die Teken

Die Teken ("The Sign") is a play by Deon Opperman (1962-).

The original text

The short play explores the Afrikaner psyche through a story about the purported “second coming” of Christ, born to a young virgin in a conservative Afrikaner household.

First published by Tafelberg Uitgewers in 1986. Also published in Skouspel (compiled by Jan B. Vermaak, Tafelberg Uitgewers, 1992) and in Môre is 'n Lang Dag en Die Teken (Tafelberg Uitgewers, 19).

Performance history in South Africa

1985: The première was a presentation by PACOFS at the National Arts Festival, directed by Opperman. Lighting by Martin Pelser, sound by Philip Kruger. The cast: Ernst Eloff, Marga van Rooy, Danie Burger, Marchelle Verwey. Stage manager Annalize de Jonge, assisted by Karen Meiring.

1986: Presented by the Market Theatre Company Upstairs at the Market, directed by Deon Opperman starring Wilna Snyman (Hendrianna Matthee), Ernst Eloff (Diederik Matthee), Theunis van Rooyen (Dominee) (replaced by David Clatworthy) and Marchelle Verwey (Anna-Marie Matthee). Lighting by Patrick Curtis.

Sources

National Arts Festival programme, 1985.

Die Teken programme, 1986.

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

Jan B. Vermaak (compiler), 1992. Skouspel. Cape Town: Tafelberg.

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