Der Rattenfänger von Hameln

Der Rattenfänger von Hameln (known as The Pied Piper of Hamelin or The Pied Piper of Hameln in English; De Rattenvanger van Hamelen in Dutch) refers to the famous medieval story about a tragedy that befell the town of Hameln (Hamelin in English) in the 13th century, as well as the various dramatised versions of the tale.

Adaptations and translations

It was made popular throughout the world through the folk version written by the Brothers Grimm ; The tale also served as the subject of well-known poems by Johan van Goethe and Robert Browning. In Hameln, every Sunday, the tale is performed by actors in the town centre during summer.

It has been translated into many languages and dramatised in numerous ways in all countries around the globe.

A number of Afrikaans translations (especially of the Browning version) and other South African languages including:

An Afrikaans version of the Browning poem, called Die Rottevanger van Hamelin. by M. Agostinis, published by Nasionale Boekhandel, 1968.

Another Afrikaans version of the Browning poem, written by Leon Rousseau and illustrated by Danie van Niekerk, and called Die Rottevanger Van Hameln, published by Human & Rousseau in 1970.[1]

Another Afrikaans version called Die Rottevanger Van Hameln done by Antjie Krog (illustrated by Cora Coetzee) and published by Daan Retief Uitgewers in 1989[2]

South African stage versions

A number of adaptations have been done in English, Afrikaans and other South African languages (often performed multilingually) including:

2013/4: The Robert Browning English version adapted and performed as a one-person theatre piece by called Rats! by Lionel Newton.

2018: A dramatised version of Die Rottevanger van Hamelin, performed by Hoërskool Bellville[3].

Sources

https://kakkerlak.co.za/product/die-rottevanger-van-hameln-na-die-gedig-van-robert-browning/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lvq-WpT-D9o

https://kakkerlak.co.za/product/die-rottevanger-van-hameln-afrikaanse-verwerking-deur-antjie-krog/