Titus Andronicus

Titus Andronicus is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, and possibly George Peele, believed to have been written between 1588 and 1593. It is thought to be Shakespeare's first tragedy, and is often seen as his attempt to emulate the violent and bloody revenge plays of his contemporaries, which were extremely popular with audiences throughout the sixteenth century. The play is set during the latter days of the Roman Empire and tells the fictional story of Titus, a general in the Roman army, who is engaged in a cycle of revenge with Tamora, Queen of the Goths.

Performance history in South Africa

Produced at the Market Theatre in 1995, starring Antony Sher. The production then went on a tour of Britain and Spain.

Folder containing curriculum vitae of Gysbert de Villiers [director], Bruce Laing, Sello Maake ka-Ncube, Charlton Lee George, Leslie Fong, Daphney Hlomuka, Oscar Albert Peterson, Martin le Maitre, Duncan Alexander Lawson, Daniel Robbertse, and Ivan D. Lucas for the Market Theatre in association with the Royal National Theatre Studio production of Titus Andronicus, staged in the Market's Main Theatre, 29 March - 13 May 1995. (NELM, [Collection: MARKET THEATRE]: 2007. 32. 9. 207. 5).

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans by Breyten Breytenbach (Buren, 1970), produced for CAPAB in 1970 by the German director Dieter Reible at the Hofmeyr Theatre. Jannie Gildenhuys played Saturninus, Pietro Nolte Bassianus, Pieter Geldenhuys Titus Andronicus, James Norval Marcus Andronicus. Other members of the cast included Mees Xteen, Chris Swanepoel, Peter Grobbelaar, Pieter von Dissel, Ben Dekker, Dawid van der Walt, Johan Naudé, Chris Swanepoel, Johan Esterhuizen, Johan Malherbe, Will Bernard, Pieter Joubert, Willem de la Querra, Grethe Fox, Annelisa Weiland, Anna Cloete. Decor and costumes by Bert Kistner. It was a controversial but a successful production. Including a tour, it saw 19 performances.

Anatomie Titus Fall of Rome Ein Shakespearekommentar (1985) [adaptation of Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus], by Heiner Müller (1929-1995).

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titus_Andronicus

Grütter, Wilhelm, CAPAB 25 Years, 1987. Unpublished research. P 70-71.

Titus Andronicus programme, 1970.

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