Dödsdansen

Dödsdansen (Dance of Death or The Dance of Death in English) is a Swedish play by August Strindberg (1849-1912)[]

The original text

Written in 1901. [1]

Translations and adaptations

Friedrich Dürrenmatt wrote Play Strindberg in 1968 [2]. Based on the characters and central situation of Dance of Death, it is an independent and quite different play. Also known by its alternative working title Strindberg Without Tears [3].. See Play Strindberg.

An Afrikaans translation entitled Dodedans is listed in the Geleende Vere theatre programme of the André Huguenet Teatergroep in 1944. The translator is not named, but it is clearly an earlier translation than the one subsequently done by Bartho Smit.

An Afrikaans translation by Bartho Smit, also entitled Dodedans was published in Bartho Smit – Vertalings 3 by HAUM Literêr, 1984.

Performance history in South Africa

1944: A production by the André Huguenet Teatergroep entitled Dodedans is listed in the Geleende Vere theatre programme in 1944. The translator is not named, but it is clearly an earlier translation than the one done by Bartho Smit.

1967: The Afrikaans version (Dodedans as translated by Smit) was directed by Fred Engelen for PACT shortly before his death in 1967 starring Louis van Niekerk as Kurt, Patrick Mynhardt as Edgar and Kita Redelinghuys as his wife. The play was presented in a triple bill with Die Spel van Liefde en Toeval by Pierre Chamblain de Marivaux and Die Burgemeester.

1998: Staged as The Dance of Death in the Market Theatre in April 1998, directed by Swedish director Carl Kjellgren, with John Kani, Jana Cilliers, Arthur Molepo and Bayo Jwayi. This was a co-production between the Market Theatre and the Stockholm Stadsteater as part of an exchange programme that started in 1995.