Enrico IV

Enrico IV is a tragedy in three acts by Luigi Pirandello (1867-1936)[1]

The original text

An expressionist work providing a stark and moving study of madness and the solitude of self-imprisonment, a study on madness with comic and tragic sides. In the play the main character is a man who believes himself to be Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor, and all about him conspire to maintain the fiction.

Written in 1921, it premiered on 24 February 1922 in the Teatro Manzoni in Milan. Published in Italian in 1922.

Translations and adaptations

It has been translated into English by Eric Bentley, Tom Stoppard and others.

Translated and adapted into English by Eric Bentley as The Emperor.

In other English versions it is titled Henry IV and also written Henri IV, possibly to avoid confusion with Shakespeare's plays.

Translated into Afrikaans, under the title of Die Keiser, from the original Italian, by Johann van Heerden, after a period of study and research in Italy during 1975.

Performance history in South Africa

1935: Presented at the Little Theatre Cape Town in 1935 as a significant milestone in that theatre's development. The cast included the impressive newcomer Wensley Pithey. **

1969: Produced as The Emperor by NAPAC, opening 24 February 1969 in St John's Theatre, Durban. Directed by Frank Shelley, decor by Bill Smuts, costumes by Lucille Cross. With Michael Atkinson, Joan Gibson, Frank Shelley, Phillip Boucher, Don McCorkindale and others.

1970: Directed The Emperor by Frank Shelley for PACOFS in 1970, starring Michael Atkinson, Paddy Canavan, Ralph Lawson Johan Malherbe, Roger Dwyer, John Ramsbottom, Will Bernard, Hudson Earp, Frank Shelley, Pieter Geldenhuys and Judy Murton. Settings by Bill Smuts and costumes by Lucille Cross.