Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead (often referred to as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) [1] is a play by British playwright and screenwriter Tom Stoppard (1937-) [2].

The original play

An absurdist, existentialist tragicomedy that expands upon the exploits of two minor characters from Shakespeare's Hamlet, the courtiers Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Between these episodes the two protagonists voice their confusion at the progress of events occurring onstage without them in Hamlet, of which they have no direct knowledge. First staged at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 1966. Filmed in 1990, directed by Stoppard with Gary Oldman and Tim Roth. The movie won the Golden Lion at the 47th Venice International Film Festival.[3].

Performance history in South Africa

1968: Directed by Leonard Schach for PACT, Alexander Theatre, opening 4 July 1968. The cast included Don McCorkindale, Dale Cutts, Siegfried Mynhardt, Adrian Egan, John Rogers, Gillian Lomberg, Kerry Jordan, Paddy Canavan, Anthony James, Gordon Wales, Frank Douglass, Trevor Wayne, Errol Ross, Christopher Galloway, Ivor van Rensburg, Robert Lang, George Jackson, John Llewellyn, Keith Spooner-Read, Conrad Weavind, Danny Keogh, Caroline Harratt, Annette Evans. Decor was by Raimond Schoop, costumes by Aubrey Couling and choreography by Gordon Wales.

1969: Staged by CAPAB in April 1969 in the Hofmeyr Theatre, directed by Leonard Schach. Set designed by Keith Anderson, costumes designed by Jennifer Craig. With Wilson Dunster, Ralph Lawson, Michael Atkinson, Ken Leach, Gillian Garlick, Roger Dwyer, Yvonne Bryceland, Elliot Playfair, Will Bernard, Brian Kennedy, David Goatham, Ron France, Geoffrey Burmeister, Gaenor Becker, Carolanne Morrison, Barry Pluke. CAPAB staged Leonard Schach's production in the Port Elizabeth Opera House on May 22 - 24, 1969.

197*: Staged by USAT in Stellenbosch, directed by David Schalkwyk.

1978: Directed by Barney Simon for The Company production in August 1978 at the Market Theatre, starring Frantz Dobrowsky, Patrick Mynhardt (Player King), John Whiteley, Richard Haines, David Eppel, Norman Anstey, Rex Sevenoaks, Leslie Mongezi, Michael Maxwell, Brian Darnley, Elaine Proctor, Ziona Garfield, David Crichton. Designed by Chris van den Berg, music composed and played by Colin Shapiro, lighting design by Mannie Manim.

1989: Directed by Mark Graham for NAPAC starring Eckard Rabe and Martin le Maitre with Roger Dwyer, Frantz Dobrowsky, Jocelyn Broderick, Stephen Gurney, Sandra Duncan, Gavin van den Berg and others. Stage manager Tracy Willan. Set and lighting design by Edward Haynes, costume design by Dicky Longhurst, original music composed and performed by Neill Solomon and Stuart Wood. First performance in The Drama Theatre, The Natal Playhouse on 6 May 1989.

1993: Rhodes University Drama Department Honours student production of Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead directed by Adrian Poulsen.

Sources

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

Teater SA, 1(1), 1968 and Teater SA, 1(4), 1969.

Evening Post May 22, 1969.

Inskip, 1977. p 126.

Photograph held by NELM (1978 production): Photograph collection [Collection: MARKET THEATRE]: 2004. 30. 5. 125.

Photograph of Wilson Dunster and Ralph Lawson, 1969 production - NELM Manuscripts - [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 19. 50.

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

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead theatre programme 1989 (NAPAC).

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