The Deep Blue Sea

The Deep Blue Sea by British dramatist Terence Rattigan [1] (1911-1977).

The original text

Said to have been inspired by the suicide of a young actor whom Rattigan had loved, the play transposes the tragic theme to the heterosexual relationship between Hester and Freddie.

First performed in London on 6 March 1952, directed by Frith Banbury, with Peggy Ashcroft and Kenneth More. Performed in the USA at the Plymouth Theater in October 1952.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans and entitled Die Ander Vuur ("The other fire") by an unnamed author.

Adapted as a film by Terence Davies in 2011[2].

Performance history in South Africa

1955: First staged in South Africa at the Brooke Theatre Johannesburg on 13 September, directed by Michael Finlayson, with Brian Brooke and British film actress Jean Kent. After a run of three weeks in Cape Town the production moved to Port Elizabeth where Petrina Fry took over Kent's role.

1968: An Afrikaans translation, called Die Ander Vuur was staged by the Libertas Teaterklub in the H.B. Thom Theatre in Stellenbosch in May 1968, directed by Marie van Heerden, with Madeleine Heyns (Hester), Annette Muller (Mev. Elton), Herman Pretorius (Philip), Evonne Maritz (Ann), Van Zyl Slabbert (Mnr. Miller), Gerhard Roux (Sir William), Rocky Gagiano (Freddie Page) and Frikkie Engels (Jackie). Decór by Elaine Aucamp and Emile Aucamp, lighting by Emile Aucamp and piano played by Roucher du Toit.