Aesop's Fables

Aesop's Fables, or the Aesopica, is a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and storyteller who lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 564 BCE.

Translations and adaptations

An adaptation by Ralph Trewhela (date unknown).

An adaptation, The Fabulous Fables of Aesop, by Keith Galloway (1984).

Aesop's Fables, a 1983 version by British playwright Peter Terson, adapted and directed by Mark Dornford-May, presented by Isango Ensemble in 2010.

Performance history in South Africa

1984: The Fabulous Fables of Aesop presented in April and July with Keith Galloway, Trish McKenna, Ian von Memerty and Jill Osborne presented at the Little Theatre, Carlton Centre, directed by Bess Finney.

1987: The Fabulous Fables of Aesop staged again.

2010: The Isango Ensemble version, staged at the Fugard Theatre. Adapted and directed by Mark Dornford-May, Pauline Malefane and Mandisi Dyantyis. Music arranger/composer Mandisi Dyantyis. Design by Leopold Senekal. Choreographer and Assistant Director Lungelo Ngamlana. Co-Designer Aja Marneweck. Lighting Designer Mannie Manim. Voice Coach and Text Interpretation Lesley Nott Manim. Production Manager Wesley France. The cast included: Simphiwe Mayeki, Mhlekazi Andy Mosiea, Thozamo Mdliva, Asanda Ndlwana, Portia Shwana, Zolina Ngejane, Zoleka Mpotsha, Bongiwe Mapassa, Tembisa Mlanjeni, Noluthando Domza Sishuba, Noluthando Boqwana, Luvo Rasemeni, Bulelani Madondile, Sifundo Soji, Malungisa Balintulo, Sonwabo Ntshata, Thamsanqa Ntoninji, Lizo Lesly Tshaka, Noluthando Sigonya, Unathi Habe, Poseletso Sejosingoe, Nobulumko Mngxekeza, Luthando Mthi, Noluthando Mili, Mlungiseleli Nqadini, Zanele Mbatha, Zamile Gantana, Lungelwa Mdekazi, Mandisi Dyantyis, Pauline Malefane, Xolani Momo.

2026: Aesop's Fables (The Tortoise and the Hare, The Grasshopper and the Ant, The Lion and the Mouse, The Boy Who Cried Wolf, and The North Wind and the Sun) presented by National Children's Theatre, directed by Devon Flemmer.

Sources

https://amp-worldwide.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Treemonisha_Info-Deck.pdf

Greyvenstein, Walter 1988. The history and development of children's theatre in English in South Africa. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Johannesburg: Rand Afrikaans University.

https://nctheatresa.org/program/

https://www.thefugard.com/aesops-fables/