The Birds

(Greek: Ὄρνιθες) A comedy by Aristophanes. Written and performed in 414BC. Numerous translations have been made of it over the years, inter alia by Eugene O'Neill Jr and Gilbert Murray.

Performance history in South Africa

1965: Performed by the Drama Society of the University of Cape Town, directed by Peter Kleinschmidt.

1966: Performed by the Drama Department of the University of Natal, , directed by *?.

1973: Performed by the Drama Department of the University of Natal, , directed by *?.

1980: Performed by the Drama Society of the University of Cape Town, directed by *?.

1982: Performed by the Drama Department of the University of Natal, , directed by *?.

2004-2005: Presented at the Dionysus Festival in in the Kirstenbosh Amphitheatre, directed by Roy Sargeant.

2011-2012: Presented in the Gilbert Murray translation by Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre Company and Artscape in the Kirstenbosh Amphitheatre 20 December 2011-15 January 2012. Directed by Roy Sargeant, design by Keith Anderson, original music by Michael Tuffin, choreography by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Production manager Alfred Rietmann, stage manager Jerome Chapman, masks made by Corrine Smit and Hansie Visagie. Cast: Jeroen Kranenbug, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Armand Aucamp. Members of The Chorus: Francis Chouler, Frans Hamman, Lee Roodt, Anele Situlweni, Michael Inglis, Riaan Visman, Melissa Haiden, Wiseman Sithole, Zonda Njokweni.

Translations and adaptations

Die hand vol vere (Afrikaans for "The Hand Full of Feathers") by André P. Brink(1971), a satire which comments on South Africans and the politics of the time. Produced by the Youth Company of the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal (PACT) in 1970. A first version was staged in Pretoria in December 1970; a revised version was staged three months later in Johannesburg and then taken on tour. The text was apparently not published.

Izinyoni (isiZulu for "Birds") by Themi Gwala. Produced in 1974 in aid of the LEARN fund of the The Daily News. It was open to all race groups, even though theatres in South Africa were segregated till 1977.

Boklied (Afrikaans for "Goat Song") by Breyten Breytenbach (1998)