The House of Bernarda Alba
The House of Bernarda Alba (Spanish: La casa de Bernarda Alba) [1] is a play by the Spanish dramatist Federico García Lorca. Lorca described the play in its subtitle as a drama of women in the villages of Spain. The House of Bernarda Alba was Lorca's last play, completed on 19 June 1936, two months before Lorca's death during the Spanish Civil War. The play was first performed in 1945.
Performance history in South Africa
Productions include those of Leonard Schach for the UCT Speech and Drama Department (June 1951, Little Theatre, starring Edna Jacobson, Lydia Lindeque, June Range, decor by Cecil Pym) and the Johannesburg REPS (September 1952, with a cast including Muriel Alexander, Molly Seftel and Mary Mitchell.)
Presented by University Theatre Stellenbosch in 1962, produced by Jo Gevers who also designed the decor. The cast were [[Gertie Smith-Visser (Bernarda), Carmen Haddad, Annietjie Vorster, Louise Saayman, Ilse Geyer, Antoinette Terblanche, Leslie Young, Lena Eksteen, Estelle Knobel, Christine Basson and others. Lighting by Emile Aucamp, costumes designed by Marie Pentz.
Presented by UCT Drama School, produced and directed by Geoffrey Hyland, 199*.
The English translation was staged at the Market Theatre in July 2003, adapted by Rona Munro and directed by Swedish director Maria Weisby, with Lindiwe Ndlovu (Bernarda), Nthabiseng Baloyi (Angustias), Phindile Ntuli (Adela), Nomathamsanga Baleka (a magogo), Takalani Phophi (Martirio), Lerato Maku (Magdalena) and Ntombi Maqalika (Amelia). Set designed by Nadya Cohen, costumes by Margo Fleisch and lighting by Nomvula Molepo.
Translations and adaptations
Translated into English by James Graham-Lujan and Richard L. O'Connell. Published by New Directions, 1955.
Translated into Afrikaans by Uys Krige (Die Huis van Bernarda Alba) and first produced by ** in 19**. Published by Tafelberg in 1980.
Krige's Afrikaans translation was staged by Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in the H.B. Thom Theatre in May 1973, directed by Ria Olivier starring Antoinette Kellermann as Bernarda Alba, Sybil Coetzee, Tessa Cowan, Lize Treurnicht, Lois Malan and others. Decor and costumes designed by Neels Hansen, lighting by Emile Aucamp.
Lydia Lindeque acted in this play with the Klein Teater in 1951.
Suzaan Keyter directed a University of Stellenbosch production of Die Huis van Bernarda Alba in the H.B. Thom Theatre 17-20 August 2005.
Die Huis van Maria Malan (written, directed by Nico Luwes and acted at UFS in 1990 and 2011).
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_House_of_Bernarda_Alba
Helikon, 2(9):10.
Inskip, 1977. p 118
UTS theatre pamphlet
Sunday Independent, 13 July 2003.
The Star, 15 July 2003.
The Citizen, 15 July 2003.
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