Oedipus Rex ("King Oedipus") is the commonly used Latin title for Οἰδίπους Τύραννος ("Oedipous Tyrrannous" or "Oedipus the Tyrant") a Classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles (c. 497/6–406/5 BC)[1]. It is also referred to as Oedipus Tyrrannus

The Original Text

Oedipus Rex was first performed in the original around 429 BC, one of three plays dealing with the house of Laius and the city of Thebes, often referred to as Sophocles's Theban Plays. Though the second to be written, the play is actually the first in terms of the chronology of events that the plays describe - and is followed by Oedipus at Colonus and Antigone.

In his Poetics, Aristotle uses the play as his prime example of a Greek tragedy.

Translations

Translated into Afrikaans prose as Koning Oidipus by L.J. du Plessis and published by J.L. van Schaik, Pretoria in 1928.

Translated into Afrikaans by Theo Wassenaar as Koning Oidipus and published in 1938 by the Voortrekkerpers, Joahnnesburg. This Afrikaans text says "vertolk deur", i.e. it had been "interpreted by", Wassenaar.

Performance history in South Africa

1927: Performed in Afrikaans as Koning Oidipus by students of the Potchefstroom University College, using the L.J. du Plessis translation.

1938: Performed in Afrikaans as Koning Oidipus (the Theo Wassenaar version) by Volksteater, Pretoria. The performance took place in the main hall of the City Hall, Pretoria, 9-10 June 1938, and was directed by Isobel de Waal, with H.J. Oberholzer as Oidipus and Anna Neethling-Pohl as Iocasta. Set designed and painted by J.H. Pierneef and S. Schwartz, and costumes by Anna Botha. There were also four "toneelmeesters" (i.e. "stage managers"): W.P. de Villiers, Chris Neethling, A.J. du Plessis and S. Schwartz.

1955: The Wassenaar version of Koning Oidipus was performed professionally by National Theatre Organisation for the Pretoria Centenary celebrations. Directed by Johan de Meester, with André Huguenet and Anna Neethling-Pohl in the lead. Also featuring Francois Marais, Roelof Botha, Ben Cronjé, Andries Brink, Johan van Rensburg, Jannie Gildenhuys, Hannes Horne, Leendert Verdoorn. Décor and costumes by Frank Graves and lighting by Harry Ligoff.

Adaptations and influences of the original text

The play has served as the basis for many adaptations and experiments over the years, both local and international. It has also been immortalized in a way by Freud's concept of the "Oedipus complex"[2].

Oedipus by Seneca

Oedipus (Oidipus) is a tragic play that was written by Lucius Annaeus Seneca at some time during the 1st century AD. It is a retelling of the story of Oedipus, as told in Oedipus the King by the Athenian playwright, Sophocles. It is written in Latin and was not intended to be performed, but rather recited at private gatherings.