Hedda Gabler
Hedda Gabler [1] is an 1890 play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828-1906) [2].
Translations and adaptations
Translated into many languages over the decades.
Translated into English by Michael Meyer (1921-2000) [3] in 1962.
Translated into Afrikaans by Rita Elferink in 1964.
Translated into Afrikaans by André P. Brink. Published by Human & Rousseau (1974).
Performance history in South Africa
193*: An Afrikaans version by ** was done by André Huguenet in 193*?
1939: Bloemfontein, produced by Bianca de Jager in Bloemfontein.
1947: Presented in English by the Brian Brooke Company in the Little Theatre, produced by British director Mary Byron. The cast included Petrina Fry, Joan Ross, David Lytton and Brian Brooke.
1964: The Elferink translation opened on 24 January in the Hofmeyr Theatre as CAPAB's first Afrikaans play, directed by Suzanne van Wyk, starring Babs Laker as Hedda, Johann Nell, André Walters and others. Toured the Western Cape.
1972: Michael Meyer's English translation was used for the CAPAB Drama production directed by Michael Atkinson, opening 26 February. Designed by Aubrey Couling. Marika Mann played Hedda, Bernard Brown (Judge Brack), Kerry Jordan (George Tesman), Joyce Burgh (Juliana Tesman), Lois Butlin (Mrs Elvsted), Mollie Thompson (Bertha), John Whiteley (Eilert Loevborg).
1974: The Brink Afrikaans translation was staged by PACT, directed by Francois Swart, with Sandra Prinsloo (Hedda), Louis van Niekerk (Brack), Don Lamprecht (Jörgen), Wilma Stockenström (Juliane), Annette Engelbrecht (Mev Elvsted), Marius Weyers (Ejlert) and Anna Cloete (Berte). Decor and costumes designed by Chris van den Berg.
1994: Staged at the Market Theatre, directed by Barney Simon, with John Kani and Dorothy-Ann Gould, Neil McCarthy, Jamie Bartlett, Shelagh Holliday in the cast, from 6 October - 19 November.
Sources
The South African Theatre, Music and Dance 1(1), 1939.
Brooke 1978. 171.
Trek, 12(1):26, 1948.
PACT theatre programme (1974).
Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.
Various entries in the NELM catalogue (1994 production).
Return to
Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays
Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays
Return to PLAYS III: Collections
Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances
Return to South African Festivals and Competitions
Return to The ESAT Entries
Return to Main Page