Richard II
A history play by William Shakespeare.
As with most of Shakespeare's plays, there are multiple names for the works, from full titles with subtitles, to shortened titles like this one. In this case Richard II is perhaps most commonly used title for the play.
Contents
The play and its history
This history play is believed to have been written and performed in approximately 1595, first published in 1597.
First productions in Africa and South Africa
The earliest recorded performance was a private one on 9 December 1595, and another private one is recorded at the Globe Theatre on 7 Feb. 1601.
On 30 September 1607 an early performance occurred abroad when the crew of Capt. William Keeling acted Richard II aboard the British East India Company ship The Red Dragon, off Sierra Leone.
Jill Fletcher (1991) argues from the above (and other accounts?) that the very first recorded European production in the Southern African region was a version of this play done off the coast of the Cape of Storms some time in 1608, once again on board "The Red Dragon" by Captain Keeling and his men.
First formal production in South Africa
First performed on land in South Africa in 18*. Translated
Other South African performances
In 1990 Keith Grenville directed the play at the Nico Malan Theatre, with Neil McCarthy in the title role, which later proved to be the highlight of the 1990 Grahamstown Festival.
Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_II_(play)
Fletcher, 1991*; Bosman, 1928
Go to South African Theatre/Bibliography
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