The Vagina Monologues

An episodic play written by Eve Ensler which ran at the Off Broadway Westside Theatre after a limited run at HERE Arts Center in 1996. Ensler originally starred in the production which was produced by David Stone, Nina Essman, Dan Markley, The Araca Group, Willa Shalit and the West Side Theater. When she left the play it was recast with three celebrity monologists. The play has been staged internationally, and a television version featuring Ensler was produced by cable TV channel HBO.

Performance history in South Africa

Staged at Caesars in Gauteng in April 2002, directed by Dawn Lindberg, with Gerry Rantseli, Basetsana Kumalo, Charlene Smith, Shaleen Surtie-Richards, Lebo Mathosa, Lara Bye, Marianne Tham, Jenny Crwys-Williams, Kerishnie Naiker, Amanda Strydom and Thembi Mtshali.

In March 2003 it was staged in the Baxter Theatre and the State Theatre, directed by Dawn Lindberg, with a cast including Precious Simelane, Debora Patta, Irene Bester, Michelle McLean, Zuraida Jardine, Penny Lebyane, Nicole Fox, Rosie Motene and others. The same production was performede in the André Huguenet Theatre in Bloemfontein in August 2003.

In October 2003 it was staged in the Nu Metro Privé Theatre at the Village Walk in Sandton, directed by Dawn Lindberg, with Lindberg, Rose Motene, Rachel Tambo, Tselane Tambo and Nobuntu Mpahlaza.

Translations and adaptations

The Afrikaans version is entitled Die Vagina Monoloë and was first performed in 2012 by Antoinette Louw, Lulu Botha, Simone Alexia Biscombe and Nanine Wessels at The Artscape Theatre Centre as part of the Women's Day celebrations.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Vagina_Monologues

http://www.capetownmagazine.com/events/artscape-presents-the-womens-arts-week-festival/11_37_54553

The Sowetan, 19 April 2002.

Die Volksblad, 1 August 2003.

This Day, 17 October 2003.

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