Uncle Vanya
Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov. First published 1897, produced 1899 by the Moscow Art Theatre, directed by Stanislavski.
Performance history in South Africa
First South African production by ** in 19**. Other productions include a Baxter Company '82 production directed by Robert Mohr (designs by Fred Abrahamse) with Roger Dwyer, Sandra Prinsloo, Grethe Fox, Zoë Randall, Richard Haines, Ron Smerczak, James Irwin, Rosalie van der Gucht, Stephen Gurney; ** in 1986 directed by Richard Haines, with Frantz Dobrowsky, Michael McCabe, James Borthwick, Shelagh Holliday, Charlotte Butler and Jacqui Singer. under ’ direction in 1986; ***;
The version by Christopher Hampton presented by UCT Drama Department in the Nico Arena, first performance 25 August 1993. Directed by David Haynes, designed by Ann Sharfman. The cast were Oscar Petersen, Lisa van Zyl, Alex Ferns, Sylvaine Strike, Heinrich Reisenhofer, Jaci Smith, Duncan Lawson, Lucinda Hooley, Jean Marais.
2004 by the Baxter Theatre - a double bill version of the play, the same cast performing alternately in Afrikaans and English. Directed by Janice Honeyman, set by Patrick Curtis, lighting by Mannie Manim, with i.a. Marius Weyers, James Borthwick, Anna-Mart van der Merwe and **.
Translations and adaptations
First translated into Afrikaans by ** as Wania and produced by Jean Plaat-Stultjes in 1930*.??*] Later translated as Oom Wanja by Karel Schoeman and first produced by ** in 19**. Published by Human & Rousseau in 1968. Presented by PACT in 1967, directed by Robert Mohr and starring Wilna Snyman in the production of a triple bill: Oom Wanja by Anton Tsjechow, Uit de oude doos by Melt Brink and Die Paradysboot by Karl Wittinger.
Oom Wanja, the 1968 Karel Schoeman Afrikaans translation was staged by CAPAB in the Hofmeyr Theatre in February 1972, directed by Nicholas Wright (assisted by Mees Xteen), with Johan Malherbe, Pieter Geldenhuys, Sandra Kotzé, Carel Trichardt, Petru Wessels, Anna Cloete, Pieter Joubert, Mees Xteen and Aletta Bezuidenhout. Decor by Bill Smuts, costumes by Penny Simpson. This production was also presented at the H.B. Thom Theatre from 23 February 1972.
In 2004 the Baxter Theatre did a double bill version of the play, the same cast performing alternately in Afrikaans and English. Directed by Janice Honeyman, set by Patrick Curtis, lighting by Mannie Manim, with i.a. Marius Weyers, James Borthwick, Anna-Mart van der Merwe and **. Other productions directed by **, **,**. **
A new version by Christopher Hampton from a translation into English by Nina Froud.
Sources
Wikipedia entry on Uncle Vanya
Oom Wanja theatre programme, 1972.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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