The Oresteia
The Oresteia by Aeschylus. ***
Contents
The original text
Translations and adaptations
Translations
Into English
Into Afrikaans)
Translated as Die Oresteia Trilogie by Merwe Scholtz in 1981
Adaptations
Molora (2007)
(Molora is a Sotho word meaning "Ash") An adaptation of the trilogy by Yaël Farber, which transplants the Greek tragedy of tragedy of death, violence, despair and loss, into the milieu of post-Apartheid South Africa and traumatic yet healing period the Truth and Reconciiation Commission. Utilizing the original text, the play also introduces additional text in most of the South African languages, and a chorus of singing and dancing women, created by The Ngqoko Cultural Group from the town of Lady Frere.
The text has been published by Oberon Books (200*).
The play first opened at the Market Theatre in 2007, directed by Yaël Farber, with Dorothy Ann Gould, Jabulile Tshabalala, Sandile Matsheni and The Ngqoko Cultural Group (consisting of Tsolwana. B. Mpayipheli, Tandiwe Lungisa, Nokhaya Mvotyo, Nofenishala Mvotyo, Nopasile Mvotyo, Nosomething Ntese and Nogcinile Yekani).
Assistant Director: Yana Sakelaris Set Design: Larry Leroux & Leigh Colombick Costume Design: Natalie Lundon & Johny Matole Lighting Design: Michael Maxwell Music & Song Arrangements: The Nqgoko Cultral Group
Other performances include the Place des Arts in Montreal (2009).
Performance history in South Africa
1952: Directed in English by Rosalie van der Gucht at the Little Theatre, Cape Town, in 1952, the year it celebrated its 21st birthday.
1981: Directed in Afrikaans as Die Oresteia-Trilogie by Dieter Reible, for CAPAB. The cast included Wilna Snyman, Johan Malherbe, Marthinus Basson, Grethe Fox, Marga van Rooy, Neels Coetzee, David van der Merwe, Paul Lückhoff, Mitzi Booysen, Selma van der Vyver, Christo Potgieter, Brümilda van Rensburg, Marikie Basson, Heléne Coetzee, Elise Hibbert, Marko van der Colff. Decor and costumes by Raimond Schoop, lighting by Leon Benzakein.
Translations and adaptations
Sources
Inskip, 1977. p 43.
Die Orestiea-Trilogie theatre programme, 1981.
http://www.yfarber.com/molora/
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