Der gute Mensch von Sezuan

Der gute Mensch von Sezuan, [1] is a 1941 parable play by German poet, playwright, and theatre director Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) [2].

The original text

The original text was developed in collaboration with Margarete Steffin [3] and Ruth Berlau [4]. The development of the playtext started in 1938 but was not completed until 1941, while Brecht was in exile in the USA.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English by Eric Bentley as The Good Woman of Setzuan (1956).

Translated into English by Ralph Manheim as The Good Person of Szechwan (1964).

Translated into Afrikaans by *** as Die Goeie Mens van Setzuan for PACOFS in 1974.

Translated from the original German into Afrikaans by Johann van Heerden as Die Goeie Mens van Sezuan in 1976.

Translated into English by David Harrower [5] as The Good Soul of Szechuan in 2008.

Performance history in South Africa

1958: In March The Good Woman of Setzuan, the Eric Bentley translation, was staged at the Little Theatre in Cape Town, directed by Rosalie van der Gucht, with Percy Sieff, Errolene Garrett, Elizabeth Bennett, Chris van den Berg, Denice Donegan, Phyllis Schaffer, Karl Oettle, Louis Franks, Eugene Rakoff, Hymie Gien, Viv Rakoff and Tony Puma.

1965: For the twenty-first birthday of the East Rand Theatre Club Leonard Schach directed the Eric Bentley translation with a cast including Alan Brooke, Denice Etherington, Stanley Hill, Ethel London and others. Decor and costumes by Chris van den Berg.

1974: In October Die Goeie Mens van Setzuan the Afrikaans translation by *** was staged by PACOFS, directed by William Egan, with a cast including Wim Vorster ***. Stage manager Mavis Lilenstein.