Het Hemelbed

Het Hemelbed (lit. “The heaven bed", i.e. a canopied four-poster bed) is a Dutch play in three acts by Jan de Hartog (1914-2002) [1].

The original text

Written in 1942, it is a two-hander about the wedding night of a newly married couple. An immensely popular play, it was originally performed in English as The Fourposter and only in later years in the Dutch original. The Dutch text was published in 1974.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as The Fourposter, by the playwright himself, the play premiered on London in 1949 and opened on Broadway in October 1951. Published by Samuel French.

An Afrikaans translation was done by Sandra Kotzé under the title Die Hemelbed. Published by the National Library (Available at Dalro [2])

Another Afrikaans translation, done from English by Fred le Roux, has the alternative titles of either Die Dubbelbed ("the double bed") or Die Hemelbed (lit. “The heaven bed").

Performance history in South Africa

1954: The Fourposter was presented by the Brian Brooke Company starring English actors Michael and Dulcie Dennison. Set by Frank Graves. Toured to Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, East London, King Williams Town, Durban’s Little Theatre, Christmas season 1954.

1962: Robert Mohr directed a production by the Little Theatre Players in November.

1963: The Le Roux translation was presented as Die Hemelbed by Kaapse Streektoneel on tour to Clanwilliam, Van Rhynsdorp, Nieuwoudtville, Williston, Fraserburg and Calvinia starring Tine Balder and Pieter Geldenhuys, directed by Paul Malherbe. This production was also presented by SUKOVS in the same year.

1963: The Kotzé translation, Die Hemelbed was produced by Fred Engelen for CAPAB with Tine Balder and Pieter Geldenhuys (and Paul Malherbe?) on a tour which began on 18 November at Jan Kempdorp.

1964: The Le Roux translation, Die Dubbelbed was presented by PACT in the Intimate Theatre, Johannesburg, the National Theatre, Pretoria and toured the Transvaal. Pieter Geldenhuys directed and acted with Joan Brink. Decor by Raimond Schoop and costumes by Margaret Louttit.

1973: The Le Roux translation, Die Hemelbed was staged by PACOFS, directed by Gerrit Geertsema, with Anton Welman and Trudi du Plessis. Decor by David Sidey and costumes by Errol Ross.

1974: The Le Roux translation, Die Hemelbed was staged by PACT, directed by Carel Trichardt, with Louis van Niekerk and Reza de Wet. Decor and costumes by Johan Engels.

19**: The Le Roux translation, Die Dubbelbed was staged by NAPAC, directed by Pieter Geldenhuys, featuring Dale Cutts and Jeanette Hanekom. Decor by Doug Fairall and costumes by Lucille Cross.