Shirley Valentine

Shirley Valentine is a one-character play by English dramatist, lyricist and composer Willy Russell [1] (born 1947), taking the form of a monologue.

The play premiered in 1986 at the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool, and opened in London's West End two years later.

The original text

Translations and adaptations

The 1989 film based on the play proved to be a great success world-wide.

Performance history in South Africa

1991: Fred Abrahamse directed a production at the Baxter Theatre opening Monday 2 December. Designed by Brian Collins.

1993: Neil Lovegrove and Colin Law presented Diane Wilson at the Victory Theatre in the lead role, directed by Murray McGibbon. Wilson won national and regional Vita Awards as well as a Fleur du Cap for her performance.

1993: CAPAB Drama production with Diane Wilson June, National Arts Festival. Witchway Entertainments

2008: KickstArt directed by Steven Stead.

Shaleen Surtie-Richards 2008-2009.

2019: Two performances done in Johannesburg by VR Theatrical, directed by Gina Shmukler with Natasha Sutherland. Theatres then closed due to COVID-19 pandemic.

2022: Presented at The Drama Factory, Somerset West, 10-13 March by VR Theatrical, directed by Gina Shmukler with Natasha Sutherland. Set design by Nadine Minnaar, lighting design by Oliver Hauser, sound design by Wessel Odendaal, and AV design by Jaco van Rensburg

Sources

Wikipedia [2]

Invitation to the Baxter production, 1991.

Tucker, 1997. 522.

Framed theatre photograph of Diane Wilson as Shirley Valentine in the play of the same name which toured nationwide from the mid to late 1990s held by NELM: [Collection: WILSON, Diane]: 2012. 18. 15. 2. 2. 5.

Publicity e-mail from The Drama Factory, Wednesday 2022/02/23 18:06

Go to ESAT Bibliography