The War of the Worlds

The War of the Worlds is a science fiction novel by H. G. Wells (1866–1946)[1].

The original novel

It is the first-person narrative of the adventures of an unnamed protagonist and his brother in Surrey and London as Earth is invaded by Martians. Written between 1895 and 1897, it is one of the earliest stories that detail a conflict between mankind and an extraterrestrial race.

First published by Heinemann in 1898.

Translations and adaptations

Famously adapted for radio and read by Orson Welles

Adapted for the stage in what is referred to as "a physical theatre interpretation", by choreographer/director Samantha Pienaar in 1999, a century after the original publication. According to the programme notes, the subsequent production hoped to do on theatrical level what the quest for knowledge in the intervening 100 years did, i.e. to explore time and space as fragmented, cyclical, emotional and physical.

Performance history in South Africa

1999: The South African version by Samantha Pienaar presented by students of the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in the H.B. Thom Theatre 25-29 May. The piece choreographed and directed Samantha Pienaar, with a large cast that included Merlin Balie, Colleen Triegaardt, Rudi van der Merwe, Saskia Wicomb, Niki Rowan, Floyed de Vaal, Erica Wessels, Jenny Stead and Elana Afrika. Set design by Kobus Verhoef, lighting design by Tania Williams, costumes by Elrina Marais, stage manager Maritha Visagie and production manager Lavonne Bosman.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds

Programme notes for the Stellenbosch production

Copy of the typed text found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

Kobus Oosthuizen. 1999. "Martians ignore the script", Argus Tonight (Review): 27 May.

Danie Botha. 1999. "Skouspel prikkel nie die gemoed", Die Burger (Review): 27 May.

Return to

Return to W in Plays II Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page