The Winter's Tale

The Winter's Tale is a play by William Shakespeare (1564-1616)[1].

On occasion the play is wrongly referred to as A Winter's Tale.

The original text

Translations and adaptations

Translated into Afrikaans as Die Wintersprokie ("The Winter's Tale") by Anna S. Pohl in 1969. The translation published as a performance text by DALRO in 1970. (The publication wrongly refers to the original English play as "A Winter's Tale")

Another Afrikaans translation, also called Die Wintersprokie, was done by W.J. du P. Erlank. It had been commissioned by the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in 1973 and staged by them in 1974. The text was published by Tafelberg in 1975.

Performance history in South Africa

1940: Performed in English by the Grahamstown Training College Dramatic Society, directed by Rosalie van der Gucht.

1952: Presented by East London Technical College Drama Club at the East London City Hall, produced by Mary Howe.

1956: Performed in English at Maynardville, directed by Leslie French, with a cast that included René Ahrenson, Cecilia Sonnenberg, Philip Birkinshaw, Janine de Villiers, **

1956: Produced in English by Rosalie van der Gucht at the Little Theatre, Cape Town, from 20 to 27 June with Percy Sieff (Leontes) and Hansell Hewitt among others in the cast.

1971: Presented in English by Cecilia Sonnenberg and René Ahrenson at Maynardville in January 1971 under the direction of Leslie French and starring Keith Grenville, Jeremy Warner, Bill Jervis, Don Maguire, Jay Heale, Norman Coates, Philip Birkinshaw, Philippe le Roux, Conrad Burke, Michael Drin, David Crichton, Raymond Davies, John Morley, Aden Love, Chronis Papacostas, Nicholas Bicket, Cecilia Sonnenberg, Sharon Lazarus, Joyce Burch, Ann Low, Jill Kidwell, Jennifer Craig. Costumes designed by Jennifer Craig, sound and lighting under the direction of Aden Love.

1974: Staged in Afrikaans as Die Wintersprokie (Erlank translation) by the Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in May 1974 in the H.B. Thom Theatre, directed by Neels Hansen, with Johann van Heerden, Emile Aucamp, Fred le Roux, Lochner de Kock, Kosie de Villiers and others.

1981: Presented in English by UCT Drama, directed by Rosalie van der Gucht, opening 26 August 1981 in the Little Theatre. Some of the cast members were Jennifer Ferguson, Michelle Botes, David Clatworthy, David Butler, Gys de Villiers, Miriam Munitz and Vicky Bawcombe. Set and costumes designed by Stephen de Villiers.

1988: Presented in English by PACT, directed by Bobby Heaney for PACT. The stage production was televised by SABC.

1997: Performed in English by CAPAB at Maynardville, directed by Mark Graham, opening 10 January 1997. Design by Michael Mitchell, lighting by Malcolm Hurrell, musical direction by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder and choreography by Alfred Hinkel. The cast: Martin le Maitre, Jay Heale, Peter Krummeck, Paul du Toit, Terence Bridgett, Kevin Smith, Akin Omotoso, Bennie Smit, Richard Farmer, Jonathan Pienaar, Graham Weir, Megan Wilson, Anthea Thompson, Shirley Johnston, Robyn Scott, Vinette Ebrahim, Euodia Samson, Karin van der Laag, Noel Oostendorp, Wayne Harrison, Adrian Galley, Paul van Wyk, Matthew Roberts, Xola Luse, Sara Cohen, Justine Rosen, Henry van Wyk, Daniel Barnett.

2005: Performed in English as the first play to be produced by the new drama section of the Shakespeare Society of Southern Africa in July and August. Directed directed by Paige Newmark.