Lysistrata

Lysistrata by Aristophanes (c.446 BC – c. 386 BC). First performed in 411 B.C., directed by the author.

Performance history in South Africa

Performed in the original Greek in South Africa by the Athens Drama Company in 1962, when Leon Gluckman brought them here to perform at the Civic Theatre with direction by Costis Michaelides, starring Aleka Katselis, Maria Moscholiou and Costas Kazakos.

The first local production was ****. Other productions include a 1952 NTO touring version, directed by Leon Gluckman with Vivienne Drummond, Anne McMenamin and Lydia Lindeque. In 197* The Company did a version at The Box in 197*. **

Translated as Lusistrata into Afrikaans by J.P.J. van Rensburg, published by Human & Rousseau, 1970.

Miss Los Istrata is a bilingual (Afrikaans & English) adaptation of Lysistrata by Robin Malan (1972).

Lucy Strata by Ben Dehaeck was another adapted Afrikaans version of the play, set in the Cape, and performed at the Kellerprinz Drama Festival in 1986 by the Breughel Theatre Group. Joint winners.

The Afrikaans translation (Lusistrata) by J.P.J. van Rensburg was staged by the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in the Langenhoven Student Centre in 1990. Johann van Heerden was the director.

In September 2003 it was presented again by students of the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department, directed by Marthinus Basson.

The play has been adapted in many ways over the years. For example in 1976?* Dermod Judge wrote Lysistrata S.A. - based om the South African situation in the mid-70s – which was done at The Space (Cape Town), with music composed by Alan Hayman and directed by Dorrian Mclaren with sixteen actors, five musicians and a singer, including Charles Comyn, Fatima Dike, Andrea Fine, James Mthoba, Thoko Ntshinga, Sam Phillips and Jacqui Singer. Presented by The Hermit Theatre, adapted and directed by Clive Rodel, June to July 1980

Programme notes

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