Yerma
by Federico García Lorca (1898-1936) in the original Spanish.
Performance history in South Africa
1950s. Performed by Cape Town Theatre Productions in Cape Town, with Lydia Lindeque in the lead.
196*: Presented by CAPAB Afrikaans Drama, directed by Belgian director Marc Leemans, opening in the Hofmeyr Theatre on 10 August 196*. "Yerma" was played by Tine Balder and the rest of the cast included Johan Malherbe, Christine Basson, Nerina Ferreira, Woutrine Theron and others.
1966: Produced in March 1966 by Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in the Botha Hall, directed by Ben Dehaeck starring, among others, Woutrine Theron, Mees Xteen, Piers Nicholson, Bie Engelen and Johan Esterhuizen.
1979: Presented by PACOFS Drama in English in May 1979 in the Observatory Theatre, directed by Pieter Fourie. Decor and costumes designed by Raimond Schoop, music and songs composed by Laurie Potgieter, lighting designed by Andy Wood, masks designed and made by Leon de Bliquy. Sandra Kotzé as Yerma, also starring Anita de Jager, John Whiteley, Andy Wood, Anna Richter-Visser, Marie Pentz, Elizabeth Archer, Henry Milne, Nico Liebenberg, Antoinette Kellermann, and others.
2001: Performed in Afrikaans at Aardklop 2001, KKNK 2002. Produced by Hugo Theart, directed by Juanita Swanepoel, starring Nicole Holm as Yerma, Albert Maritz, Joanie Combrink, Susanne Beyers, Lida Botha, Johan Botha, Nina Swart, Francois Toerien, Lorraine Burger, Leanna Dreyer, Esther von Waltsleben. Lighting and set design by Kobus Rossouw, costume design by Elrina Marais. Original music composed and directed by Adriaan Brand.
2012: Produced by the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in August in the H.B. Thom Theatre, directed by Juanita Swanepoel. The cast included André Terblanche, Ninke Saunders, Shaun Peters, Alma Nel and others.
2015: Performed by the students of the Division of Dramatic Arts, Wits School of Arts, in the Wits Amphitheatre in April 2015, directed by Rajesh Gopie and using the new adapted version by Ursula Rani Sarma, and transposing the Spanish play into the remote and rural countryside of a Southern African village.
Translations and adaptations
Translated into English by James Graham-Lujan and Richard L. O'Connell. Published by New Directions, 1955.
Yerma : ’n dramatiese gedig in drie bedrywe en ses tonele, the translation into Afrikaans by Uys Krige of the original in Spanish by Federico García Lorca (1898-1936). Published in Standpunte, 6(3)-6(4) Mr-Jul 1952. 7(1) Oct 1952 and by HAUM, 1963.Awarded the Akademieprys for translated work, 1956.
A new English version by Ursula Rani Sarma published by Oberon Books in 2012.
Sources
CAPAB theatre programme
PACOFS theatre programme, 1979.
Theatre programme, 2001.
Go to ESAT Bibliography
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