Decadence

Decadence is a 1981 verse play by English playwright Stephen Berkoff (1937- ) [1]. A satirical exploration of marital relationships.

Performance history in South Africa

1982: A very successful and award-winning vehicle for Fiona Ramsay, initially with Henry Goodman and later with Michael Richard. She first performed it on 13 May 1982 in The People's Space Theatre, (a Troupe Theatre Company production) and repeated it regularly thereafter for more than 20 years.

1984: Graham Wright and the Baxter Theatre produced a version with Bo Petersen and John Maytham, directed by Ron Smerczak at the the Durban Alhambra and Wits Theatre.

1984: The Baxter Theatre presented the Troupe Theatre Company production of the play directed by Fred Abrahamse, opening 6 February, starring Henry Goodman as Steve and Les and Fiona Ramsay as Helen and Sybil.

1992: Fred Abrahamse directed a revival of this production, again starring Fiona Ramsay and Michael Richard opening 2 June 1992 at the Baxter Theatre followed by runs at the Laager and elsewhere, winning the Vita Award as Play of the Year, 1993-94.

2003: Presented by the Troupe Theatre Company at the Catalina Theatre, directed by Graham Hopkins, again with Fiona Ramsay and Michael Richard, staged in the Theatre on the Square in May 2002 and in the Tesson Theatre.

2010: Another production was presented by The Mechanicals starring Emily Child and Scott Sparrow directed by Chris Weare. Had runs in Cape Town, Grahamstown and Johannesburg. Was nominated for Naledi and Fleur du Cap awards.

Sources

Decadence theatre programme (Baxter) 1984.

Business Day, 29 May 2002.

Sunday Independent, 3 August 2003.

Review by Diane de Beer, The Star, 20 April 2011.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

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