Der Kontrabass

Der Kontrabass is a German play by Patrick Süskind (1949-).

The original text

Written as a monologue in one act in 1980, the peice premiered in 1981.

It is a narration by a double bass player, speaking to the audience in his small sound-proofed apartment and drinking beer. He tells anecdotes about the instrument's history and actually playing, he reveals more and more of his past and present rather miserable situation and the image of a lonely man who realises that his performance is mediocre.

Translations and adaptations

Translated into English as The Double Bass by Michael Hofmann and published in 1987 by Hamish Hamilton.

Another translation of the same title was done by Roy Kift.

Performance history in South Africa

1988: The version by Roy Kift was presented by SWAPAC Drama in 1988 under the direction of Peter Kleinschmidt, starring Mees Xteen. The play opened in Windhoek on 21 June 1988 and toured to Grahamstown (National Arts Festival), Cape Town (Nico Malan Theatre), Bloemfontein (André Huguenet Theatre), Johannesburg (Windybrow Theatre), Maskerteater Pretoria, The Loft Theatre, Durban. It was performed in Swakopmund on 24 October 1988.

1993: Produced in English by Gina Benjamin at Upstairs at the Market, starring Sean Taylor.