George Bernard Shaw

(1856-1950)[1]. Irish playwright, music and theatre critic. ** He visited South Africa in 19** as a guest of ** . Many of his plays were performed in South Africa over the years, including Pygmalion was presented by the Theatre Guild Company in 1946. Mrs Warren's Profession, directed by Leontine Sagan, and starring Lydia Lindeque was performed in 1947 by the REPS. His Candida, which was directed by Marda Vanne, was staged in 1950 for the National Theatre. Wrote Saint Joan which was brought to Johannesburg by the Old Vic Company, headed by Irene Worth and Paul Rogers in 1952. The National Theatre did Shaw’s Candida again, this time for their Festival production at the Library in 1956 starring Margaret Inglis in the title role. Saint Joan was once again staged in 1959 for the National Theatre. Leon Gluckman directed. Starring Kita Redelinghuys and Siegfried Mynhardt. His Caesar and Cleopatra was the opening play at the new Alexander Theatre on 10 March 1960. Hugh Goldie directed this production starring Beryl Gordon. Leonard Schach directed Shaw’s Heartbreak House for PACT at the Alexander Theatre in 1967. It starred Joan Blake, Siegfried Mynhardt, Alec Bell, Elizabeth Meyer, Kerry Jordan, François Swart, Frank Lazarus and Maggie Soboil. The Reps staged his Androcles and the Lion, directed by Charles Hickman and starring Danny Kaye at the Alexander Theatre in 1969. Max Adrian’s presented a one-man show of readings from Shaw at the Alexander in 1971. It was a Langford-Inglis, Academy Theatre Productions and PACT collaboration. Michele Maxwell and Dorothy-Ann Gould starred in Frank Shelley’s production of his Major Barbara for PACT in January 1975. PACT staged his Misalliance in 1979. PACT staged his Pygmalion in 1994.

Sources

Tucker, 1997.

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