Difference between revisions of "Germanicus"

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''Germanicus'', by [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]]. An Afrikaans verse play about about patriotism and loyal rebellion, set in Roman times and telling the story of a young hero, the roman general Germanicus. First published in 196* and many times since. A standard prescribed work for schools and universities. Published by [[Tafelberg]].
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''[[Germanicus]]'' is an [[Afrikaans]] verse play by [[N.P. van Wyk Louw]] (1906-1970).   
  
One of the monumental works in the Afrikaans canon, it was first performed by [[NTO]] in 1957, directed by [[Tone Brulin]] with [[Pieter Geldenhuys]] and [[Francois Swart]]. ([[Athol Fugard]] was the stage manager).
 
  
In 1957 a [[NTO]] production of the play, supported by [[BAT]], opened the new [[Bellville Civic Theatre]] under the direction of [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]], with [[Johann Nell]] as Germanicus and [[Lydia Lindeque]] as Agrippina. [[Gerrit Wessels]], [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]], [[Kobus van der Colff]], [[Pietro Nolte]], [[Johan Malherbe]], [[Hélène Scholtz]], [[Pieter Bredenkamp]], [[Ulrich Fobian]], [[J.A. van der Vyver]], [[Gottfried Scholtz]], [[Cornelia Stander]], [[Alto Loots]], [[Laurie van der Merwe]], [[Louis Pienaar]], [[Fanie Bekker]] made up the rest of the cast. Costumes by [[Doreen Graves]] and [[Stephan de Villiers]], décor by [[Frank Graves]].
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== The original play ==
  
Under the direction of [[Tone Brulin]], a [[NTO]] production opened the new theatre at the University of Pretoria in 1958. [[Francois Swart]] played Germanicus and [[Milla Louw]] Agrippina. The cast also included [[Pieter Geldenhuys]], [[Aletta Gericke]], [[Pietro Nolte]], [[Dawid van der Walt]], [[Bet Botha]], [[Billy Pretorius]] and others. [[Michal Grobbelaar]] was the production manager, [[Laurie van der Merwe]] assistant director and [[Piet Bezuidenhout]] stage manager. Décor by [[Frank Graves]]. The costumes designed for the 1957 production in Bellville were used again.
 
  
Directed by [[Ria Olivier]] for [[Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch]] in 1971, with [[Philip du Plessi]] as Germanicus, [[Fred Nel]] as Piso, the role of Agrippina aletrnating between [[Tarina Kleyn]] and [[Marianne Roux]]. Other members of the cast were, among others, [[Juanita Swanepoel]], [[Fred le Roux]], [[Johann van Heerden]], [[Herman Pretorius]], [[Lautika Rauch]], [[Ben Dehaeck]], [[Jocelyn de Bruyn]] and [[Marcel van Heerden]].
+
Based on Tacitus's Annales 3: 1-3, the play is set in Roman times and deals with patriotism and loyal rebellion, through the story of a young hero, the Roman general Germanicus.  
  
In 1981 it was presented by [[PACT]] as part of the opening ceremonies for the [[State Theatre Pretoria]], directed by [[Francois Swart]] and featuring [[Marius Weyers]], [[Carel Trichardt]] and [[Wilna Snyman]].  ''Germanicus'' in nuwe skouburg van UP. (Gasregiseur Tone Brulin uit Belgie. Francois Swart, [[Milla Louw]], Pieter Geldenhuys, [[Aletta Gericke]], [[Pietro Nolte]], [[Dawid v/d Walt]], [[Bet Botha]], [[Francois v Wyk]], [[Billy Pretorius]], [[André Beaumont]], [[M. Adriaan Mocke]], [[Hester Momsen]], [[Collie Fick]], [[Koof Snyman]] & [[Laurie v/d Merwe]]. [[Michal Grobbelaar]] (prod. Bestuurder) Laurie v/d Merwe (regie asst) [[Piet Bezuidenhout]] (verhoogdirekteur) ''Germanicus'' was die 1 e Afr beroepsopvoering i/d skouburg van UP.  [[Frank Graves]] (dekor) [[Doreen Graves]] & [[Stephan de Villiers]] het kostuums vir Bellville opvoering ontwerp. Nuwigheid:  elektroniese musiek nl. v. [[Louis de Meester]] in Belgie geskryf en op Bel. Radio opgeneemGermanicus ook die 1e amptelike stuk by stadskouburg Bellville.  Regie hier: [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]].  
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First published as fragments in the journal ''[[Standpunte]]'' (Vol 1, nr. 2, April 1946 and Vol 6, nr. 2, Desember 1951). The full text was only published by [[Tafelberg Publishers]]  in 1956, but has been reprinted many times since. A standard prescribed work for schools and universitiesAwarded the [[Hertzogprys|Hertzog Prize]] for Drama, 1960.
  
Presented by the [[University of Stellenbosch Drama Department]] in September 1991, 25 years after the inauguration of the [[H.B. Thom Theatre]]. On this occasion the play was directed by [[Johan Esterhuizen]], starring [[Waldemar Schultz]] as Germanicus, [[André van der Merwe]] as Piso and [[Sandra Fourie]] as Agrippina.
+
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 +
 
 +
1956: First performed as a radio broadcast by the [[SABC]]. 
 +
 
 +
1957: First performed  as a stage play on 14 June in a production by the [[National Theatre Organisation ]], in co-operation with [[BAT]], and was the opening presentation in the new [[Bellville Civic Theatre]]. Directed by [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]] with [[Johann Nell]] as "Germanicus" and [[Lydia Lindeque]] as "Agrippina". The rest of the cast consisted of [[Gerrit Wessels]], [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]], [[Kobus van der Colff]], [[Pietro Nolte]], [[Johan Malherbe]], [[Hélène Scholtz]], [[Pieter Bredenkamp]], [[Ulrich Fobian]], [[J.A. van der Vyver]], [[Gottfried Scholtz]], [[Cornelia Stander]], [[Alto Loots]], [[Laurie van der Merwe]], [[Louis Pienaar]], [[Fanie Bekker]]. Costumes by [[Doreen Graves]] and [[Stephan de Villiers]], décor by [[Frank Graves]].
 +
 
 +
1958:  Produced in Pretoria, also by the [[National Theatre Organisation ]], this time as opening presentation in the new theatre at the University of Pretoria in 1958. Directed by [[Tone Brulin]] with [[Francois Swart]] as "Germanicus" and [[Milla Louw]] as "Agrippina". The rest of the cast included [[Pieter Geldenhuys]] (Tiberius), [[Aletta Gericke]] (Livia), [[Pietro Nolte]] (Pio), [[Dawid van der Walt]] (Lucius), [[Bet Botha]] (Marcia), [[Billy Pretorius]] (Marcus), [[André Beaumont]] (Caius), [[M. Adriaan Mocke]] (Segestus), [[Hester Momsen]] (Thusnelda), [[Collie Fick]] (Plancina), [[Koof SSnyman]] (Clemens) and [[Laurie van der Merwe]] (Arestas). [[Michal Grobbelaar]] was the production manager, [[Laurie van der Merwe]] assistant director and [[Piet Bezuidenhout]] stage manager. Décor once more by [[Frank Graves]], while the the costumes designed for the 1957 production in Bellville were used again.  [[Athol Fugard]] was one of the stage managers.
 +
 
 +
1971: Directed by [[Ria Olivier]] for [[Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch]] in 1971, with [[Philip du Plessis]] as "Germanicus", [[Fred Nel]] as "Piso", the role of "Agrippina" alternating between [[Tarina Kleyn]] and [[Marianne Roux]]. Other members of the cast were, among others, [[Juanita Swanepoel]], [[Fred le Roux]], [[Johann van Heerden]], [[Herman Pretorius]], [[Laurika Rauch]], [[Ben Dehaeck]], [[Jocelyn de Bruyn]] and [[Marcel van Heerden]].
 +
 
 +
1981: Presented by [[PACT]] as part of the opening ceremonies for the [[State Theatre]] in Pretoria, directed by [[Francois Swart]] with [[Marius Weyers]] ("Germanicus"), [[Etienne Puren]] ("Lucius"), [[Sandra Prinsloo]] ("Agrippina"), [[Anna Neethling-Pohl]] ("Livia"), [[Louis van Niekerk]] ("Piso"), [[Petro van der Walt]] ("Marcia"), [[Jacques Loots]] ("Dokter"), [[Alwyn Swart]] ("Sekretaris"), [[Fred Steyn]] ("Marius"), [[Eric Nobbs]] ("Marcus"), [[Don Lamprecht]] ("Caius"), [[Carel Trichardt]] ("Segestes"), [[Wilna Snyman]] ("Thusnelda"), [[Rika Sennett]] ("Plancina"), [[Louw Verwey]] ("Tiberius"), [[Pierre van Pletzen]] ("Clemens"), [[Franz Marx]] ("Koning Aretas") and others. Décor  and costumes by [[Chris van den Berg]].
 +
 
 +
1991: Presented by the [[University of Stellenbosch Drama Department]] in September 1991, in celebration of the [[H.B. Thom Theatre]]'s 25th anniversary. Directed by [[Johan Esterhuizen]], starring [[Waldemar Schultz]] as "Germanicus", [[André van der Merwe]] as "Piso" and [[Sandra Fourie]] as "Agrippina". Costumes were designed by [[Charl-Johan Lingenfelder]].
 +
 
 +
==Translations and adaptations==
 +
 
 +
An English translation of the [[Afrikaans]] text was done by [[Jo-Marie Claassen]] between 2004 and 2006, and published as an e-book by Dragonfly eBooks[http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/314998] in 2013.
  
 
==Sources==
 
==Sources==
''Taalgenoot'', 26(11), 1957.
 
  
''Lantern'', 8(2):183, 1958.
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''[[Die Taalgenoot]]'', 26(11), 1957.
 +
 
 +
''[[Lantern]]'', 8(2):183, 1958.
 +
 
 +
[[PACT]] theatre programme, 1981.
 +
 
 +
''[[Germanicus]]'' theatre programmes, 1957 and 1991.
 +
 
 +
[[Petru Wessels|Petru]] & [[Carel Trichardt]] theatre programme collection.
 +
 
 +
Johann Lodewyk Marais, 2010. "Geskiedenis en literatuur in N.P. van Wyk Louw se ''[[Germanicus]]''" (1956) in [[Stilet]] — Vol. XXI:1 — March 2010
 +
 
 +
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 +
 
 +
== Return to ==
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
 +
 
 +
Return to [[PLAYS II: Foreign plays]]
  
 +
Return to [[PLAYS III: Collections]]
  
 +
Return to [[PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances]]
  
Return to [[ESAT Plays 1 G|G]]
+
Return to [[South_African_Festivals|South African Festivals and Competitions]]
  
Return to [[South_African_Theatre/Plays]]
+
Return to [[The ESAT Entries]]
  
 
Return to [[Main Page]]
 
Return to [[Main Page]]

Revision as of 15:41, 23 May 2021

Germanicus is an Afrikaans verse play by N.P. van Wyk Louw (1906-1970).


The original play

Based on Tacitus's Annales 3: 1-3, the play is set in Roman times and deals with patriotism and loyal rebellion, through the story of a young hero, the Roman general Germanicus.

First published as fragments in the journal Standpunte (Vol 1, nr. 2, April 1946 and Vol 6, nr. 2, Desember 1951). The full text was only published by Tafelberg Publishers in 1956, but has been reprinted many times since. A standard prescribed work for schools and universities. Awarded the Hertzog Prize for Drama, 1960.

Performance history in South Africa

1956: First performed as a radio broadcast by the SABC.

1957: First performed as a stage play on 14 June in a production by the National Theatre Organisation , in co-operation with BAT, and was the opening presentation in the new Bellville Civic Theatre. Directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl with Johann Nell as "Germanicus" and Lydia Lindeque as "Agrippina". The rest of the cast consisted of Gerrit Wessels, Anna Neethling-Pohl, Kobus van der Colff, Pietro Nolte, Johan Malherbe, Hélène Scholtz, Pieter Bredenkamp, Ulrich Fobian, J.A. van der Vyver, Gottfried Scholtz, Cornelia Stander, Alto Loots, Laurie van der Merwe, Louis Pienaar, Fanie Bekker. Costumes by Doreen Graves and Stephan de Villiers, décor by Frank Graves.

1958: Produced in Pretoria, also by the National Theatre Organisation , this time as opening presentation in the new theatre at the University of Pretoria in 1958. Directed by Tone Brulin with Francois Swart as "Germanicus" and Milla Louw as "Agrippina". The rest of the cast included Pieter Geldenhuys (Tiberius), Aletta Gericke (Livia), Pietro Nolte (Pio), Dawid van der Walt (Lucius), Bet Botha (Marcia), Billy Pretorius (Marcus), André Beaumont (Caius), M. Adriaan Mocke (Segestus), Hester Momsen (Thusnelda), Collie Fick (Plancina), Koof SSnyman (Clemens) and Laurie van der Merwe (Arestas). Michal Grobbelaar was the production manager, Laurie van der Merwe assistant director and Piet Bezuidenhout stage manager. Décor once more by Frank Graves, while the the costumes designed for the 1957 production in Bellville were used again. Athol Fugard was one of the stage managers.

1971: Directed by Ria Olivier for Universiteitsteater Stellenbosch in 1971, with Philip du Plessis as "Germanicus", Fred Nel as "Piso", the role of "Agrippina" alternating between Tarina Kleyn and Marianne Roux. Other members of the cast were, among others, Juanita Swanepoel, Fred le Roux, Johann van Heerden, Herman Pretorius, Laurika Rauch, Ben Dehaeck, Jocelyn de Bruyn and Marcel van Heerden.

1981: Presented by PACT as part of the opening ceremonies for the State Theatre in Pretoria, directed by Francois Swart with Marius Weyers ("Germanicus"), Etienne Puren ("Lucius"), Sandra Prinsloo ("Agrippina"), Anna Neethling-Pohl ("Livia"), Louis van Niekerk ("Piso"), Petro van der Walt ("Marcia"), Jacques Loots ("Dokter"), Alwyn Swart ("Sekretaris"), Fred Steyn ("Marius"), Eric Nobbs ("Marcus"), Don Lamprecht ("Caius"), Carel Trichardt ("Segestes"), Wilna Snyman ("Thusnelda"), Rika Sennett ("Plancina"), Louw Verwey ("Tiberius"), Pierre van Pletzen ("Clemens"), Franz Marx ("Koning Aretas") and others. Décor and costumes by Chris van den Berg.

1991: Presented by the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in September 1991, in celebration of the H.B. Thom Theatre's 25th anniversary. Directed by Johan Esterhuizen, starring Waldemar Schultz as "Germanicus", André van der Merwe as "Piso" and Sandra Fourie as "Agrippina". Costumes were designed by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.

Translations and adaptations

An English translation of the Afrikaans text was done by Jo-Marie Claassen between 2004 and 2006, and published as an e-book by Dragonfly eBooks[1] in 2013.

Sources

Die Taalgenoot, 26(11), 1957.

Lantern, 8(2):183, 1958.

PACT theatre programme, 1981.

Germanicus theatre programmes, 1957 and 1991.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

Johann Lodewyk Marais, 2010. "Geskiedenis en literatuur in N.P. van Wyk Louw se Germanicus" (1956) in Stilet — Vol. XXI:1 — March 2010

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to PLAYS II: Foreign plays

Return to PLAYS III: Collections

Return to PLAYS IV: Pageants and public performances

Return to South African Festivals and Competitions

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page