Kringe in 'n Bos ("Circles in a Forest") is the name of (a) an award winning and best-selling novel by Dalene Matthee ()[], (b) an adaptation of the novel for the stage and (c) a film

The novel

The novel is set in the 19th century, telling a of the coming-of-age of Saul Barnard a woodcutter in and around the Knysna, and the impact of a gold rush on the Outeniqua forest, its indigenous residents and on the Knysna elephants. The novel was published by Tafelberg Uitgewers in 1984, the first of series of four "forest novels" by Matthee, all set in the Knysna forest - the others being Fiela se Kind (Fiela’s Child, 1985), Moerbeibos ("The Mulberry Forest", 1987) and Toorbos (2003). It quickly became a best-selling novel, being translated into English (as Circles in a Forest), Portuguese, Dutch, French, Icelandic, Spanish, Hebrew, German, Swedish, Italian, Finnish and Norwegian, and becoming the source of stage and film versions.

The play

Kringe in 'n Bos by Peet van Rensburg is described as a "retelling" of the story by Peet van Rensburg of Matthee's novel.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1987: Produced by PACOFS, directed by Peet van Rensburg starring Paul Lückhoff (Saul), Jannie Gildenhuys (Joram), Cedwyn Joel (Hans Oukas/Maska), Gustav Geldenhuys (Barclay/Patterson), Franz Gräbe (Josef/McDonald/Crompton), Isabelle Fourie (Kate/Caroline), Annemarie Rauh (Verteller/Mev Stopforth), Dawie Maritz (Oom Anneries). Decor by Joe Coetzee, lighting by Wladdyslaw Czerepowicz.

1988: The PACOFS production was presented in association with CAPAB at the Nico Malan Theatre 11-27 February, the Bellville Civic Theatre 1-5 March, the Guild Theatre East London 8 March and the Opera House Port Elizabeth 10-12 March.

1991: Louis van Niekerk directed a production by TRUK Toneel at the Momentum Theatre, Pretoria and the Adcock-Ingram, Johannesburg in 1991 starring André-Jacques van der Merwe, Hannes Muller, Peter Holden, Riva Schoeman, André Lombard, Bill Curry, and Hélène Truter as the narrator, Mrs Stopforth and Caroline MacDonald, later replaced by Antoinette Kellermann in all three roles. Design by Joe Coetzee, lighting by Jacques Mulder.