Major Barbara

From ESAT
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Major Barbara [1] is a 1905 play in three acts by George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) [2]. Set in the early 1900's the story involves an idealistic young woman, Barbara Undershaft, who is engaged in helping the poor as an official (a Major) in the Salvation Army in London.

It was first produced at the Royal Court Theatre in London in 1905 and first published in 1907.

The original text

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1947: Presented by the Cape Reps in the Little Theatre in December, produced by George Vollaire. The cast included Jack Stubbs (Undershaft), Jean de Beer (Lady Brit), Dorotea Gibson (Barbara), Geoffrey Barry (Dolly), Roy Keech (Cholly), Hal Stone (Billy Walker) and Ted Ogden (Snobby Price). Set designed by Cecil Pym.

1975: Staged by PACT, directed by Frank Shelley, with Louis Ife (Undershaft), Norman Coombes (Peter Shirley), Richard Haines (Bill Walker), Diane Wilson (Lady Britomart), Nigel Daly (Stephen), Leonie Hofmeyr (Sarah), Michelle Maxwell (Barbara), Michael Richard (Charles Lomax), Robin Malan (Adolphus Cusins), Bernard Nathanson (Morrison & Bilton), Denis Bettesworth (Snobby Price), Valerie Dunlop (Rummy Mitchens), Dorothy-Ann Gould (Jenny Hill) and Margaret Heale (Mrs Baines). Decor by Johan Engels (credited as "Johann Engels") and costumes by Tom Owen.

Sources

Trek, 12(1):26.

Wikipedia [3]

PACT theatre programme, 1975.

Petru & Carel Trichardt theatre programme collection.

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