Maria Stuart

Mary Stuart (German: Maria Stuart) is a play by Friedrich Schiller that depicts the last days of Mary, Queen of Scots. The play consists of five acts, each divided into several scenes. The play had its première in Weimar, Germany on 14 June 1800. The play formed the basis for Donizetti's opera Maria Stuarda (1834).

Performance history in South Africa

Mary Stuart first produced in South Africa by * Other English productions by **, PACT, (dir Francois Swart, 1987), **.

Translations and adaptations

An Afrikaans translation of the play by Ulrich Gerryts was produced by the Volksteater in Pretoria in 1941, directed by Anna Neethling-Pohl and featuring Berdine Grünewald. Also translated into Afrikaans by Karel Schoeman, published by Human and Rousseau, 1973. This translation first performed by ** in 19**. A non-traditional student production of an expanded version of the latter Afrikaans text done by the German director Bernard Wolf at the HB Thom Theatre in 2005, to celebrate the Schiller year.

A translation into Afrikaans by Wilhelm Grütter was directed by Jannie Gildenhuys for the re-opening of the Hofmeyr Theatre after renovations on 4 August 1965. Tine Balder played Elizabeth I, with Esther van Ryswyk as Mary Queen of Scots.

Maria Stuart was presented in Afrikaans by PACT, opening 9 March 1972 at the Alexander Theatre before moving to Pretoria, directed by Truida Louw. The cast: George Ballot, Louis van Niekerk, Anna Neethling-Pohl, Jan Bruijns, Karen van Wyk, Jud Cornell, Adriaan van Niekerk, Don Lamprecht, Gerben Kamper, Dawid van der Merwe, Pieter Strydom, Wilna Snyman, Sandra Prinsloo, Marius Weyers. Decor designed by Richard Cook, costumes by Neels Hansen.