Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex ("King Oedipus") is the commonly used Latina title for Οἰδίπους Τύραννος ("Oedipous Tyrrannous" or "Oedipus the Tyrant") a Classic Greek tragedy by Sophocles (c. 497/6–406/5 BC)[1].

See also Classical Theatre in South Africa

The Original Text

Performance history in South Africa

In other South African languages

1927: Translated into Afrikaans prose as Koning Oidipus by L.J. du Plessis and performed by students of the Potchefstroom University College. (Published by J.L. van Schaik, Pretoria in 1928.)

1938: Translated into Afrikaans by Theo Wassenaar as Koning Oidipus. This was produced by the Volksteater in the main hall of the City Hall, Pretoria, 9-10 June 1938, directed by Isobel de Waal, featuring H.J. Oberholzer in the lead, with Anna Neethling-Pohl as Iocasta. Set designed and painted by J.H. Pierneef and S. Schwartz Costumes by Anna Botha.

1955: Theo Wassenaar's Koning Oidipus performed professionally by National Theatre Organisation for the Pretoria Centenary celebrations, directed by Johan de Meester, decor and costumes Frank Graves lighting by Harry Ligoff, with André Huguenet and Anna Neethling-Pohl in the lead. Also featuring Francois Marais, Roelof Botha, Ben Cronjé, Andries Brink, Johan van Rensburg, Jannie Gildenhuys, Hannes Horne, Leendert Verdoorn.

Adaptations and influences of the original text

The play has served as the basis for many adaptations and experiments over the years, both local and international. It has also been immortalized in a way by Freud's concept of the "Oedipus complex"[)

Oedipus by Seneca

Oedipus (Oidipus) is a tragic play that was written by Lucius Annaeus Seneca at some time during the 1st century AD. It is a retelling of the story of Oedipus, as told in Oedipus the King by the Athenian playwright, Sophocles. It is written in Latin and was not intended to be performed, but rather recited at private gatherings.

Oedipus by Ted Hughes

The English poet laureate Ted Hughes published a translation of Seneca's play in 1969.

This version of the play was presented by PACT Drama in 1971 in the Arena of the State Theatre under the direction of Schalk Jacobsz starring Jan Engelen, Joan Friedman, Frantz Dobrowsky, Nigel Vermaas, Marion Craig-Smith, Stephan Bouwer, Noel Roos and Will Bernard, choreographed by Francois Swart.

In 1980 the adaptation by Hughes was staged at the Baxter Theatre, directed by Barney Simon. The cast included Danny Keogh, Grethe Fox, Michael O'Brien, Joko Scott, Thoko Ntshinga, Richard Grant, Linda Harris, (Fiona Ramsay?) (and Robin Smith?).

A translation into Afrikaans by Noël Roos, Libé Ferreira and Johann van Heerden of this version, entitled Oidipus, was directed by Roos for the University of Stellenbosch Drama Department in October 1982, starring Albert Maritz, Libé Ferreira, Belinda Richardson, Antoinette Pienaar, Nicola van der Walt, Trudi Huskisson, Michelle Alberts, Isadora Verwey and Ilze Swanepoel.

Oedipus by Hugo Claus

Based on Seneca's Oedipus, translated into Afrikaans by Wim Vorster. Presented by SUKOVS Toneel in 1990, performed in the André Huguenet Theatre, Bloemfontein. Direction was by Jannie Gildenhuys, decor designed by Johnny Boerstoel, costumes by James Parker and lighting by Martin Pelser. Members of the cast were Gerben Kamper, Isadora Verwey, Cobus de Villiers, Ernst Eloff, Dorette Nel, James van Helsdingen, Marga van Rooy, Christo Compion, Marion Holm, Hennie Baird.

Oidipoes by Ben Dehaeck

A one-act version of the Oedipus story. **

Sources

P.J. Conradie, 1999

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oedipus_(Seneca)

Helikon, 5(21), 1955.

Source: Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne (eds.). 1988. Theatre Alive! The Baxter Story 1977-1987.

Oedipus theatre programmes, PACT, 1971, 1990.

Betine Van Zyl Smit. 2010. "Oedipus and Afrikaans Theater" in Comparative Drama (Vol. 44, No. 4)

Return to

Return to O in Plays 1 Original SA Plays

Return to O in Plays 2 Foreign Plays

Return to South_African_Theatre/Plays

Return to Main Page