Salomé Dans!

Salomé Dans! ("Salomé dances!") is an Afrikaans play in three acts by Gerhard J. Beukes.

Original text

Inspired by Oscar Wilde's Salomé, but not a translation or adaptation, the play text won the Krugersdorp Afrikaanse Toneelvereniging's Diamond Jubilee competition (Diamantjubileum-toneelwedstryd) in 1949. Published in Pretoria J.L. van Schaik in 1950.

Beukes was awarded the Hertzog Prize for Drama in 1952 for Langs die steiltes, Salome Dans! and As ons twee eers getroud is!.

Performance history in South Africa

1951: First performed by the Department of Speech-Training and Drama of the University of Cape Town in the Little Theatre on from 7 June, and playing till the 9th. Directed by Leonie Pienaar, with Diana du Plessis as Salomé, Paul Malherbe as John the Baptist, Pietro Nolte Herod and Pieter Bredenkamp Marcellus. Choreography was by Mary Silberbauer, sets designed and built by Cecil Pym. Ballet sequences were performed by students of the Dulcie Howes ballet school. A lifesize model of Paul Malherbe's head was made by the Art Department of the University of Cape Town to be carried onto the stage on a tray. The author attended this first production.

1952: Produced by Volksteater in the Pretoriusaal, with Andries Brink as Herod, Adriaan Muller, Hannes Venter, Gwynne Ashton and Petra van der Walt and Leonie Ross alternating as "Salome". Decor designed and constructed by W.R. Phillip and Andries Beetge, costumes by H.D. Ross, J.E. McKillop and Cecilia Steyn, lighting by George Wiggell.