The Dresser

The Dresser by Cape Town-born British playwright Ronald Harwood (1934-2020).

The original play

A play about a young dresser and an old actor/manager, it was first produced in 1980 at the Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester and thereafter at The Queen's Theatre, London.

Performance history in South Africa

1980: Its first production in South Africa took place at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town in November-December 1980. It was directed by Leonard Schach for The Company of Four, with the set and lighting designed by Emile Aucamp and the wardrobe by John Caviggia. The cast consisted of Michael McCabe (Norman), Ethwyn Grant (Her Ladyship), Terry Greyvenstein (Irene), Marga van Rooy (Madge), Michael Atkinson (Sir), Simon Swindell (Geoffrey Thornton) and Blaise Koch (Mr. Oxenby). The players in King Lear were Tony Drake, Robin Lake, Jason de Smidt and Lourens Strydom. The play moved to the Market Theatre in Johannesburg starring Michael Atkinson and Michael McCabe supported by Shelagh Holliday, Paddy Canavan, Lynne Maree, Simon Swindell and Stan Wrigley in February 1982 and later to Israel.

Produced again in 1982 - directd by Leonard Schach and the cast: Michael Atkinson, Paddy Canavan, Jason de Smidt, Vivienne Drummond, Simon Swindell, Peter Turnstall, Stan Wrigley.

Sources

The Dresser theatre programme, 1980, donated by Tony Fletcher, held by NELM: [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 19. 9.

Ruphin Coudyzer. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of Market Theatre productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)

Tucker, 1997. 409.

The Rand Daily Mail, 15 January 1982.

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