The Metamorphosis
The Metamorphosis (sometimes staged as Metamorphosis) is an adaptation for the stage (1969) by Steven Berkoff [1] of a novella written by German-language author Franz Kafka.
Contents
The original text
Franz Kafka (1883-1924) [2] wrote the novella Die Verwandlung (English: "the metamorphosis" or "the transformation") [3], first published in 1915. It is the story of a traveling salesman, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed (metamorphosed) into a large monstrous insect-like creature. The story continues about Gregor trying to adjust to his new condition.
Translations and adaptations
Performance history in South Africa
1980: A Troupe Theatre Company Production was staged at The People's Space, directed by Richard Grant and Michael O'Brien, with Henry Goodman (Gregor Samsa), Hilary Jones (Greta Samsa), Fiona Ramsay (Mrs Samsa), Ian Roberts (Mr Samsa), Charles Whaley (Chief Clerk), Michael O'Brien (Lodger) and Chas Unwin (Lodger). The same production was staged at the Market Theatre.
1982: Staged by PACOFS, directed by Desmond Hughes, with Anton Welman.
1997: Little Zorba Productions brought the play to the National Arts Festival in 1997. Directed by Yael Farber, it featured Sue Pam-Grant, Brian Webber, Jason Kennett, Yana Sakelaris.
Sources
The People's Space theatre programme, Feb/March 1980, donated by Tony Fletcher, held by NELM: [Collection: FLETCHER, Jill]: 2005. 75. 19. 9.
PACOFS Drama 25 Years, 1963-1988.
Barrow, Brian & Williams-Short, Yvonne 1988.
National Arts Festival programme, 1997.
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