Difference between revisions of "The Road to Mecca"

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== The original text ==
 
== The original text ==
  
The play made the eccentric [[Helen Martins]] of Nieu Bethesda world famous, using her story to explore the soul of the artist. The title of the play is taken from a story by [[Don Maclennan]] which was published in ''[[Contrast]]'' magazine in July 1979 and republished in ''[[ADA Magazine]]'' in 1988.
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The title of the play is taken from a story by [[Don Maclennan]] which was published in ''[[Contrast]]'' magazine in July 1979 and republished in ''[[ADA Magazine]]'' in 1988.
  
First performed at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1984, presented by [[The Company]], directed by the author and with [[Yvonne Bryceland]] as Helen.
+
The play, set in Autumn 1974, tells the story of the obsessive "Outsider Artist"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outsider_art] '''Helen Martins''' and her "Owl House"[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Owl_House] in Nieu Bethesda, using her story to explore the nature of art and the soul of the artist.  
  
Published by [[Faber & Faber]], 1985.    
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The play not only made [[Helen Martins]] and her Owl House world famous, but also established the town of Nieu Bethesda as an tourist destination, with the Owl House a key site. The author also later bought a house in the town and worked there from time to time.
 +
 
 +
The text was published by [[Faber & Faber]], 1985.
 +
 
 +
==Translations and adaptations==
  
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
 
== Performance history in South Africa ==
  
First performed at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1984, directed by the author and with [[Yvonne Bryceland]] as Helen, [[Elize Cawood]] as Elsa Barlow and [[Louis van Niekerk]] as Ds Marius Byleveld. Design by [[Douglas Heap]], lighting design by [[Mannie Manim]], costumes by [[Vanessa Cooke]].  
+
1984: First performed at the [[Market Theatre]] in 1984, directed by the author and with [[Yvonne Bryceland]] as Helen, [[Elize Cawood]] as Elsa Barlow and [[Louis van Niekerk]] as Ds Marius Byleveld. Design by [[Douglas Heap]], lighting design by [[Mannie Manim]], costumes by [[Vanessa Cooke]].  
  
Presented by [[CAPAB]], directed by [[Rob Amato]], co-directed by [[Bo Petersen]] opening at The Barn, Port Elizabeth [[Opera House]] on 23 August 1989 and at the [[Arena Theatre|Nico Arena]] on 1 September 1989, starring [[Lida Meiring]] as Miss Helen, [[Neels Coetzee]] as Marius Byleveld, [[Pauline O'Kelly]] as Elsa. Music [[David Nissen]], designs [[Birrie le Roux]], lighting [[Skip Wright]].
+
1989: Presented by [[CAPAB]], directed by [[Rob Amato]], co-directed by [[Bo Petersen]] opening at The Barn, Port Elizabeth [[Opera House]] on 23 August 1989 and at the [[Arena Theatre|Nico Arena]] on 1 September 1989, starring [[Lida Meiring]] as Miss Helen, [[Neels Coetzee]] as Marius Byleveld, [[Pauline O'Kelly]] as Elsa. Music [[David Nissen]], designs [[Birrie le Roux]], lighting [[Skip Wright]].
  
(Winner of numerous awards, including a 1988 **)    For her role in a revival of the play directed by [[Rob Amato]], [[Lida Meiring]] won a [[Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards|Fleur du Cap]] Best Actress Award in 1989.
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2018: Produced by [[Eric Abraham]] at the [[Fugard Theatre]] in March and April 2018. Directed by [[Greg Karvellas]] with [[Sandra Prinsloo]], [[Marius Weyers]] and [[Emily Child]].  Design by [[Saul Radomsky]], lighting by [[Mannie Manim]] and  Sound design by [[Charl-Johan Lingenfelder]].
  
 
== Performance history outside South Africa ==
 
== Performance history outside South Africa ==
  
Material (newspaper reviews, theatre programmes, playscripts, etc.) held by [[NELM]] concerning productions of ''The Road to Mecca'' in English or in translation outside South Africa: Queensland Theatre Company, directed by Carol Burns, date unknown;  
+
''Below is a list of materials (newspaper reviews, theatre programmes, playscripts, etc.) held by the [[National English Literary Museum]] ([[NELM]]) concerning productions of ''[[The Road to Mecca]]'' in English or in translation outside South Africa:''
 +
 
 +
Queensland Theatre Company, directed by Carol Burns, date unknown;
 +
 
 +
Yale Repertory Theatre production of ''The Road to Mecca'' - 1984;
 +
 
 +
Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre, London -  1985.  Opened on 27 February 1985, with [[Yvonne Bryceland]], Charlotte Cornwell and Bob Peck, staged by [[Athol Fugard]];
 +
 
 +
''Vagen till Mecka'': programme of Scandinavian production of ''The Road to Mecca'';
 +
 
 +
Maxim Gorki Theater production of ''The Road to Mecca'' – 1986;
 +
 
 +
Malmo Stadsteater production of ''The Road to Mecca'' - 1986-7;
 +
 
 +
Helsingin Kaupungin Teatteri production of ''The road to Mecca'' - 1986-7;  
  
Yale Repertory Theatre production of ''The Road to Mecca'' - 1984; Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre, London -  1985; ''Vagen till Mecka'': programme of Scandinavian production of ''The Road to Mecca''; Maxim Gorki Theater production of ''The Road to Mecca'' – 1986; Malmo Stadsteater production of ''The Road to Mecca'' - 1986-7; Helsingin Kaupungin Teatteri production of ''The road to Mecca'' - 1986-7; A production with Yvonne Bryceland and Charlotte Cornwell in the cast, at the Spoleto Festival, from the New York Times of 28 May 1987; ''La via della Mecca'': [Italian translation of ''The Road to Mecca'']; Yale Repertory Theater production of ''The Road to Mecca'' – 1984; Indiana Repertory Theatre [play programme]: Promenade Theatre (pre-1996); a programme and small posters for the Japanese production of ''The Road to Mecca'' in April 1998; ''El Camino a la Meca'': [poster of Mexican production of ''The Road to Mecca'']; ''Mijn Mekka'': [programme of Dutch production of ''The Road to Mecca''].
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A production with Yvonne Bryceland and Charlotte Cornwell in the cast, at the Spoleto Festival, from the New York Times of 28 May 1987;  
  
==Translations and adaptations==
+
''La via della Mecca'': [Italian translation of ''The Road to Mecca''];
 +
 
 +
Yale Repertory Theater production of ''The Road to Mecca'' – 1984;
 +
 
 +
Indiana Repertory Theatre [play programme]: Promenade Theatre (pre-1996);
 +
 
 +
a programme and small posters for the Japanese production of ''The Road to Mecca'' in April 1998;
 +
 
 +
''El Camino a la Meca'': [poster of Mexican production of ''The Road to Mecca''];
 +
 
 +
''Mijn Mekka'': [programme of [[Dutch]] production of ''The Road to Mecca''].
  
 
= ''The Road to Mecca'' by [[Athol Fugard]] - the film =
 
= ''The Road to Mecca'' by [[Athol Fugard]] - the film =
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The film, produced by [[Anant Singh]], starred [[Yvonne Bryceland|Bryceland]] and Academy Award-winner [[Cathy Bates]] and [[Athol Fugard]], was made in 1991, directed by [[Peter Goldsmid]] and [[Athol Fugard]]. Film script by [[Peter Goldsmid]], based on the Fugard text.
+
The film, produced by [[Anant Singh]], starred [[Yvonne Bryceland]]Academy Award-winner [[Kathy Bates]] and [[Athol Fugard]], was made in 1991, directed by [[Peter Goldsmid]] and [[Athol Fugard]]. Film script by [[Peter Goldsmid]], based on the Fugard text.
  
 +
= Sources =
  
== Sources ==
+
[[Ruphin Coudyzer]]. 2023. Annotated list of his photographs of [[Market Theatre]] productions. (Provided by Coudyzer)
  
 
Theatre programmes 1984, 1989.
 
Theatre programmes 1984, 1989.
  
Nico Malan Theatre pamphlets, Aug-Nov 1989
+
[[Nico Malan Theatre]] pamphlets, Aug-Nov 1989
  
 
Filmscript [Typescript (photocopy).] [[NELM]]Collection: FUGARD, Athol]: 2012. 390. 3.
 
Filmscript [Typescript (photocopy).] [[NELM]]Collection: FUGARD, Athol]: 2012. 390. 3.
 +
 +
http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=42188
 +
 +
[[Barry Hough]]. 1985. "'n Boom met sterk wortels", ''[[Beeld]]'' (Kalender, pp. 2-3)
  
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
 
Go to [[ESAT Bibliography]]
  
== Return to ==
+
= Return to =
  
 
Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]
 
Return to [[PLAYS I: Original SA plays]]

Latest revision as of 11:37, 31 December 2023

The Road to Mecca is both a play and a film (based on the play) by Athol Fugard (1932-).

The Road to Mecca by Athol Fugard - the play

The original text

The title of the play is taken from a story by Don Maclennan which was published in Contrast magazine in July 1979 and republished in ADA Magazine in 1988.

The play, set in Autumn 1974, tells the story of the obsessive "Outsider Artist"[1] Helen Martins and her "Owl House"[2] in Nieu Bethesda, using her story to explore the nature of art and the soul of the artist.

The play not only made Helen Martins and her Owl House world famous, but also established the town of Nieu Bethesda as an tourist destination, with the Owl House a key site. The author also later bought a house in the town and worked there from time to time.

The text was published by Faber & Faber, 1985.

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

1984: First performed at the Market Theatre in 1984, directed by the author and with Yvonne Bryceland as Helen, Elize Cawood as Elsa Barlow and Louis van Niekerk as Ds Marius Byleveld. Design by Douglas Heap, lighting design by Mannie Manim, costumes by Vanessa Cooke.

1989: Presented by CAPAB, directed by Rob Amato, co-directed by Bo Petersen opening at The Barn, Port Elizabeth Opera House on 23 August 1989 and at the Nico Arena on 1 September 1989, starring Lida Meiring as Miss Helen, Neels Coetzee as Marius Byleveld, Pauline O'Kelly as Elsa. Music David Nissen, designs Birrie le Roux, lighting Skip Wright.

2018: Produced by Eric Abraham at the Fugard Theatre in March and April 2018. Directed by Greg Karvellas with Sandra Prinsloo, Marius Weyers and Emily Child. Design by Saul Radomsky, lighting by Mannie Manim and Sound design by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.

Performance history outside South Africa

Below is a list of materials (newspaper reviews, theatre programmes, playscripts, etc.) held by the National English Literary Museum (NELM) concerning productions of The Road to Mecca in English or in translation outside South Africa:

Queensland Theatre Company, directed by Carol Burns, date unknown;

Yale Repertory Theatre production of The Road to Mecca - 1984;

Lyttelton Theatre, National Theatre, London - 1985. Opened on 27 February 1985, with Yvonne Bryceland, Charlotte Cornwell and Bob Peck, staged by Athol Fugard;

Vagen till Mecka: programme of Scandinavian production of The Road to Mecca;

Maxim Gorki Theater production of The Road to Mecca – 1986;

Malmo Stadsteater production of The Road to Mecca - 1986-7;

Helsingin Kaupungin Teatteri production of The road to Mecca - 1986-7;

A production with Yvonne Bryceland and Charlotte Cornwell in the cast, at the Spoleto Festival, from the New York Times of 28 May 1987;

La via della Mecca: [Italian translation of The Road to Mecca];

Yale Repertory Theater production of The Road to Mecca – 1984;

Indiana Repertory Theatre [play programme]: Promenade Theatre (pre-1996);

a programme and small posters for the Japanese production of The Road to Mecca in April 1998;

El Camino a la Meca: [poster of Mexican production of The Road to Mecca];

Mijn Mekka: [programme of Dutch production of The Road to Mecca].

The Road to Mecca by Athol Fugard - the film

(Not to be confused with the documentary film A Road to Mecca: The Journey of Muhammad Asad by Georg Misch, 2009)


The film, produced by Anant Singh, starred Yvonne Bryceland, Academy Award-winner Kathy Bates and Athol Fugard, was made in 1991, directed by Peter Goldsmid and Athol Fugard. Film script by Peter Goldsmid, based on the Fugard text.

Sources

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

Theatre programmes 1984, 1989.

Nico Malan Theatre pamphlets, Aug-Nov 1989

Filmscript [Typescript (photocopy).] NELMCollection: FUGARD, Athol]: 2012. 390. 3.

http://www.artlink.co.za/news_article.htm?contentID=42188

Barry Hough. 1985. "'n Boom met sterk wortels", Beeld (Kalender, pp. 2-3)

Go to ESAT Bibliography

Return to

Return to PLAYS I: Original SA plays

Return to The ESAT Entries

Return to Main Page