Woyzeck

Woyzeck is an unfinished play Georg Büchner (1813-1837) [1].

The original text

A play about a German soldier who murders his mistress. Deals with jealousy, murder and the individual’s struggle against society. A number of incomplete versions were written between July and October 1836. The various versions were later edited by Karl Emil Franzos and published posthumously in 1879.

The play was first produced by Max Reinhardt, but only in 1913 at the Residence Theatre in München.

Translations and adaptations

The play has been the source for numerous translations and adaptations over the years. Below we list only South African versions.

For international examples, see for instance the Wikipedia entry on the play at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woyzeck

Translations

The incomplete original German text translated into Afrikaans as Woyzeck (based upon the German source material) by Johann van Heerden in 1981. A copy of Van Heerden's text found in the Stellenbosch Drama Department archives in 2022.

Major adaptations

In 1992 the play became the basis of Woyzeck on the Highveld, the first collaborative theatre production undertaken by William Kentridge and the Handspring Puppet Company. This is a major adaptation of Büchner’s unfinished play, commenting on the turbulent history in South Africa in the 1980s and the start of the 1990s.

For more details of the South African play, see the entry on Woyzeck on the Highveld.

Performance history in South Africa

1969. Woyzeck one of the first plays produced by the Serpent Players, was presented by the Port Elizabeth School Feeding Fund and directed by Athol Fugard with original music composed and arranged by Mike Ngxcolo. It was staged at the Crispin Hall, Port Elizabeth, from November 25 - 29, 1969. Starring Welcome Duru (Woyseck), Mabel Magada (Marie), Mike Ngxcolo (Boss), Simon Hanabe (Doctor), Norman Ntshinga (Boss-Boy), Joe Daku (Andres) and Humphrey Njikelana (Barker, the Fool and the Pawnbroker). Also starring Constance Duru, Daphne Majodina, Patty-Rose Lungu, Sylvia Maphela, Zacharias Skweyiya, Shark Mguqulwa, George Mnci, Lennox Mzinyati, Joseph Mtoba and Sylvia Mapela. The musicians were: Derrick Xujwa (Bass), James Louw (Trumpet), Richard Hatana (Drums). By: FUGARD, Athol. 3.12.1981. (AN: MANU-16648) Add to folder.