The Train Driver Explained

The Train Driver
Place:Fugard Theatre, Cape Town
Orig Lang:English

The Train Driver is a play by South African playwright Athol Fugard.

The play revolves around the character of Roelf Visagie, a white train driver who is haunted by having killed a black woman and her baby who had stepped onto the tracks in front of his train. Roelf then travels through a South African shantytown, in search of the identity of the mother and child he had unintentionally killed.[1] It was first produced at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town, South Africa, where it was directed by Fugard himself. The United States premiere was presented at The Fountain Theatre, Los Angeles, in 2010–2011 to positive reviews.[2] It was restaged at the Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2010.[3]

Production history

The Train Driver was first presented at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town in March 2010.[4] The original production was directed by Fugard and featured Owen Sejake and Sean Taylor. The production was designed by Saul Radomsky with lighting by Mannie Manim and sound by John Leonard.

The play was re-staged at the Hampstead Theatre in London where it previewed from 4 November 2010 and opened on 9 November 2010.[5] [6]

The first United States production of The Train Driver was presented at the Fountain Theatre in Los Angeles from 16 October 2010 to 30 January 2011.[7] It was directed by Stephen Sachs and featured Morlan Higgins as Roelf Visagie and Adolphus Ward as Simon Hanabe.[8] In 2012 the play was staged in the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City.[9] [10] [11]

In 2018 it was presented at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of a celebration of Fugard's 86th birthday.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Casting Set for Signature Theatre Revival of Athol Fugard's The Train Driver . 2012-07-17 . . 2020-12-24.
  2. Web site: United States Premiere! Extended Thru January 30th! The Train Driver . 2010-12-27 . . 2010-12-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101219084819/http://www.fountaintheatre.com:80/perform.html . 2010-12-19.
  3. Web site: What's on Main Stage Hampstead Theatre . 4 November 2010 . . 2010-11-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101104210213/http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/page/3031/The+Train+Driver/197 . 4 November 2010.
  4. Web site: Dugger . Celia W. . His Next Act: Driving Out Apartheid's Ghost . 12 March 2010 . . subscription . 2020-12-24.
  5. Web site: Billington . Michael . The Train Driver – review . 10 November 2010 . . 2020-12-24.
  6. Web site: Taylor . Paul . The Train Driver, Hampstead Theatre, London . 2010-11-15 . . 2020-12-24 . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/train-driver-hampstead-theatre-london-2134043.html . 20 June 2022 . live.
  7. News: Photo Flash: Athol Fugard's THE TRAIN DRIVER at the Fountain Theater . Molly . Hagan . 2010-10-11 . . 2020-12-24.
  8. Web site: Perr . Harvey . Theater Review: THE TRAIN DRIVER (Fountain Theater in L.A.) . 2010-10-30 . stageandcinema.com . 2020-12-24.
  9. News: Isherwood . Charles . In Tortured Empathy, a Ghost Hovers . 10 September 2012 . . subscription . 2020-12-24.
  10. Web site: Brown . Scott . Theater Review: Athol Fugard's The Train Driver . 2012-09-14 . . subscription . 2020-12-24.
  11. News: Dziemianowicz . Joe . Theater Review: 'The Train Driver' by Athol Fugard at Signature Center . 2012-09-09 . . New York City . 2020-12-24.
  12. Web site: Stones . Lesley . THEATRE: Theatre Review: 'The Train Driver' doesn't take the easy track . 10 May 2018 . . 2020-12-24.

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