The Train Driver

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

The Train Driver
Written by	Athol Fugard
Date premiered	19 March 2010 (2010-03-19)
Place premiered	Fugard Theatre, Cape Town
Original language	English

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.^[1] Roelf then travels through a South African shantytown, in search of the identity of the mother and child he had unintentionally killed.^[2]

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.^[3] It was restaged at the Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2010.^[4]

Production history

The Train Driver was first presented at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town in March 2010.^[5] 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.^[4][6][7]

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.^[8] It was directed by Stephen Sachs and featured Morlan Higgins as Roelf Visagie and Adolphus Ward as Simon Hanabe.^[9] In 2012 the play was staged in the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City.^[10][11][1]

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

References

1. Dziemianowicz, Joe (9 September 2012). "Theater Review: 'The Train Driver' by Athol Fugard at Signature Center". Daily News. New York City. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
2. "Casting Set for Signature Theatre Revival of Athol Fugard's The Train Driver". Broadway.com. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
3. . The Fountain Theatre. 27 December 2010. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 27 December 2010.
4. . Hampstead Theatre. 4 November 2010. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
5. Dugger, Celia W. (12 March 2010). "His Next Act: Driving Out Apartheid's Ghost". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
6. Billington, Michael (10 November 2010). "The Train Driver – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
7. Taylor, Paul (15 November 2010). "The Train Driver, Hampstead Theatre, London". The Independent. Archived from the original on 20 June 2022. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
8. Hagan, Molly (11 October 2010). "Photo Flash: Athol Fugard's THE TRAIN DRIVER at the Fountain Theater". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
9. Perr, Harvey (30 October 2010). "Theater Review: THE TRAIN DRIVER (Fountain Theater in L.A.)". stageandcinema.com. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
10. Isherwood, Charles (10 September 2012). "In Tortured Empathy, a Ghost Hovers". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
11. Brown, Scott (14 September 2012). "Theater Review: Athol Fugard's The Train Driver". Vulture. Retrieved 24 December 2020.
12. Stones, Lesley (10 May 2018). "THEATRE: Theatre Review: 'The Train Driver' doesn't take the easy track". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 24 December 2020.