Primary Sources
Manuscripts and Archival Collections
Artscape Archive, Cape Town
Annual Report: Cape Performing Arts Board, 1978.
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Die Fisici, trans. Robert Mohr, 1980, manuscript.
Programme for Die Brandstigters at the Nico Malan Theatre, Cape Town, CAPAB.
Programme for Die Fisici at the Nico Malan Theatre, Cape Town, March 1980, CAPAB.
Programme for Die huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi at the Nico Malan Theatre, Cape Town, October–November 1973, CAPAB.
Programme for Don Juan of Die liefde vir die meetkunde at the Nico Malan Theatre, Cape Town, January–February 1975, CAPAB.
Cape Performing Arts Board Collection, Stellenbosch University Library
Wilhelm Grütter, ‘Interim Progress Report: CAPAB 25 Book’, 1988, manuscript, MS32.
Centre for SA Literature Research (CENSAL), South African Centre for Information on the Arts (SACIA), National Archives of South Africa
Smit, Bartho, to Anna Neethling-Pohl, correspondence, 24 November 1955, box 263.
Smit, Bartho, to Anna Neethling-Pohl, correspondence, 14 February 1956, box 263.
Smit, Bartho, to Anna Neethling-Pohl, correspondence, 12 June 1956, box 263.
Centre for SA Theatre Research (CESAT), South African Centre for Information on the Arts (SACIA), National Archives of South Africa
Johannesburgse Afrikaanse Toneelkomitee, ‘Notules van die vergadering van die werkende komitee’, 22 May 1962, Hermien Dommisse Collection, 555/1569.
Programme for Biedermann und die Brandstifter at the National Theatre, Pretoria, Ludwig Binge Collection, 992/25.
Programme for Die Brandstigters at the Little Theatre, Pretoria, 11–13 October 1962, Volksteatervereniging, Ludwig Binge Collection, 992/33.
Smit, Bartho, to Hermien Dommisse, correspondence, 22 May 1957, Hermien Dommisse Collection, 555/1129.
Departement Afrikaans & Algemene Literatuurwetenskap, University of South Africa (UNISA)
Frisch, Max, Don Juan of Die liefde vir die meetkunde, trans. Nerina Ferreira, n.d., manuscript.
Johannesburg Civic Theatre Records 1962–2017, Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand
Civic Theatre Subcommittee, ‘Copy for Leaflet’, n.d., manuscript, AG3290: A1.
Civic Theatre Subcommittee, ‘Memorandum: Interview with Mr Leon Gluckman and Mrs Taubie Kushlink’, n.d., AG3290: A1.
Grobbelaar, Michael, ‘Interview with Radio Mirror’, 1962, AG3290: A1.
Max Frisch Archive, ETH Zurich
Frisch, Max, to Helene Ritzerfeld, correspondence, 29 October 1986.
Primault, Rosemarie, to Helene Ritzerfeld, correspondence, 4 February 1978.
Ritzerfeld, Helene, to Max Frisch, correspondence, 31 January 1978.
National Drama Library, Bloemfontein
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, ‘Die huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi’, trans. Pieter Fourie, n.d., manuscript.
Private collections
‘Andorra schedule of sounds and music’, n.d., manuscript.
‘Application for a Government Grant, Appendix B: Conditions Applicable to Grants’, n.d., manuscript.
‘Biedermann props’, n.d., manuscript.
Czech, Suzanne, to Mario Schiess, correspondence, 28 October 1963.
Czech, Suzanne, to Mario Schiess, correspondence, 14 April 1967.
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, ‘Die Meteoor’, trans. Henriette Lemmer, n.d., manuscript.
Finlay, Suzanne, to Mario Schiess, correspondence, 12 March 1964.
Frisch, Max, ‘Die Brandstigters’, trans. Merwe Scholtz, 1978, manuscript.
Frisch, Max, ‘Jan Alleman’, trans. Rita Elferink and Marie van der Merwe, n.d., manuscript.
Programme for Andorra at the Little Theatre, Pretoria, 6–11 July 1964, Volksteatervereniging.
Programme for Die Fisici at the Little Theatre, Pretoria, 5–12 October 1963, Volksteatervereniging.
Programme for Die huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi at the Little Theatre, Pretoria, 21–29 October 1966, Volksteatervereniging.
Programme for Die Meteoor at the Piet van der Walt Theatre, 5–9 July 1967, Hakahana Players.
Programme for Don Juan, or The Love of Geometry at the Piet van der Walt Theatre, Pretoria, April–May 1970, Hakahana Players.
Programme for Mary, Mary, Libertas Theatre Club, Stellenbosch, September–October 1961.
Programme for Olympia en haar vryers at PACOFS, Bloemfontein, 1972, PACOFS.
Schiess, Mario, to Dr C. Badenhorst, correspondence, 28 November 1962.
Schiess, Mario, to Max Frisch, correspondence, circa 1963.
Schiess, Mario, to Peter Witt, correspondence, 30 January 1963.
Schiess, Mario, to Suzanne Czech, correspondence, 16 October 1963.
Schiess, Mario, to Suzanne Czech, correspondence, 4 November 1963.
Schiess, Mario, to Suzanne Czech, correspondence, 30 December 1963.
Schiess, Mario, to Suzanne Czech, correspondence, 12 May 1964.
Schiess, Mario, to Suzanne Czech, correspondence, 21 July 1964.
Schiess, Mario, to the Director of the Performing Arts Council in Bloemfontein, correspondence, 29 September 1964.
Schiess, Mario, to Suzanne Czech, correspondence, 28 March 1967.
Schiess, Mario, to Max Frisch, correspondence, 11 March 1983.
Schiess, Mario, to Herrn Reinhardt Stumm, correspondence, n.d.
Schiess, Mario, ‘A Rehearsal with Dürrenmatt’, 1 September 1979, manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Chronicle of a Passion’, 1997, manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Dear Forty-eight’, n.d., manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Kurze Biographie’, n.d., manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Meeting Dürrenmatt’, n.d., manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Open Letter to Margaret Inglis’, n.d., manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Religion and Politics in Drama’, n.d., manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Remembrance Day’, n.d., manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘The Satire on the Stage’, n.d., manuscript.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Why the Nihilistic Play?’, n.d., manuscript.
Van der Merwe, Marie, ‘Marie van der Merwe se notas oor haar betrokkenheid by die SAUK’, n.d., manuscript.
Rita Elferink Collection, University of Johannesburg Library Special Collections
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, ‘Die huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi’, trans. Rita Elferink, n.d., manuscript, B14, folder 4, document 2.
Reserve Film and Video Collection, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts
Max Frisch, directed by Anthony Farrar, videorecording, 1997, original production c.1963, VTH 4150.
Interviews and electronic communication
Brink, Stéphanie, author interview, 25 November 2020.
Esterhuizen, Johan, author interview, 7 February 2024.
Fourie, Pieter, author interview, 16 October 2020.
Fourie, Pieter, interview with Danie Stander, 14 June 2021.
Fugard, Athol, author interview, 10 November 2020.
Fugard, Athol, author interview, 11 November 2020.
Fugard, Athol, conversation with the author, 20 April 2023.
Fugard, Athol, conversation with the author, 17 July 2024.
Hauptfleisch, Temple, to Albert Maritz, electronic correspondence, 22 May 2024.
Lemmer, Henriette, author interview, 10 September 2024.
Manim, Mannie, author interview, 27 November 2020.
Pfotenhauer, Bettina, electronic correspondence, 16 December 2020.
Schiess, Margaret, and Michèle Schiess, interview with Jasper Walgrave, 9 July 2022.
Schiess, Michèle, author interview, 9 June 2024.
Schiess, Michèle, electronic correspondence, 10 July 2024.
Scholtz, Marius, author interview, 27 January 2024.
Printed Primary Sources
Contemporary Books and Articles
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Das Versprechen (Zürich: Diogenes Verlag, 1985).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Der Besuch der alten Dame (Zürich: Arche, 1956).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Der Hund, Der Tunnel, Die Panne: Erzählungen (Zürich: Diogenes, 1998).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Der Meteor (Zürich: Arche, 1966).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Die Belofte, trans. Peter Blum (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 1960).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Die besoek van die ou dame, trans. Bartho Smit (Johannesburg: Simondium-Uitgewers, 1962).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Die Ehe des Herrn Mississippi (Zürich: Arche, 1966).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Die Panne (Zürich: Diogenes, 1956).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Die Physiker (Zürich: Arche, 1962).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Die Prooi, trans. André Rossouw (Cape Town: Simondium-Uitgewers, 1964).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Die regter en sy laksman, trans. André Rossouw and Daan Retief (Cape Town: Simondium-Uitgewers, 1964).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, ‘Die Virusepidemie in Südafrika’, Das Magazin 25, 20 June 2020, 16–19.
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Grieche sucht Griechin (Zürich: Peter Schifferli, 1955).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Griek soek vrou, trans. Wilhelm Grütter (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 1964).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Komödien I (Zürich: Arche, 1957).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, Teenspoed, trans. Bartho Smit (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 1961).
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, ‘Zwanzig Punkte zum Meteor’, in Der Meteor, Dichterdämmerung (Zürich: Diogenes, 1998), 159–62.
Fourie, Pieter, ‘Die einste hy’, in Pieter Fourie: Teatermaker – ’n huldiging, ed. Fanie Olivier (Pretoria: Protea Boekhuis, 2019), 21–47.
Frisch, Max, Andorra (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 1961).
Frisch, Max, Andorra, trans. Ants Kirsipuu and Wilma Kirsipuu (publisher unknown, 1972).
Frisch, Max, Don Juan oder Die Liebe zur Geometrie (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 1965).
Frisch, Max, Ek is nie hy nie, trans. Mauritz Preller (Johannesburg: Afrikaanse Pers-Boekhandel, 1966).
Frisch, Max, I’m Not Stiller, trans. Michael Bullock (New York: Vintage Books, 1958).
Frisch, Max, Sketchbook (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 1970).
Frisch, Max, Stiller (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 1954).
Frisch, Max, Stücke 2 (Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 1962).
Frisch, Max, The Fire Raisers, Andorra, Triptych, trans. Michael Bullock (London: Methuen Drama, 1993).
Fugard, Athol, Notebooks 1960–1977 (Johannesburg: Ad. Donker, 1983).
Gisi, Lucas Marco, ‘Verstörende Aktualität: Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s “Die Virusepidemie in Südafrika”, heute wiedergelesen’, Das Magazin 25, 20 June 2020, 19–20.
Joubert, Elsa, Spertyd (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 2017).
Keller, Gottfried, Vere maak die voël, trans. A. E. Carinus (Pretoria: Van Schaik, 1929).
Lewin, Hugh, Bandiet Out of Jail (Johannesburg: Random House, 2002).
Lewin, Hugh, Stones Against the Mirror: Friendship in the Time of the South African Struggle (Cape Town: Umuzi, 2011).
Louw, N. P. van Wyk, ‘Berigte te velde’, in Versamelde prosa 1 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1986), 2–64.
Louw, N. P. van Wyk, ‘Liberale nasionalisme’, in Versamelde prosa 1 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1986), 410–527.
Louw, N. P. van Wyk, ‘Lojale verset’, in Versamelde prosa 1 (Cape Town: Tafelberg, 1986), 65–172.
Louw, N. P. van Wyk, ‘Stilstand in ons prosa?’, in Vernuwing in die prosa (Pretoria: Academica, 1967), 63–72.
Sagan, Leontine, Lights & Shadows: The Autobiography of Leontine Sagan, ed. Loren Kruger (Johannesburg: University of Witwatersrand Press, 1996).
Spyri, Johanna, Heidi, trans. F. J. Eybers (Pretoria: Unie Boekhandel Uitgewers, 1945).
Spyri, Johanna, Heidi: Deel II, trans. F. J. Eybers (Pretoria: Unie Boekhandel Uitgewers, 1947).
Spyri, Johanna, Heidi, arr. Florence Hayes, ill. Erika Weihs, trans. Bartho Smit (Johannesburg and London: Paulton, 1955).
Spyri, Johanna, Heidi, trans. Pieter W. Grobbelaar (Cape Town: Human & Rousseau, 1968).
Stead, Rinie, ‘The National Theatre Organization 1947–1962’, in Die Breytie-boek, ed. Temple Hauptfleisch (Randburg: Limelight Press, 1985), 65–72.
Audio and Video Recordings
(All weblinks hereinafter last accessed in September 2025)
Kreisler, Georg, Sodom und Andorra (Preisler Records, 1962), available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jonOAlDJ2x4&list=OLAK5uy_k8FSNcND9OcFGhfzzJBnFXo3VMTh0g1Gw&index=2.
Sandra op ’n drafstap: Nerina Ferreira, television programme, Foxwood TV, 2018, available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FNyU1DyxNo&t=1162s.
Official Documents and Publications
Albright, David, ‘South Africa’s secret nuclear weapons’, Institute for Science and International Security report, Washington, 1994, available at https://www.isis-online.org/publications/southafrica/ir0594.html.
Ball, Johanna, ‘The ritual of the necklace’, research report for the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, Johannesburg, 1994, available at https://www.csvr.org.za/wp-content/uploads/1994/02/The-Ritual-of-the-Necklace.pdf.
Gould, Chandré, and Peter Folb, Project Coast: Apartheid’s Chemical and Biological Warfare Programme (United Nations, 2002), available at https://unidir.org/publication/project-coast-apartheids-chemical-and-biological- warfare-programme/.
The Immorality Amendment Act 21 of 1950, Union of South Africa, available at https://sahistory.org.za/archive/immorality-amendment-act-act-no-21-1950.
Publications and Entertainments Act 26 of 1963, available at https://theliterature police.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/publications-and-entertainments-act-1963.pdf.
S v Frederick John Harris. Station Bomb Trial: Record of Proceedings. Supreme Court of South Africa, Transvaal Provincial Division, Volumes I–V, 1964–1965 (University of Pretoria Repository), available at https://repository.up.ac.za/items/8285c2dd-bf99-4635-bb8b-4cb7bec4949c.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report, vol. 2 (Cape Town: TRC, 1998), available at https://www.justice.gov.za/trc/report/finalreport/Volume%202.pdf.
Newspapers and Periodicals
Anon., ‘Banned play finds a home’, Pretoria News, 23 June 1967.
Anon., ‘Die Brandstigters in Nico: Galgehumor in nuwe drama’, Die Burger, 17 March 1978.
Anon., ‘Dürrenmatt-drama in Afrikaans en Engels opgevoer’, Die Vaderland, 1 October 1963.
Anon., ‘Fire Raisers’, Pretoria News, 27 April 1962.
Anon., ‘Girl in flames sat on floor and wept’, Rand Daily Mail, 25 July 1964.
Anon., ‘Graaff, Steytler condemn “outrage’’’, Rand Daily Mail, 25 July 1964.
Anon., ‘Groot drama in Afrikaans vir skouburg verwerk’, Die Vaderland, 13 September 1962.
Anon., ‘’n Brief van Krisjan aan Kerneels: Die “Ou Dame” het mense 300 myl laat ry’, Sondagnuus en Dagbreek, 4 November 1962.
Anon., ‘“Mail” reporter on spot to help blast victims’, Rand Daily Mail, 25 July 1964.
Anon., ‘“Mnr. Mississippi” vreemd, maar gryp jou aan’, Die Vaderland, 25 October 1966.
Anon., ‘Opvoering verbied oor seks’, Die Burger, 26 June 1967.
Anon., ‘Veeleisende rolle in “Die Fisici” sterk gevul’, Die Vaderland, 9 October 1963.
Anon., ‘Volksteater voor met vars stuk’, Die Transvaler, 30 September 1966.
Anon., ‘Young Pretoria actor and producer, Mario Schiess’, Daily Mail, 13 February 1963.
Baker, Aryn, and Time staff, ‘This photo galvanized the world against apartheid. Here’s the story behind it’, Time Magazine, available at https://time.com/4365138/soweto-anniversary-photograph/.
Baneshik, Percy, ‘“Meteor” is back on Pretoria’s horizon’, Rand Daily Mail, 30 June 1967.
Barnard, Chris, ‘Dürrenmatt-drama opgevoer in Pretoria’, Dagbreek en Sondagnuus, 22 September 1963.
Binge, Ludwig, ‘Pretoria se Volksteater – ’n bittersoet geskiedenis’, Die Huisgenoot, 13 January 1961.
Botha, Amanda, ‘Ferreira ’n hoeksteen van SA teater’, Die Burger, 14 June, 2012.
Braid, Mary, ‘Obituary: Hendrik van den Bergh’, The Independent, 21 August 1997, available at https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-hendrik-van-den-bergh-1246509.html
Britz, Etienne, ‘Afrikaans as vertaalmedium is twintig jaar agter’, Die Burger, 5 August 1999.
Brown, James Ambrose, ‘No viable S.A. theatre until barriers go down’, Cape Times, 26 May 1973.
C. M., ‘Dié drama op soek na ’n verhoog in Pretoria’, Die Vaderland, 26 June 1967.
Copeland, Tom, ‘Nico: A blow to petty apartheid’, Cape Times, 30 January 1975.
Correia, Manuel, ‘Five Afrikaans writers back Athol Fugard’, Rand Daily Mail, 16 June 1970.
De Vries, Abraham, ‘Andorra – ’n moet!’, Die Vaderland, n.d.
Dubow, Saul, ‘South Africa’s racist founding father was also a human rights pioneer’, New York Times, 18 May 2019, available at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/18/opinion/jan-smuts-south-africa.html.
Dürrenmatt, Friedrich, ‘Ausblick ins Jahr 1964’, Schweizer Illustrierte, 30 December 1963.
F.H., ‘Afr toneel is ryk aan goeie spelers’, Die Transvaler, 30 October 1962.
Finnegan, William, ‘A verdict in South Africa’, The New Yorker, 14 April 2002, available at https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2002/04/22/a-verdict-in-south-africa.
Gandar, Laurence, ‘Viewpoint: After the bomb, a new mood’, Rand Daily Mail, 12 September 1964.
Gillespie, Glennifer, ‘Don Juan the doomed hero’, Cape Times, 20 January 1975.
Greig, Robert, ‘Icy direction of sardonic play’, P. E. Evening Post, 19 May 1980.
H. G., ‘Huwelik van Mnr. Mississippi: Schiess sorg vir prikkelende opvoering’, Die Transvaler, 24 October 1966.
Kalb, Jonathan, ‘Theater; A provoking parable that won’t quit’, New York Times, 7 April 2002.
Keller, Bill, ‘South Africa says it built 6 atom bombs’, New York Times, 25 March 1993, available at https://www.nytimes.com/1993/03/25/world/south-africa-says-it-built-6-atom-bombs.html?pagewanted=all&login=email&auth=login-email.
L. B. O., ‘Volksteater slaag met moeilike stuk’, Die Transvaler, 8 October 1963.
L. C. S., ‘Afrikaanse toneel in Goudstad beleef heropbloei’, Die Transvaler, 15 September 1962.
L. W. B., ‘“Brandstigters” knap gespeel in Afrikaans’, Die Vaderland, n.d.
Lemmer, Henriette, ‘Ferreira ’n hoeksteen van SA teater’, Die Burger, 14 June 2012.
Louw, W. E .G., ‘Die Brandstigters: Knap opvoering – vir ons land en tyd’, Die Burger, 7 April 1978.
Louw, W. E. G., ‘Die Fisici van Dürrenmatt: Hy praat nog met óns tyd’, Die Burger, 14 March 1980.
Marais, C., ‘“Die Meteoor” is vervelig as geheel’, Die Vaderland, 10 July 1967.
Nkosi, Milton, ‘Sam Nzima: The man behind the iconic photo of the fight against apartheid’, BBC News, 14 May 2018, available at https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-44082115.
P. A. K., ‘Fire-Raisers raise a laugh’, Pretoria News, 12 October 1962.
P. A. K., ‘Guilt-edged security’, Pretoria News, 7 July 1964.
P. A. K., ‘Mammon and the mass murderers’, Pretoria News, 7 October 1963.
P. C., ‘Amateurs skitterend in Die Meteoor’, Die Transvaler, 11 July 1967.
Pretorius, William, ‘’n Somber vingerwysing’, Rapport, 9 April 1978.
R., ‘Aanval op die skynheiliges onder ons’, Die Vaderland, 12 October 1962.
Rautenbach, Elmari, ‘Vernuftigste vertalings: Dramas is nou vir almal toeganklik’, Beeld, 22 July 1985.
Reynolds, Peter, ‘Dürrenmatt, with a Refreshing Lack of Reverence’, Cape Times, 29 October 1973.
Salie, Igsaan, ‘A colourful career found in translation’, The Argus, 22 April 2006.
Scheepers, André, ‘Klassieke vertalings: Bartho Smit doen dit weer’, Die Vaderland, 3 February 1986.
Scheffer, Ronelle, ‘Die Fisici is pure delight’, Daily Dispatch, 22 May 1980.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Max Frisch dies, but his genius lives on in plays’, The Pretoria News, 17 April 1991.
Schiess, Mario, ‘The drama of death’, Pretoria News, 9 June 1967.
Schiess, Mario, ‘Toneelsanksies – Die einde?’, Dagbreek en Sondagnuus, 21 March 1965.
Smillie, Shaun, ‘Hector Pieterson and the 16 June photograph that changed everything’, Daily Maverick, 12 June 2021, available at https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2021-06-12-hector-pieterson-16-june-1976-youth-day-photograph/.
Sowden, Lewis, ‘Atholl [sic] Fugard explains’, Rand Daily Mail, 9 October 1965.
Stark, Ulrich, ‘Makabere besoek van die ou dame’, Die Vaderland, 30 October 1962.
Swart, Heidi, ‘Intimidation, interception and break-ins: SA security forces and the threat of accountability’, Daily Maverick, 15 March 2019, available at https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2019-03-15-intimidation-interception-and-break-ins-sa-security-forces-and-the-threat-of-accountability/.
v. R., R., ‘Baie welkom: Weer ’n Dürrenmatt’, Die Burger, November 18, 1961.
v. Z., A., ‘’n Requiem vir die speurverhaal’, Volksblad, 24 November 1960.
Weibel, Kurt, ‘Der gläubige Dürrenmatt’, TV-Radio-Zeitung, 12–18 February 1966.
Weibel, Kurt, ‘Dürrenmatt und kein Ende’, Radio + Fernsehen, 6–12 February 1966.
Williams, Owen, ‘A fine production of Dürrenmatt play’, The Argus, 29 October 1973.
Williams, Owen, ‘Don Juan of high visual style’, The Argus, 20 January 1975.
Witness History: South Africa’s referendum on apartheid’, BBC Sounds, 22 April 2024, available at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct5ygm.