{{short description|2010 play by South African Athol Fugard}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}} {{Use South African English|date=September 2012}} {{Infobox play | name = The Train Driver | image = | image_size = | caption = | writer = Athol Fugard | chorus = | characters = | mute = | setting = | premiere = {{Start date|df=yes|2010|03|19}} | place = Fugard Theatre, Cape Town | orig_lang = English | series = | subject = | genre = | web = }} '''''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.<ref name="NYDailyNews"/> Roelf then travels through a South African shantytown, in search of the identity of the mother and child he had unintentionally killed.<ref>{{cite web |title=Casting Set for Signature Theatre Revival of Athol Fugard's The Train Driver |date=2012-07-17 |website=Broadway.com |url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/162950/casting-set-for-signature-theatre-revival-of-athol-fugards-the-train-driver/ |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=United States Premiere! {{!}} Extended Thru January 30th! {{!}} The Train Driver |date=2010-12-27 |work=The Fountain Theatre |url=http://www.fountaintheatre.com/perform.html |access-date=2010-12-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101219084819/http://www.fountaintheatre.com:80/perform.html |archive-date=2010-12-19}}</ref> It was restaged at the Hampstead Theatre, London, in 2010.<ref name="hampstead">{{cite web |title=What's on Main Stage {{!}} Hampstead Theatre |date=4 November 2010 |work=Hampstead Theatre |url=http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/page/3031/The+Train+Driver/197 |access-date=2010-11-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101104210213/http://www.hampsteadtheatre.com/page/3031/The+Train+Driver/197 |archive-date=4 November 2010}}</ref>

==Production history== ''The Train Driver'' was first presented at the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town in March 2010.<ref>{{cite web |last=Dugger |first=Celia W. |title=His Next Act: Driving Out Apartheid's Ghost |date=12 March 2010 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/theater/13fugard.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref> 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.<ref name=hampstead /><ref>{{cite web |last=Billington |first=Michael |title=The Train Driver – review |date=10 November 2010 |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2010/nov/10/the-train-driver-review |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Paul |title=The Train Driver, Hampstead Theatre, London |date=2010-11-15 |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/the-train-driver-hampstead-theatre-london-2134043.html |access-date=2020-12-24 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220620/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/train-driver-hampstead-theatre-london-2134043.html |archive-date=20 June 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Photo Flash: Athol Fugard's THE TRAIN DRIVER at the Fountain Theater |first=Molly |last=Hagan |date=2010-10-11 |work=BroadwayWorld |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Photo-Flash-Athol-Fugards-THE-TRAIN-DRIVER-At-The-Fountain-Theater-20101011 |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref> It was directed by Stephen Sachs and featured Morlan Higgins as Roelf Visagie and Adolphus Ward as Simon Hanabe.<ref>{{cite web |last=Perr |first=Harvey |title=Theater Review: THE TRAIN DRIVER (Fountain Theater in L.A.) |date=2010-10-30 |website=stageandcinema.com |url=https://www.stageandcinema.com/2010/10/30/train-driver/ |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref> In 2012 the play was staged in the Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City.<ref>{{cite news |last=Isherwood |first=Charles |title=In Tortured Empathy, a Ghost Hovers |date=10 September 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/theater/reviews/athol-fugards-train-driver-from-signature-theater.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Brown |first=Scott |title=Theater Review: Athol Fugard's The Train Driver |date=2012-09-14 |website=Vulture |url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/09/theater-review-the-train-driver.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref><ref name="NYDailyNews">{{cite news |last=Dziemianowicz |first=Joe |title=Theater Review: 'The Train Driver' by Athol Fugard at Signature Center |date=2012-09-09 |newspaper=Daily News |location=New York City |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/theater-review-train-driver-athol-fugard-signature-center-article-1.1154332 |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref>

In 2018 it was presented at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of a celebration of Fugard's 86th birthday.<ref>{{cite web |last=Stones |first=Lesley |title=THEATRE: Theatre Review: 'The Train Driver' doesn't take the easy track |date=10 May 2018 |newspaper=Daily Maverick |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-05-10-theatre-review-the-train-driver-doesnt-take-the-easy-track/ |access-date=2020-12-24}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Plays by Athol Fugard}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Train Driver}} Category:Plays by Athol Fugard Category:2010 plays Category:Plays set in South Africa