Rhinoceros had its world premiere in Dusseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia on November 1, 1959 at Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus. It was directed by Karl Heinz Stroux and starred Karl-Maria Schley as Bérenger, Joachim Teege as Jean, and Eva Boettcher as Daisy. On its opening night, the theatre gave Ionesco a ten-minute ovation.[20]
On January 25, 1960, the play made its French language debut at the Odéon in Paris. It was produced by Jean-Louis Barrault and starred Barrault as Bérenger, William Sabatier as Jean, and Simone Valère as Daisy.
In April 1960, the play was performed by the English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre in London, England under the direction of Orson Welles with Laurence Olivier as Bérenger, Joan Plowright as Daisy, and Michael Bates, Miles Malleson and Peter Sallis in the cast. The production moved to the Strand Theatre (now the Novello Theatre) that June. Following the move Dudard and Daisy were played by Michael Gough and Maggie Smith.
In 1961, the American premiere of Rhinoceros opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre under the direction of Joseph Anthony. It starred Eli Wallach as Bérenger, Anne Jackson as Daisy, Jean Stapleton as Mrs. Bœuf (Mrs. Ochs in this adaptation), and Zero Mostel, who won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Jean.[21] Wallach was replaced during the run by Alfred Ryder (who also toured with Mostel on the West Coast)[22] and then Ralph Meeker. After Wallach left the show, Mostel took top billing over Ryder and Meeker, all of whom were nonetheless billed above the play's title.[21]
In 1996, the play was revived off-Broadway at Theatre Four, which had previously staged the musical revue Ionescopade, featuring songs and scenes based on the works of Ionesco. It was produced by Herbert Beigel for the Valiant Theatre Company and directed by Michael Murray. It starred Peter Jacobson as Bérenger, Zach Grenier as Jean (John in this translation), and Geoffrey Owens as Dudard.[23]
The Royal Court Theatre revived the play in 2007 and starred Benedict Cumberbatch as Bérenger and directed by Dominic Cooke.
The Bangalore Little Theatre, in collaboration with the Alliance Française de Bangalore, presented Eugene Ionesco’s Rhinoceros, a play in the Theatre of the Absurd tradition. This adaptation is written by Dr. Vijay Padaki, a veteran in theatre.[24][25][26]
In 2016 Rhinoceros was adapted and directed by Wesley Savick. It was performed by Modern Theatre in Boston.
In 2023 Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, the Welsh-language National Theatre, toured a new production of 'Rhinoseros' translated by Manon Steffan Ros and directed by Steffan Donnelly. It starred Rhodri Meilir, Bethan Ellis Owen and Eddie Ladd.[27]
