PANSA/NLDTF FINALS

The National Finals of the PANSA/NLDTF Festival of Reading of New Writing 2012 takes place tomorrow at the Catalina Theatre. This will present the finalists of the ½ Hander (Johannesburg), Comedy (Cape Town) and Drama (KwaZulu-Natal) categories being read back to back.

This is a national project of the Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA) which today completed its regional finals of drama submissions. Winner of the regional awards was Your Hand in My Pocket by Craig Eisenstein with Duncan Buwalda’s Hinterland as runner-up. Caroline Smart won the director’s award for Hinterland.

The productions to be seen tomorrow (June 3) are:

COMEDY: Peter Hayes – Suburbanalia at 13h00. The play charts the course of one particularly explosive Sunday lunch at the Blake’s family home. While three generations of the family enjoy a lunch specially prepared in honour of the youngest son’s new boyfriend – who the family are meeting for the first time – the stresses and strains of the personal and political, the present and the past, reveal the fault lines, and bed rock of the relationships in this average middle class Cape Town family. Director is Jaqueline Dommisse with Keeno-Lee Hector; Anne Hirsh; Jason Potgieter; Mark Elderkin; Melissa Hayden; Terry Norton and David Muller.

ONE / TWO HANDERS: Ludolf Parker - Saying Goodbye to Amelia at 15h00. This is the story of the spiritual and physical journey Norah Watson undertakes on the day of the funeral of her friend, Amelia Tarentaal. She has one last conversation with Amelia about their shared experiences and life in South Africa during the struggle and their shared memories of an activist, Ashley Kriel. Filled with laughter tears and shared friendship. Director Nigel Vermaas featuring Celeste Matthews.

DRAMA: Craig Eisenstein - Your Hand in My Pocket at 17h00. Tomithy meets Norah on a beautiful day in the park. Affection between them grows by starlight and ready-made meals. But even the light of stars cast their own small shadows, and by the brightness of later days, a dark history can no longer remain hidden in their newly blossomed relationship. Director William le Cordeur with Ron Barbour, Caitlin Kilburn and Avi Maistry.

The announcement of the winners and prize giving will follow at 19h00.

Tickets R30 (free with a stub from at least one regional performance). Tickets at the door. All national enquiries to 021 448 3513 or info@pansa.org.za For Durban kzn@pansa.org.za / 031 201 4750