(Jailoshini
Naidoo, Tim Wells, Iain Robinson and Lisa Bobbert. Pic by Val Adamson)
The KickstArt theatre diary for 2013 is not
just looking very full, but full of fun!
First up is Twitch, the world premiere of a new South African comedy by
Johannesburg actor and writer Robert Fridjhon, about two harassed couples in a
bird hide over a birding weekend competition. Starring a cast of celebrated
local comedians - Tim Wells, Lisa Bobbert, Jailoshini Naidoo and Iain Robinson
- the play will be directed by Steven Stead and designed by Greg King, with
lighting design by Tina le Roux.
Four twitchers in a bird-hide, somewhere in
the Kruger National Park. They are taking part in a major birding competition.
The first prize is a trip to Mala-Mala, the second prize; a new pair of
binoculars. Furthermore, the team is fighting for their club's reputation as
well as the prestigious Owl Award. The pleasantries and social formalities
slowly begin to unravel with outrageous consequences when uncomfortable truths
are revealed about the birding club, its members and, more specifically, the
characters in the birding hide.
Refinement and courtesy degenerate into
irrelevant and often childlike bickering as the foursome argue evolution versus
creation, man versus nature and the merits of a low-carb diet! Twitch runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon
Theatre from February 6 to 24.
This is followed by another coup, the South
African premier of the West End hit, The
Ladykillers. This is a classic black comedy. A sweet little old lady, alone
in her house, is pitted against a gang of criminal misfits who will stop at
nothing…
From the writer of Father Ted, Graham Linehan, comes a hilarious and thrilling new
adaptation of the celebrated Ealing comedy The Ladykillers, directed by Steven
Stead. Starring Charon Williams-Ros (Cabaret,
Beauty and the Beast), Tim Wells (God
of Carnage and Don’t Dress for Dinner),
Iain “Ewok” Robinson, Cobus van Heerden, Peter Court and Lyle Buxton. It opened
on the West End in 2011 and has enjoyed two sold-out, critically acclaimed
seasons, and a current national tour and Broadway transfer.
Posing as amateur musicians, Professor
Marcus and his gang rent rooms in the lopsided house of sweet but strict Mrs
Wilberforce. The villains plot to involve her unwittingly in Marcus’
brilliantly conceived heist job. The police are left stumped but Mrs
Wilberforce becomes wise to their ruse and Marcus concludes that there is only
one way to keep the old lady quiet. With only her parrot, General Gordon, to
help her, Mrs W. is alone with five desperate men. But who will be forced to
face the music?
The
Ladykillers boasts a hugely impressive and
complicated set by Greg King, lighting by Tina le Roux and is directed by
Steven Stead. It runs at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from May 23 to June 21.
This is followed by a revival of
KickstArt’s multi award-winning production of Shirley
Valentine by Willy Russell. Starring Lisa Bobbert, it
will run at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from September 11 to 22.
Shirley
Valentine is a middle-aged Liverpool housewife, who finds herself talking to
the wall while she prepares her husband's chip'n'egg, wondering what happened
to her life. But when her best friend wins an all-expenses-paid vacation to
Greece for two, Shirley begins to see the world, and herself, in a different
light. Come on a liberating adventure with Shirley Valentine, everybody’s
favourite housewife! Directed by Steven Stead and designed
by Greg King with lighting design by Tina le Roux.
The year is rounded off with a fun-filled
family romp: a brand new pantomime version of Jack and the Beanstalk, written and directed by Steven Stead.
Starring the supremely talented Rory Booth in the title role, the cast also
features Jessica Sole as his love interest, Princess Jillian; Darren King as
his long-suffering, eccentric mother, Flora Flatbroke; Liesl Coppin as his evil
nemesis, Lady Perfidia Beastly; Shelley MacLean as the good fairy, Glissanda
Goldenvox, and Peter Court and Bryan Hiles reprising their hilarious
performances as the two incompetent crooks, Cecil and Claude, making a comeback
after their demise in Robin Hood.
Jack
and the Beanstalk will run from November 29 to January
5 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.
Booking for all KickstArt productions is
through Computicket, and for block bookings of 10 or more, or sold performances
and early bird specials, contact Ailsa Windsor of Going Places on 083 250 2690
or editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com
In
addition, KickstArt will be touring productions of Don’t Dress for Dinner, Venus in Fur and Twitch to Johannesburg and Cape Town in association with Pieter
Toerien Productions.
Last,
but by no means least, are plans for another South African premier of a
Broadway hit, The Submission, which
will hopefully open in Grahamstown, and then return to Durban.
Posts
