It’sTaboo
Productions is proud to present Dear Mrs
Steyn in Durban after a short country tour. Award winning actress Alison
Cassels gives a stunning performance as Emily Hobhouse.
A
must-see production which will be particularly appreciated by women, Dear Mrs Steyn is highly recommended to
drama and history students. The power and impact of women in society more than
100 years ago is still as applicable today and,
seeing this in context, the audience relates to every bit of the action, drama
and enormous responsibility that still lies with us in modern day.
Directed
by Thomie Holtzhausen the play was originally compiled by Wilna Snyman and Deon
Opperman based on letters written by Emily Hobhouse to Rachel Isabella Steyn during
the Anglo Boer War. Steyn was the wife of President M T Steyn of the Orange
River Colony whom she met during her stay in Bloemfontein whilst visiting the
concentration camps. Emily Hobhouse and Mrs. Steyn were soul mates and became
best of friends.
The
letters Emily Hobhouse wrote are a true reflection of her experiences and
observations during the war depicting the atrocious conditions, mismanagement
and extremely high death toll in the camps.
The
surrender of the Boer forces was mainly as a result of the attack on women and
children. Emily estimates these at more than 25 deaths per day. Her letters are also full of humour and her personal
experiences in South Africa and back in England.
Anton
van Wouw, responsible for the Women’s Memorial in Bloemfontein found his
inspiration in discussions with Miss Hobhouse. Miss Hobhouse was invited to
officiate at the opening of the Memorial but fell ill and could not attend. Her
speech was read by her close friend, Mrs. Steyn.
Playing
the formidable Emily Hobhouse is one of KZN’s top actresses, Alison Cassels.
She graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London before
settling in South Africa in 1982. She has appeared in many distinguished stage
productions, including Amadeus, Hamlet, and Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are dead (NAPAC); Equus and My Fair Lady (Playhouse Company); and Othello (Actors’ Co-operative).
She was
nominated by The Mercury Durban Theatre Awards (TMDTA) as
best supporting actress for her roles as Mrs Pearce in My Fair Lady and Emilia in Othello.
In
recent years she has appeared in the KickstArt Company’s productions of The Importance Of Being Earnest (Vita
Award for best supporting actress 2002), Steel
Magnolias, Dangerous Liaisons, Winnie
the Pooh, The Wizard of Oz and Wit. In 2007 she received a TMDTA for best actress award for her
role as Helen Martin in Athol Fugard’s The
Road to Mecca.
For
Fetdiva Productions she appeared as Mother Miriam Ruth in Agnes of God and received a further TMDTA nomination as best
actress.
In 2009
she appeared in KickstArt’s production of Margaret Edson’s Wit, which was voted “best of the fest” at Grahamstown. This performance
also generated a TMDTA nomination, this time for best supporting actress.
In 2011
and 2012 she played Moira Liversage in Neil Coppen’s award-winning South
African play Abnormal Loads which
premiered at the Grahamstown Festival.
This was followed by seasons in Durban and Johannesburg. She received nominations for this role from
both TMDTA and the Naledi Awards.
She has
also worked extensively on radio for the South African Broadcasting Company
taking part in many serials and dramas. She
has appeared in two films, Lamborene
and Au Pair.
Dear Mrs Steyn opens at Seabrooke’s Theatre, Durban High
School (DHS) on March 18 and runs until March 29. School groups and
organisations are invited to book a performance during this period, day time
performances also possible. The intimate Seabrooke’s Theatre seats 100 people.
Individual tickets for pre-scheduled shows are available at R80 each (R40pp
block bookings of 50 or more).
For
group bookings email Thomie on itstaboo@outlook.com Online bookings can also be made on
www.quicket.co.za
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