(Sipho
Mahlatshana & David Dukas in the roles of Sol Plaatje & Cecil John Rhodes.
Pic by Val Adamson).)
In Hinterland
- an acclaimed re-writing of history, Cecil John Rhodes hires Sol Plaatje as
his secretary during the siege of Kimberley – and falls in love with him.
Winner of three awards at 2012 PANSA/NLDTF
Playwriting Festival and part of last year’s official selection for the
National Art Festival Arena Programme, Hinterland
is written and produced by Cape Town writer Duncan Buwalda.
Supported by Stable Theatre and directed by
Caroline Smart, this fascinating drama deals with a “what if” situation should
Cecil John Rhodes and Sol Plaatje have met and worked together. The leading
roles are played by Gauteng actors David Dukas and Sipho Mahlatshana, with Cape
Town actor Greg Parvess playing Colonel Kekewich. Well-known Durban actor Frank
Graham plays Dr Smartt, Rhodes’s personal physician.
“This is the third time I have directed Hinterland. Each time with a different
cast and each time it’s been a highly enjoyable and inter-active experience,”
says director Smart. “Duncan is a very skilled writer and I admire his command
of dramatic text. He’s taken a ‘what if?’ situation connecting two major
figures in South Africa’s history and infused it with humour – some of it wry,
some of it hilarious – all the while sticking to correct historical
information. All the characters were real people. Listening to audience members
leaving the theatre, the comments usually revolve around the fact that they
can’t believe that what they’ve just seen wasn’t entirely true!”
Hinterland can be seen in Grahamstown in the NG Kerk Hall on July 3 at 14h00,
July 4 at 16h00, July 5 at 12h00 & 18h30, July 6 at 14h00, July 7 at 22h00
and July 8 at 16h00. Tickets R60 & R50 (first performance free)
Hinterland will play at the Auto and General Theatre on the Square in Sandton
in 2015.
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