(Pic by Thousand Words
Photography)
Murder on Mondays,
a comedy written by Mikhale Singh, directed by Preven Reddy and produced by
Saná Siddiqi and Mikhale Singh will run at Seabrooke’s Theatre from July 9 to 18.
Murder on Mondays
is a dark comedy focusing on a struggling theatre company and their attempts to
put on a production of Macbeth. The
story follows eccentric director, Thandeka Dlamini (better known as Cristina
Riley to her staff) and her lazy-but-lovable assistant, Sarah Murphy, on their
journey to putting one of Shakespeare’s greatest works on stage, despite
anything and everything going wrong.
Aside from their financial woes and various superstitions,
they must contend with a cast of comically diverse misfits, rumours of a curse
and the vengeful ghost of Macbeth that could be haunting the production. And if
it couldn't get any worse … someone is slowly killing off the cast, one by one.
Is it one of their own? Or is there more to the curse than meets the eye?
Join bumbling Inspector Maharaj on his undercover mission to
hunt down the Monday Murderer and uncover the truth behind the Curse of
Macbeth.
“Murder on Mondays
was based on the various theatre myths and superstitions that surround Macbeth, and how these supernatural
issues would have an effect on a company that already has to deal with various
real-life theatre struggles. The play-within-a-play dynamic is also a
Shakespearean innovation, and in this way we pay our respects to one of the
greatest playwrights who helped define modern theatre and storytelling,” says
Mikhale Singh
“The show also explores the darker side of striving for
success, as well as takes a very real look at the state of theatre in Durban
(and South Africa) by showing the audience just how hard it is to try and
succeed, let alone make a living, in the theatre business,” he continues. “The
commonplace issues that any theatrical person will tell you about, ranging from
budgets, to finding the right actors, are things that the performing arts
community will identify with, but are also things that an audience would find
funny and relevant to their own careers and work struggles.
“Being a comedy of characters, Murder on Mondays is reliant on the strong personalities of its
characters, who represent the diversity of our South African culture. The bonds
that are formed over the show between the cast is further proof that theatre
always has and always will have the power to change people and unite them,
regardless of their differences. And by placing these very archetypal,
theatrically inclined people in charge of investigating a series of murders, we
can enjoy the extremely comical results as well,” he adds.
Murder on Mondays
features an ensemble cast comprising Nqobile Mahlambi and Shannon Newton (Decadence’s Jocasta and Cecilia
respectively), Lindo Cele, Jason Pietersen, Mthoko Ntshingila, Bottle of Problem’s Chante Seiler, and
introduces Byron McNeil, Amy Wright, Madison Lemos, Shannon Rose, Zoë Walsh and
Zanele Sibiya.
The creative team is made up of set designer Brett van Dort,
costume designer Bronwyn Whitehead, choreographer Shannyn Zorab and Julian
Evans who is the lighting and sound designer.
The show is recommended for high school students on holiday,
couples, families looking for a night out and older audiences.
Presented by Blunt Productions Murder on Mondays runs from July 10 to 18 at Seabrooke’s Theatre on the Durban High School (DHS) campus at 277
St. Thomas Road, Musgrave. Tickets R100 and seating is unreserved. Tickets available
online and in selected stores from Webtickets.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/bluntproductions
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