(Ralph Lawson takes the role of Alan Paton)
A Voice I Cannot
Silence, which opens in the Playhouse Loft on May 12 as part of The
Playhouse Company’s New Stages season, garnered three awards at Tuesday night’s
(April 19) glittering Naledi Theatre Awards ceremony at Gold Reef City.
Ralph Lawson, who portrays controversial author and poet
Alan Paton in the play, took the top acting accolade for Best Lead Performance
in a Play (Male), while Menzi Mkhwane won The Brett Golden Award for Best
Newcomer/Breakthrough Award for the same production. Writers Greg Homann and
Ralph Lawson also won the award for Best New SA Script.
A Voice I Cannot
Silence movingly and empathetically examines the life of Paton through his
own words, stories, poems and autobiographies.
Presented by The Playhouse Company, in association with The
National Arts Festival and the South African State Theatre, the play explores
weighty and often controversial issues such as Paton’s position within the
Liberal Party, his years as Principal of the Diepkloof Reformatory, his belief
in and struggle for human rights, and the complexities of his personal
relationships.
A Voice I Cannot
Silence is written by Lawson and Greg Homann, directed by Homann,
co-produced by Sue Clarence and stars Lawson, Clare Mortimer as Paton’s second
wife, Anne, and Menzi Mkhwane as Sponono, a former Reformatory inmate. Set
design is by Nadya Cohen, ‘soundscape’ by Evan Roberts and lighting design by
Michael Broderick.
Public performances: May 12 (preview – tickets R60 each); May
13 at 19h00 (opening night), May 14 at 19h00, May 15 at 15h00 @ R100 each.
Schools performances runs from May 16 20 at 10h00 @ R30 per
learner.
Discounted block bookings for groups of 50 or more and
bookings for schools performances can be made by calling Dawn on 031 369 9407.
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