Since 2012, Play Club has aspired to inspire community among
top theatre and film makers and their audiences, introducing the ultimate
behind-the-scenes look into the creative process at the ground-floor of a play.
For actors, it’s a chance, once-a-month, to dive into the world’s leading
scripts and, as the name suggests, play. For drama students and audience, it’s
a chance to see where it all begins and to be part of the process.
“Simply put, it is not a performance, as we would
traditionally know it, but the beginnings. And it all happens exclusively for
one night only. And it is all driven with a simple vision: to break down walls
and create dialogue surrounding the industry,” say the organisers.
“The Audience marks
Play Club’s 42nd reading, currently home in Johannesburg, Cape Town and its
newest city, Durban, with over 1,000 actors, producers, drama students and
their audience coming through our doors since our beginnings, truly South
Africa’s most inspiring community.”
For sixty years, Queen Elizabeth II has met with each of her
12 Prime Ministers in a private weekly audience. The discussions are utterly
secret, even to the royal and ministerial spouses. Peter Morgan imagines these
meetings over the decades of the Queen’s remarkable reign, through Prime
Ministers from Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher to the 2015 incumbent
David Cameron. The Audience is a
glimpse into the woman behind the crown, and the moments that have shaped the
modern monarchy. The play was the inspiration for the award-winning series, The Crown.
The Durban cast of The
Audience includes Clare Mortimer (Queen Elizabeth II), Darren King (Equerry),
Adam Doré (John Major), Lisa Bobbert (Bobo MacDonald), Rowan Bartlett (Gordon
Brown), Peter Court (Sir Anthony Eden) and Bryan Hiles (Tony Blair / David
Cameron). It is set to feature Lyle Buxton (Detective) with stage directions by
actor and playwright Marc Kay. Additional casting will be announced.
There will be one performance only on January 29 at 16h00. Strictly
no walk-ups. Seating is strictly limited. RSVP to https://www.playclub.co.za/durban/
(the response will provide the venue).
(NB: The cast is
subject to change due to availability)