What a joy to be
immersed in such artful storytelling, a masterclass in at once applying a light
touch to difficult subject matter and building deep empathy. (Review by Shannon
Kenny)
Toni Morkel in Cottonwool
Kid co-written and directed by Sylvaine Strike - played at the Seabrooke’s
Theatre during the 2026 edition of Durban’s 031 Festival.
The wait to experience this magical piece of theatre was more than worth it.
Loosely based on Morkel’s autobiographical material, Cottonwool Kid was created by Toni Morkel in collaboration with writer-director, Sylvaine Strike.
Our impossible-not-to-love protagonist, CK, is burdened with a skin condition and pathologically careless parents. Together with her trusty Dalmatian, Luigi, she navigates a turbulent world fraught with tensions brought on by capricious adults who are nigh on incapable of meaningfully engaging with a little person just trying to make sense of the world and skin she is in.
CK’s psyche responds with compulsions - to count, to order, to repeat. And she guards this secret, for fear of being ‘committed.’
This is a gripping, heartwarming story with all the feels: sadness, joy, devastation, triumph - that explores love and loss, belonging and finding and loving oneself. The turbulence of CK’s formative years and the triumph of overcoming adversity are rendered through Toni Morkel’s mastery of physical theatre and her ability to transform with the running of a hand through hair, shrug of a shoulder, a change in vocal pitch, the donning of a hat, the raising of an eyebrow, into a host of characters so compelling they grab hold of you and remain with you long after the theatre lights have dimmed.
What a joy to be immersed in such artful storytelling, a masterclass in at once applying a light touch to difficult subject matter and building deep empathy. Morkel’s costume of white hat, jacket, trousers and sneakers and props of white shopping bags, set against the stark black of the stage are all employed to marvellous effect in the theatre-making.
Strike and Morkel have created a beautiful piece of art out of a story that, while deeply personal, is universally resonant. The rapt festival audience gasped, shed tears, laughed out loud and applauded CK/Morkel on her journey! Brava! – Shannon Kenny