Happy New Year

Creator of Langarm adapts hilarious comedy for S.A premiere.

Eric Abraham and The Fugard Theatre present the South African premiere of Happy New Year, a hilarious, heart-warming rom com, adapted by South African icon David Kramer from the hit, award-winning play Midsummer (A Play With Songs), by David Greig and Gordon McIntyre.

Happy New Year will be presented from 19 February 2019 in The Fugard Studio Theatre and bookings are now open through The Fugard Theatre box office and website.

Directed by internationally acclaimed director and former Artistic Director of The Tricycle Theatre in London, Nicolas Kent, the cast stars popular actors Bianca Flanders from Krotoa – Eva Van De Kaap, The Demon Bride and Aunty Merle as Lee-André, and Dean Balie from Orpheus in Africa and Blood Brothers, Kat and the King, as Dan.

Whilst at The Tricycle Theatre, Nicolas Kent brought David Kramer’s Kat and the Kings and three more of his shows to London and recently Kent suggested this play would make a happy South African adaptation, thus the collaboration.

High flying divorce lawyer Lee-André meets car salesman and small-time criminal Dan in a bar one midsummer’s night when the married man she’s been seeing cancels their date. She’s out of Dan’s league, he’s totally not her type, but when these two disparate souls come together, a wild weekend of alcohol-infused adventure and abandon ensues. Between bridge-burning, car chases, wedding bust ups and self-loathing hangovers, they discover they are not so different after all, and that maybe there are second chances at life – and love.

Happy New Year is a delightful and refreshing twist on a rom-com, according to Daniel Galloway, Managing Director of The Fugard Theatre. He notes it is honest, down to earth and deliciously hilarious – a brilliant piece of storytelling with wonderful songs and they are honoured to have South Africa’s own David Kramer adapting this universal and musical tale of love, hope and acceptance to resonate more deeply with our local audiences.

Director Nicolas Kent has directed productions in over 100 theatres around the world including the West End and New York; as well as for notable companies in Great Britain including The National Theatre, The Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal Court, The Donmar Warehouse, The Hampstead Theatre, the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith and the Young Vic.

David Kramer is a national treasure and needs no introduction to South African audiences. His latest smash hit musical, Langarm, is currently playing at The Fugard Theatre and marks his fifth production with the Theatre.  Together with the late Taliep Petersen, he created six musicals which enjoyed enormous local and international success, including the Laurence Olivier Award winning Kat and the Kings which played on Broadway and the West End. He adapted Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers to a local setting, which was produced by The Fugard Theatre and Pieter Toerien Productions in 2012.  His numerous awards and accolades include honorary Doctorates from the University of Stellenbosch and the University of Cape Town and a career highlight was performing at Carnegie Hall showcasing the music of the Cape.

Happy New Year is adapted by David Kramer from the original Midsummer (A Play With Songs) by David Greig and Gordon McIntyre.  Direction is by Nicolas Kent, Set Design is by Chris Pienaar, Costume Design by Widaad Albertus, Lighting Design by Marie Roux, Sound Design is by David Classen and Illustration is by Lucie de Moyencourt.

 

Happy New Year

The Fugard Theatre

From 19 February 2019 Tuesday to Saturday at 8pm with matinees at 4pm on Saturdays.

Tickets from R160 to R220

 Book through The Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 or through The Fugard Theatre’s website at www.thefugard.com

There is a 20% discount available for the Friends of The Fugard members on Wednesdays to Saturdays, a 15% discount for pensioners and 10% discount for students.