Eric Abraham presents this Fugard Theatre production of Shakespeare In Love which was a runaway success last year, playing to sold out houses and critical acclaim from reviewers and audiences alike.

Written by Lee Hall and adapted from the Academy Award-winning (1999) screenplay by Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman, the comedy ran for an extended sold out season at the West End’s Noel Coward Theatre in London in 2014.

Shakespeare In Love features a stellar cast of 21 actors including the return of the loveable fur-actor Bogart as Spot the Dog, who captured the hearts of all who saw the show. The play is directed by the Fugard Theatre’s resident director Greg Karvellas.

Robyn Scott recently won the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Performance by a Supporting Actress in a Play for her role as Elizabeth I. The production was also nominated for Best Performance by an Ensemble, Best Lighting Design for Wolf Britz and Best Performance by a Supporting Actor in a Play for Darron Araujo as Henslowe.

Stepping into the role of Will Shakespeare is Daniel Mpilo Richards who has been dazzling audiences as Bernardo the leader of the Sharks in the Fugard Theatre’s West Side Story, with the return of Roxane Hayward as Viola de Lesseps and Cape Talk’s John Maytham as Fennyman.

Multiple award-winner Robyn Scott stars as Queen Elizabeth and Jason K. Ralph as Lord Wessex.  Nicholas Pauling plays Ned Allen, Sven Ruygrok in the role of Sam and Mark Elderkin as Burbage. Darron Araujo performs the role of Henslowe, Adrian Collins as Ralph, Walter van Dyk as Tilney, Pierre Malherbe as Nol, Lucy Tops as Nurse, Dean Balie as John Webster and Louis Viljoen as Mr Wabash.

Completing the ensemble are Alex Tops as Robin, Kathleen Stephens as Mistress Quickly, Rendani Mufamadi as Lambert and Rachel Mertens who returns to the Ensemble.

Set Design is by Paul Wills ,Costume Sourcing and Styling is by Birrie le Roux and Widaad Albertus with Lighting Design by Wolf Britz. Sound Design is by David Classen, with Resident Musical Director of the Fugard Theatre Charl Johan Lingenfelder. Choreography is by Kristin Wilson, with Fight Choreography by Jon Keevy.

Young Will Shakespeare has writer’s block… the deadline for his new play is fast approaching but he is in desperate need of inspiration. That is, until he finds his muse – Viola. This beautiful young woman is Will’s greatest admirer and will stop at nothing (including breaking the law) to appear in his next play.

Against a bustling background of mistaken identity, ruthless scheming and backstage theatrics, Will’s love for Viola quickly blossoms and inspires him to write his greatest masterpiece.
Tickets from R150 to R350 can be booked through the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 or through the Fugard Theatre’s website at www.thefugard.com.There is a 15% discount available for the Friends of The Fugard members.

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The Fugard Theatre’s star-studded production of Athol Fugard’s The Road to Mecca has been extended due to an overwhelming response and universal critical acclaim. The play will be presented at the Fugard Theatre until 12 May and bookings can be made at Computicket.

Eric Abraham presents this Fugard Theatre production in honour of this iconic playwright’s 85^th year, who marked this milestone birthday in June last year. The play features South African icons Sandra Prinsloo as Miss Helen and Marius Weyers as Rev. Marius Byleveld with bright young star Emily Child as Elsa Barlow. Direction is by the Fugard Theatre’s Resident Director Greg Karvellas.

The production is designed by Saul Radomsky with lighting by Mannie Manim and costumes by Birrie Le Roux. Sound design will be by the Fugard’s resident Musical Director Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.

Inspired by Helen Martins, who lived in Nieu-Bethesda and created the now-famous The Owl House – which is designated a provincial heritage site – The Road to Mecca is the story of a woman’s desire for personal and artistic freedom within the narrow confines of a conservative and highly religious community in the Karoo in early seventies apartheid South Africa.

The Road to Mecca runs at the Fugard Theatre until 12 May 2018 Tuesday to Saturdays at 8pm with a 4pm matinee on Saturdays. The Fugard Theatre is situated in the heart of District Six, on the corner of Harrington and Caledon Streets, Cape Town.

Tickets cost from R130 to R230.  Bookings can be made through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. Bookings can also be made at the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554. There is a generous 15% discount available for the Friends of the Fugard members.

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Nominated for three WoordTROfees awards at this year’s University of Stellenbosch Woordfees, The Demon Bride will be unleashed on the Fugard Studio Theatre from 8 May.

Eric Abraham presents this production in association with US Woordfees. The Demon Bride is the latest play from multiple award-winning playwright and director Louis Viljoen, who is also the Fugard Theatre’s Writer in Residence.

The play was nominated for the WoordTROfees awards in the categories of Beste Actor for Bianca Flanders as Amelia, Best Woodrfees Debut and Best Technical Performance for the Sound Design by James Webb.

The Demon Bride is a gripping and hilarious comedy-horror that sees Viljoen taking an exciting new direction in a production that will make you shiver with delight!

The Demon Bride: its wedding season and the wine lands are abuzz with travellers who come to celebrate the nuptials of friends and family. But when the wedding party gets trapped in a haunted cabin in the middle of a dilapidated wine farm, a carefree weekend turns into a nightmare when the spirit of an ancient demon possesses a newlywed and wreaks havoc on her friends. The Demon Bride has one simple message: `With this ring I thee DEAD!’

The production stars Craig Jackson, Sarah Potter, Bianca Flanders, Carel Nel and Andrew Roux.

Set Design is by Rocco Pool, Lighting Design by Benjamin du Plessis and Sean Whitehead,  Costume Design by Widaad Albertus and Sound Design is by internationally acclaimed artist James Webb whose theatre credits include the Fugard Theatre productions of The Birdwatchers and Die Laaste Karretjiegraf, both of which won him Fleur du Cap Awards.

Viljoen’s first play as the Fugard’s Writer in Residence, The Eulogists, was nominated for a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best New South African Script.   Viljoen has won Fleur Du Cap Theatre awards, Best New South African Script for Champ in 2013 and The Kingmakers in 2015. He was also the recipient of the Rosalie van Der Gucht Best New Director award for his plays, The Kingmakers and The Pervert Laura.

The Demon Bride

Fugard Studio Theatre

From 8 May, at 20:00.

Maninee Performances on Sundays, at 15:00

Tickets cost R160 and can be booked through the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 or through the Fugard Theatre’s website at www.thefugard.com.

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The Demon Bride is presented in English and has an age restriction of 18 because of adult content, strong language and sex![/box]

Photo: Daniel Rutland Manners

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