PLAYWRIGHT Martin Koboekae has fought several bruising battles in the local theatre sector for several years.
Yes, there is still a long way to go before this prolific writer is recognised as a mainstream player in theatre, both as writer and director. Just this week alone, he was in the news for two different reasons; for being included in the Main programme of the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, when several of his peers had their plays showcased on the Fringe programme of the festival.
This is no small feat for a man who for years has fought to be recognised by mainstream theatre decision-makers.
Another reason why he was in the news was his frustration with Windybrow Theatre in Hillbrow where his show The Last Pro in Yeoville opens today.
During a visit to the Department of Arts and Culture, which was not an attempt to secure funding, Koboekae carried with him a dossier of complaints about the state of affairs at Windybrow Theatre.
The playwright, who in the past few years has demonstrated resourcefulness through his prolific writing for television, theatre and radio, will see his work eventually take to the stage at Windybrow after it was postponed last week Friday.
Ongoing renovations that were running behind schedule, were the reasons for the postponement.
The Last Pro in Yeoville, had a successful season at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, hence its staging at this theatre.
The Last Pro In Yeoville, written and directed by Koboekae, features Peter Mashigo (Billy), Onida Cowan (Camellia), Lunga Radebe (Poiho)
The set designer is award winning Sasha Ehlers, the lighting design is by Kenny Bolokwe, while Lunga Radebe is responsible for music composition.
The story is about an ageing white prostitute Camellia (Onida Cowan) , who loses her sex appeal in an upmarket brothel in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Camellia migrates to the less illustrious streets of Yeoville to retire ungracefully.
There she plies her trade in Pope Street and immediately becomes a hit with black clients, who think they are scoring big with a white pro. Overlooking the spot where Camellia solicits business is a flat occupied by two men, Billy ( Peter Mashigo), a celebrated short story writer turned amateur artist, and his incorrigible flat-mate, Poiho (Lunga Radebe), a trumpeter.
The two men are down on their luck and keep themselves busy by watching Camellia from their balcony and making wild assumptions about her.
Luck comes knocking unexpectedly, when Billy is commissioned to produce a painting by a shifty nightclub owner. Conflicting truths about paths that have crossed dramatically in the past, emerge in the form of a picture of a 26-year old coloured boy.
The Last Pro in Yeoville is humorous and fast paced, and is written with wit and compassion.
It runs until July 31.
Writer gets in on act
PLAYWRIGHT Martin Koboekae has fought several bruising battles in the local theatre sector for several years.
Yes, there is still a long way to go before this prolific writer is recognised as a mainstream player in theatre, both as writer and director. Just this week alone, he was in the news for two different reasons; for being included in the Main programme of the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, when several of his peers had their plays showcased on the Fringe programme of the festival.
This is no small feat for a man who for years has fought to be recognised by mainstream theatre decision-makers.
Another reason why he was in the news was his frustration with Windybrow Theatre in Hillbrow where his show The Last Pro in Yeoville opens today.
During a visit to the Department of Arts and Culture, which was not an attempt to secure funding, Koboekae carried with him a dossier of complaints about the state of affairs at Windybrow Theatre.
The playwright, who in the past few years has demonstrated resourcefulness through his prolific writing for television, theatre and radio, will see his work eventually take to the stage at Windybrow after it was postponed last week Friday.
Ongoing renovations that were running behind schedule, were the reasons for the postponement.
The Last Pro in Yeoville, had a successful season at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival, hence its staging at this theatre.
The Last Pro In Yeoville, written and directed by Koboekae, features Peter Mashigo (Billy), Onida Cowan (Camellia), Lunga Radebe (Poiho)
The set designer is award winning Sasha Ehlers, the lighting design is by Kenny Bolokwe, while Lunga Radebe is responsible for music composition.
The story is about an ageing white prostitute Camellia (Onida Cowan) , who loses her sex appeal in an upmarket brothel in Rosebank, Johannesburg.
Camellia migrates to the less illustrious streets of Yeoville to retire ungracefully.
There she plies her trade in Pope Street and immediately becomes a hit with black clients, who think they are scoring big with a white pro. Overlooking the spot where Camellia solicits business is a flat occupied by two men, Billy ( Peter Mashigo), a celebrated short story writer turned amateur artist, and his incorrigible flat-mate, Poiho (Lunga Radebe), a trumpeter.
The two men are down on their luck and keep themselves busy by watching Camellia from their balcony and making wild assumptions about her.
Luck comes knocking unexpectedly, when Billy is commissioned to produce a painting by a shifty nightclub owner. Conflicting truths about paths that have crossed dramatically in the past, emerge in the form of a picture of a 26-year old coloured boy.
The Last Pro in Yeoville is humorous and fast paced, and is written with wit and compassion.
It runs until July 31.
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