I KNOW this phrase has in the past been abused by theatre producers trying to put bums on the seats, but fortunately this time it is no empty boast.
I am talking about the phrase "back by popular demand" that everyone seems to be so fond of whenever there is a re-run of a show.
Death of a Colonialist has reopened until October 16 at the Market Theatre for another season. The show has been lauded as intense in terms of acting, tight in terms of plot structure and authentic in terms of its historical perspective.
It did very well when it was first perfomed at the Market Theatre last year and again at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival this year. It is the kind of show which goes on to occupy your mind as you drive home .
The play comes highly recommended, having collected three Naledi Theatre Awards this year in the categories of best production of a play, best performance by an actor in a lead role and best director.
Greg Latter, writer of the films Forgiveness and Goodbye Bafana, returns to his theatrical roots with this powerhouse drama about a disintegrating white academic family in Grahamstown.
Death of a Colonialist tells the story of Harold Smith, an ageing, eccentric, unpredictable but extremely passionate history teacher at a high school in Grahamstown.
His passion is South African history - more specifically the history of the amaXhosa. Harold is at the end of his powers and his increasingly erratic teaching techniques are making the school's hierarchy look for some new blood in the history department.
He is aware of the moves against him but believes his passionate teaching will always win the day.
What Harold is not aware of is that his wife has terminal cancer and has decided not to tell him.
His two children, who have moved overseas, decide to come home for an unconventional family reunion. Some hard truths await Harold, who is so wrapped up in his own life and his passion for history that he is unaware of the personal tragedy unfolding in his life.
Dealing with questions of identity, history and terminal illness, this is a profound and passionate play that weaves between the tragedy of our past and the challenges of our present. Ultimately, Latter's play reinforces what it means to be South African.
The strength of the script has attracted a great production team, headed up by film, television and theatre director Craig Freimond (Gums & Noses, Sorted and Jozi).
Actor Jamie Bartlett, who won the 2010 Naledi Award for best performance by an actor in a lead role, returns to the theatre as Harold after spending the last few years creating one of South Africa's most memorable villains in e.tv's Rhythm City - David Genaro.
Joining him from Cape Town is Shirley Johnston, Carl Beukes and Ashleigh Harvey.
Play on history, identity revisits Market Theatre
I KNOW this phrase has in the past been abused by theatre producers trying to put bums on the seats, but fortunately this time it is no empty boast.
I am talking about the phrase "back by popular demand" that everyone seems to be so fond of whenever there is a re-run of a show.
Death of a Colonialist has reopened until October 16 at the Market Theatre for another season. The show has been lauded as intense in terms of acting, tight in terms of plot structure and authentic in terms of its historical perspective.
It did very well when it was first perfomed at the Market Theatre last year and again at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival this year. It is the kind of show which goes on to occupy your mind as you drive home .
The play comes highly recommended, having collected three Naledi Theatre Awards this year in the categories of best production of a play, best performance by an actor in a lead role and best director.
Greg Latter, writer of the films Forgiveness and Goodbye Bafana, returns to his theatrical roots with this powerhouse drama about a disintegrating white academic family in Grahamstown.
Death of a Colonialist tells the story of Harold Smith, an ageing, eccentric, unpredictable but extremely passionate history teacher at a high school in Grahamstown.
His passion is South African history - more specifically the history of the amaXhosa. Harold is at the end of his powers and his increasingly erratic teaching techniques are making the school's hierarchy look for some new blood in the history department.
He is aware of the moves against him but believes his passionate teaching will always win the day.
What Harold is not aware of is that his wife has terminal cancer and has decided not to tell him.
His two children, who have moved overseas, decide to come home for an unconventional family reunion. Some hard truths await Harold, who is so wrapped up in his own life and his passion for history that he is unaware of the personal tragedy unfolding in his life.
Dealing with questions of identity, history and terminal illness, this is a profound and passionate play that weaves between the tragedy of our past and the challenges of our present. Ultimately, Latter's play reinforces what it means to be South African.
The strength of the script has attracted a great production team, headed up by film, television and theatre director Craig Freimond (Gums & Noses, Sorted and Jozi).
Actor Jamie Bartlett, who won the 2010 Naledi Award for best performance by an actor in a lead role, returns to the theatre as Harold after spending the last few years creating one of South Africa's most memorable villains in e.tv's Rhythm City - David Genaro.
Joining him from Cape Town is Shirley Johnston, Carl Beukes and Ashleigh Harvey.
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