An all South African production of the West End smash hit comedy Shakespeare in Love comes to the Fugard Theatre in 2017 with the best of this country’s acting talent.
Eric Abraham presents a Fugard Theatre production (and South African premiere) of Shakespeare in Love from 10 October 2017 at the Fugard Theatre. 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. This South African premiere features 21 actors, and a dog, and is directed by the Fugard Theatre’s resident director Greg Karvellas (The Father, Clybourne Park, Bad Jews, CHAMP). Shakespeare in Love features Dylan Edy (New Boy, Hamlet, Origins) as Will Shakespeare; Roxane Hayward (Blood Drive, Saints and Strangers) as Viola de Lesseps and includes Cape Talk’s John Maytham as Fennyman. Multiple award-winner Robyn Scott (London Road, Elizabeth 1- Almost By Chance a Woman) stars as Queen Elizabeth and Jason K. Ralph (The Phantom of the Opera (World Tour), Chicago) as Lord Wessex; Lamar Bonhomme (Cheers to Sarajevo, Tshihumbudzo) as Robin; Bianca Flanders (District Six Kanala, Orpheus in Africa) as Mistress Quickly; Theo Landey (The Play That Goes Wrong; The History Boys) as Marlowe; Nicholas Pauling (The Father, A Steady Rain, Clybourne Park) as Ned Allen; Sven Ruygrok (The Mother, Epstein, Spud) as Sam and Mark Elderkin (Twelfth Night, Champ) as Burbage.
“FIVE STARS – Funny, often genuinely moving, and generates a glow you could warm your hands by…The best British comedy since One Man, Two Guvnors and deserves equal success. – Daily Telegraph
Completing the ensemble are Lucy Tops (Funny Girl, The Rocky Horror Show, Bar None) as Nurse; Nathan Lynn (Raiders: The Musical, Pride and Prejudice) as John Webster; Louis Viljoen (The Play That Goes Wrong, The Frontiersmen) as Mr Wabash; Darron Araujo (Champ, The Taming of the Shrew) as Henslowe; Adrian Collins (Bench, King Lear) as Ralph; Sizo Mahlangu (Otello) as Lambert; Walter van Dyk (Arms and the Man [Watford Palace Theatre UK], A Flea in her Ear [Old Vic Theatre] UK) as Tilney; Andrew Roux (Wit, Macbeth) as Nol and Rachel Mertens. Set Design is by Paul Wills (King Kong, A Human Being Died That Night), Costume Design by Birrie Le Roux (King Kong, Funny Girl, West Side Story) with Lighting Design by Wolf Britz (Die Seemeeu; Wie’s Bang vir Virginia Woolf?), Sound Design by David Classen (District Six Kanala) with Resident Musical Director of the Fugard Theatre Charl Johan Lingenfelder (West Side Story, King Kong, Funny Girl, Cabaret) and Choreography by Kristin Wilson (Salome, Midsummer Night’s Dream).
FIVE STARS – An absolute joy from beginning to end! – Daily Express
The story: 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. Shakespeare in Love is an imaginative, sexy and timeless tale behind the creation of the greatest love story ever told in the sixteenth century for the twenty-first century. “Shakespeare in Love is a charmingly funny romantic comedy that has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences the world over,” says Daniel Galloway, the Executive Director of the Fugard Theatre.”We at The Fugard are delighted to showcase the best of South African talent in this wonderful piece of theatre which is the Fugard Theatre’s first engagement with the mighty Bard albeit not in his own words”.
Shakespeare in Love has a fizzy, infectious exuberance – The Evening Standard
Shakespeare in Love will run at the Fugard Theatre from 10 October 2017, Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8pm with a 4pm matinee performance on Saturdays and Sundays (except Sunday 15 October). The Fugard Theatre is situated in the heart of District Six, on the corner of Harrington and Caledon Streets, Cape Town. Tickets from R130 to R320 can be booked through the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 or through Computicket.There is a 15% discount available for the Friends of The Fugard members. Harrington Street car park is located at the corner of Caledon and Harrington streets and is available for the use of theatre patrons. Visit the cosy ground-floor bar, which opens two hours before all scheduled show times and stays open until last rounds are called… often as late as 1am. And if the weather is fine the bar on the fantastic rooftop terrace is opened, with its panoramic views of the city. Both bars offer a range of wines from some of the Cape’s top estates.
