About
Award-winning team presents tender new two-hander
London Road, a tender, funny and heartbreaking story about two women from diverse backgrounds, will premiere at the Kalk Bay Theatre on 11 March.
The script won the Audience Choice award at the PANSA new South African Playwriting competition in 2007 and an award-winning, all-South African, stellar creative team will bring the full production to life.
“London Road is a simple and intimate reflection on growing old, loneliness, fragmented families and the healing power of a friendship,” says director Lara Bye. “It is a glimpse into the private lives of two very different women living in a block of flats in London Road in Sea Point.”
On the surface, Stella and Rosa Kaplowitz have nothing in common. Stella is a young Nigerian woman living in a damp, converted storage room. Long distant family, dodgy gangsters and a sense of survival makes her very mistrusting of the gestures of strangers. Rosa is an elderly Jewish widow living in a flat on the fifth floor. Her children and grandchildren live in Australia and Israel so she keeps herself occupied by becoming very involved in the business of her neighbourhood. She is determined to fight against age and illness, but her body and memory start to fail her – how can she remember every detail of a long past love affair, but accidently shop lift a tin of Milo from the Pick ‘n Pay?
After an act of violence, these two women find themselves stranded together like the flotsam and jetsam washed up on the beach front. Themes unite them – absent men, scattered families, broken relationships, a dark sense of humour and survival.
“Stella and Rosa are performed with grace and humour by two of Cape Town’s leading young actresses – Robyn Scott and Ntombi Makhutshi,” says Bye. “Robyn Scott recently mesmerised audiences in Elizabeth-Almost By Chance A Woman, which earned her a Fleur Du Cap nomination for Best Actress. She is a renowned and award-winning character actress and has lovingly created Rosa.
“Up-and-coming actress Ntombi Makhutshi was most recently seen in Iago’s Last Dance and Die Storie Van Die Vertaalde Mense. She is breathtaking in her versatility and depth.”
London Road is written by seasoned TheatreSports performer and rising Cape Town writer, Nicholas Spagnoletti, in collaboration with the director and cast. Nicholas also writes short stories and satirical sketches and appeared in Robert Silke’s acclaimed movie, The Satyr of Springbok Heights, as well as owning his own software development company in the Cape Town CBD.
As a long-time resident of Sea Point, London Road is born out of his observations and overheard conversations within this unique community.
“Sea Point has long been a new home for many immigrants, minority groups and marginalized people,” says Spagnoletti. “The play echoes the realities of those Sea Point families in a state of migration and emigration- looking at what happens to those who choose to stay behind or arrive from somewhere else. Also informing the play is the backdrop of urban decay and rejuvenation that is contemporary Sea Point.
“I am delighted to see the full production of London Road come to fruition and am blown away by the stellar team that have come on board!” he says.
Director Lara Bye continues her exploration of the theatre of suggestion. With London Road she brings her trademark attention to detail, intelligent sophistication, unique theatre style and staging to the production. Highly choreographed, passionate performances, a mixture of deep tragedy and dark comedy, a yearning for connection, tenderness and passion are themes which run through her work. A reviewer at the recent KKNK wrote ‘everything Lara Bye touches turns to gold’, and her quietly growing following amongst theatre lovers will be thrilled to participate in her latest production.
On the technical side is the high calibre team of renowned theatre designer, puppeteer and performing artist, Craig Leo, designing set, props and costume, Faheem Bardien creating the lighting design, and original sound from the incomparable Braam Du Toit.
*Visit www.londonroad.co.za or join London Road on Facebook: “London Road” – a play by Nicholas Spagnoletti
London Road will be performed at the Kalk Bay Theatre from Wednesday – Saturday at 20h30 from Thursday 11 March to 10 April 2010, with a reduced-price preview on Wednesday 10 March. Theatre-goers can enjoy a light meal before the show. Doors open at 18h00. Ticket prices for the performance only are R100. For the preview on 10 March, pay R100 for one ticket and get two!
Opening week special! Tickets to the performances on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 March are R65 per ticket. To book contact 073-220 5430 or visit www.kbt.co.za
Production information:
Production: London Road, presented by KBT Productions
Written by: Nicholas Spagnoletti in collaboration with the director and cast
Directed by: Lara Bye
Venue: Kalk Bay Theatre
Dates: 11 March to 10 April 2010
Cast: Robyn Scott and Ntomboxolo Makhutshi
Set, props and costume design by Craig Leo
Lighting Design by Faheem Bardien
Original Sound by Braam Du Toit
