London Road

Attention all KZNers – London Road comes to the Hilton Festival which runs from the 16-18th of September 2011.
Click here for more information:
http://www.hiltonfestival.co.za/theatre/265-london-road.html

London Road is at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square in Sandton, Johannesburg until March 19th 2011.

Shows run nightly Tuesdays to Fridays at 20h15 and there are 2 shows on Saturdays – at 18h00 and 20h30.

Bookings are through the theatre’s box office on 011-883-8606 or online at www.strictlytickets.com or www.theatreonthesquare.co.za

Last chance to see new smash hit before Grahamstown

Acclaimed London Road for two nights only at Villa Pascal

The acclaimed new South African play, London Road, will be performed for two more nights only before it makes tracks for Grahamstown.

Lara Bye’s production of this tender, funny story about a friendship between two women from diverse backgrounds, will be performed at Villa Pascal on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 June.

Written by rising Cape Town playwright, Nicholas Spagnoletti, and further developed for the stage in collaboration with director Bye and actresses Robyn Scott and Ntombi Makhutshi, the much-lauded London Road has been taking the Cape Town theatre scene by storm. The production premiered at the Kalk Bay Theatre and was consequently invited to The Fugard Theatre in Cape Town.

The performances by Robyn Scott as the elderly Jewish widow, Rosa, and Ntombi Makhutshi as the young Nigerian, Stella, have been described as ‘phenomenal’, ‘breathtaking’ and ‘a tour de force’.       The rave reviews have included: “…feels like a little miracle.” (The Next 48 Hours);     “….simply brilliant… radiates beauty and empathy.” (Sunday Independent) ;    “Die 36-jarige Scott in die rol van die bejaarde Rosa Kaplowitz is verbysterend… Makhutshi is pragtig en het ‘n sterk teenwoordigheid op die verhoog.” (Die Burger) and   “The humour is gentle, the drama and pathos understated … brought to life by two formidable stage talents …” (Sunday Times).

“Having presented London Road on the Cape Peninsula and in Cape Town, we are excited to be bringing it closer to audiences in the Northern Suburbs,” says producer Simon Cooper.

On the surface, Stella and Rosa Kaplowitz have nothing in common other than the block of flats in which they live in London Road, Seapoint. 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 overseas so she keeps herself occupied by becoming very involved in the business of her neighbourhood.

After an act of violence, these two women find themselves stranded together and take comfort in the common themes they realise unite them: absent men, scattered families, broken relationships and a dark sense of humour.

The original script by Nicholas Spagnoletti won the Audience Choice award at the PANSA new South African Playwriting competition in 2007. The award-winning technical team that has helped bring the production to life include Craig Leo designing set props and costume with Lara Bye; Faheem Bardien creating the lighting design, and original sound from Braam Du Toit.

London Road will be performed at Villa Pascal on Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 June at 19h00. Doors open at 18h00 and patrons are invited to bring their own drinks and a picnic basket.

Tickets cost R110, with a discount of 10% for groups of 10 or more. Students with valid student cards can buy tickets at the door 30 minutes prior to the start of the performance, subject to availability, for R75.

To book contact 021-975 2566 or visit http://www.villapascal.co.za

PG 13 Language

*Join London Road on Facebook: “London Road” or visit www.londonroad.co.za

Production information:

Production: London Road, presented by KBT Productions

Written by: Nicholas Spagnoletti and developed for the stage with the director and cast

Directed by: Lara Bye

Venue: Villa Pascal

Dates: Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 June

Cast: Robyn Scott and Ntomboxolo Makhutshi

Set, props and costume design by Craig Leo and Lara Bye

Lighting Design by Faheem Bardien

Original Sound by Braam Du Toit

Original Set Concept: Lara Bye

Reduced price previews on Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21: R60
Tuesday nights: R60
Wednesdays – Saturdays: R100
Block bookings of 10 – book 10 tickets and only pay for 9
Students and Pensioners: Tuesdays – Thursdays R60 and On Fridays and Saturdays R60 subject to availability and available 30 minutes before the performance.
Book at the theatre or contact The Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 or visit www.thefugard.com

The Fugard Theatre is situated cnr Harrington and Caledon str., District 6, Cape Town. Secure parking is available in Harrington Square car park.

PG 13 Language

London Road will be at the Grahamstown National Arts Festival this year as part of the Cape Town Edge. Performances are daily at the Princess Alice at 12pm.

Dates: 20 June – 4 July 2010.

Show Run: Mar 10th – Apr 10th 2010.

The Kalk Bay Theatre (KBT) is a 78-seater theatre located at 52 Main Road, Kalk Bay in the old Kalk Bay DR church, built in 1876 and is a heritage protected building.The building has been lovingly converted into an intimate theatre with a bar area serving light meals, snacks and drinks on the upper floor. KBT offers a unique night of entertainment. Theatre, sustenance and quality time with friends all under the same roof.

Patrons arrive from 18h00 and, after reserving their theatre seats, are directed upstairs to the bar area. The tables and chairs are set around a gallery, allowing customers to look down onto the stage below. Those wanting food can “cherry-pick” dishes off the menu allowing you to decide how much you want to spend/eat on the evening. Food is mainly served before the show but drinks and [by arrangement] some food is served after the performance. Patrons make their way down to the theatre when the show is due to start – drinks may be taken into the theatre but there is no service in the theatre during the show.

The menu is vegetarian friendly. Other specific dietary requirements will, wherever possible, be catered for provided advance warning is given. KBT is licensed. Corkage is charged at R20 / bottle.

The ground floor theatre has 78 comfortable seats crafted out of beech wood and modelled around the comfortable Morris chair. The theatre is a thrust stage with the audience on three sides. This allows for a very intimate theatrical experience. Shows run for four to eight weeks in the venue. Performances are from Wednesday to Saturday night [and sometimes Sundays as well] at 20h30 with “THEATRESPORTS” are resident at KBT every Tuesday evening at 20h30. Matinee performances can be arranged. The various shows are normally announced by email and on our website [www.kbt.co.za].

The venue is located at 52 Main Rd, Kalk Bay. Parking is available across the road in the municipal parking lot. For bookings check the information for each show as booking numbers can differ for specific shows or email bluebottle@iafrica.com.