Written by Mike van Graan, Artscape’s Associate Playwright, Born Free is a piece of stand-up satire providing humorous and sharp commentary on the first two decades of our democratic work-in-progress.
Is it a CIA agent? Is it a bloody agent? Is it a travel agent? No, it’s a gent – the wonderfully talented and young gent – called Daniel Richards, featuring in his first one-person show, Born Free.
Mbulelo Grootboom who has featured as an actor in three Van Graan plays (Iago’s Last Dance, Just Business – for which he won a Fleur du Cap award for Best Supporting Actor – and Rainbow Scars), makes his professional directorial debut with Born Free!
As part of its development process, Born Free had a one-off performance at the Kalfiefees in Hermanus in August, and will now have its first full run from 15 September to 11 October. The show will pilot a section of Artscape’s Opera Bar as a 58-seater theatre, with a view to hosting other shows in this space in future.
Artscape’s Heritage Festival – Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 September
Mbulelo Grootboom will relinquish his director role and take to the stage in Van Graan’s Rainbow Scars at 18:00 on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 September, as part of a double bill also featuring Jazzart’s Biko’s Quest. These performances are part of Artscape’s Heritage Festival, and will provide a final opportunity for local audiences to see these works before they head off on a six-week tour to the Netherlands and the United Kingdom as part of the Afrovibes Festival.
WHERE: Artscape’s Opera Bar, Artscape Theatre Centre, D F Malan St Cape Town 8001
TICKETS: R75 – book online at Computicket or call Artscape’s Dial-a-Seat at 021-4217695. Tickets for the Rainbow Scars and Biko’s Quest double bill – which will be performed in Artscape’s Arena Theatre – are R100 each.
WHEN: until 11 October the show will run from Wednesdays to Saturdays, generally at 20:00, except on a few evenings when it will start at 18:00 (26, 27 Sept, 4 Oct) or 21:00 (2 Oct) to accommodate the starting times of events in the Opera House.
