Die Van Aardes van Grootoor – the legendary boeredrama. A universal story of family, murder, lust, corruption, intrigue… en vatte vol lag! Written and directed by Pieter Dirk Uys and with music by Godfrey Johnson.
In 1975 Pieter-Dirk Uys and Trix Pienaar did a sketch in the anti-censorship revue ‘Strike up the Banned’ at the old Space Theatre in Cape Town. It was a spoof of a radio serial, reflecting the reality of the never-ending Springbok Radio soap operas aired at the time. The snot-en-trane drama was called ‘Die Van Aardes van Grootoor’, presented by Kux Toiletseep and dramatically introduced by a sweeping musical theme, which was to become famous in its own right and is still associated with the even more famous (and real) radio serial, ‘Die Du Plooys van Soetmelksvlei’.
In 1977 an experimental theatre group called Fringe extended ‘Die Van Aardes van Grootoor’ into a play and ran a year later for another 18 months.
Now in 2015, this sprawling seepie has been transformed into a glorious musical with book and lyris by Pieter-Dirk Uys, who will also direct the show and music by Godfrey Johnson.
A new generation of South Africans can share the angst en drang, die snot en trane, the laughter and tears, with Aia Siena, Tannie Dolla, suster Mimi, Brenda, John Firestone Junior, Tertius, Ouma, Elana van Aarde, Fanie and Evert.
Die Van Aardes is 84% Afrikaans. The first act is 50/50 with an English character and there are a few English expletives etc… in the rest, but it has to be Afrikaans because that’s the whole point: it’s an Afrikaans family!
I promise though that everyone will understand the language because it’s theatre and that often makes the unknown known – PDU.
WHERE: Theatre on the Bay, Link Road, Camps Bay, Cape Town 8040
WHAT: DIE VAN AARDES VAN GROOTOOR: The Musical
WHEN: 09 Dec 2015 – 09 Jan 2016
TICKETS: R100 / R125 / R195 / R200 / R275
“In 24 years of reviewing … I don’t think I have laughed so much, so consistently
during any single performance.” The Star
“Die doel is .. om met totale afwesigheid van pieteit, genadeloos die
draak te steek met alles wat heilig en onaantasbaar is…” Beeld
“’n Mens rafel behoorlik uit.” Rapport
