Marthinus Basson’s epic South African adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic Macbeth, macbeth.slapeloos, featuring a star-studded cast, in Afrikaans with English surtitiles, has opened at the Baxter Theatre to much acclaim.
Three of the doyennes of Afrikaans theatre – Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Jana Cilliers and Antoinette Kellermann star with Dawid Minnaar in the title role. The rest of the ensemble comprises Stian Bam, Charlton George, Ludwig Binge, Edwin van der Walt and Senzo Madikane. The production is designed and directed by Basson, with a translation by Eitemal. Hugo Theart produces macbeth.slapeloos with lighting design by Albert Snyman and choreography by Estelle Olivier.
macbeth.slapeloos has already amassed nine awards and several nominations at various festivals which include the Clover Aardklop National Arts Festival, the KykNET Fiesta Theatre Awards and the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK). It received awards for best actor (Dawid Minnaar), best actress (Anna-Mart van der Merwe), best supporting actor (Charlton George), best director, best design and best production, amongst others. In 2014 it played to great acclaim at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Nigel Vermaas for the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown daily Cue said, “It is brilliant theatre … a dream production” and Christina Kennedy for Business Day agreed, saying “The cream of the crop was Marthinus Basson’s exceptional rendering of ‘the Scottish play’ … it illuminated the beauty of Shakespeare’s prose.” Johan Myburg for Beeld described it as a “powerful production and feather in the cap for director Basson”. Diane de Beer from The Star Tonight went further by saying, “Those of us who witnessed what this wise wizard of magical storytelling pulled out of his hat, again, feel blessed.”
This is the final production in the Baxter’s highly successful Afrikaans season, supported by KykNET.
WHERE: Baxter Theatre, Main Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7700
WHAT, WHEN: Performed in Afrikaans with English surtitles, macbeth.slapeloos runs until 21 February at 7.30pm with a matinee at 11am on 12 February and one at 2pm on 14 February.
TICKETS: R120 throughout. There is an age restriction of 14 years.
Booking Computicket , on 0861 915 8000 or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet.
