This adaptation of Athol Fugard’s riveting short story ‘To whom it must concern’ portrays the impact a tragic event has on the life and psyche of a Karoo train driver, Roelf Visagie.
During the hour long one man play, Roelf and other characters share with the audience their unique perceptions of the same incident. The play is presented in a simple manner, and deals with universal issues of humanity.
‘The woman with a baby on her back’ is the result of a collaboration between Pieter van Zyl (actor) and Prof Thomas Leabhart, director and senior professor in drama at the Pomona College in Claremont, California. The play was given its first performances at the Seaver Theater in California, where it was received with much praise and acclaim.
The performances at the Alexander Theatre mark the South African premiere of the play.
Athol Fugard is one of South Africa’s most esteemed playwrights. He is best known for his political plays opposing apartheid and for the 2005 Academy Award-winning film of his novel Tsotsi. The recipient of many awards and honorary degrees, he is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.
Pieter van Zyl (actor) has studied acting at the Akademie van Dramakuns in Cape Town and then continued his theatre studies in London, Paris and California, specializing in the corporeal mime technique of Etienne Decroux. In London, as a member of Theatre de l’Ange Fou, he performed in ‘Entangled Lives’ (Tardieux) and ‘The Government Inspector’ (Gogol); and in California in ‘Spoonriver Anthology’ (Masters) and ‘Maid To Marry’ (Ionesco). In South Africa he created four plays that were much influenced by his study of corporeal mime: ‘On a green footpath’; ‘BREAD’; ‘When the saints go marching’; ‘Early Works – a love story’. For the Spier production of ‘The Great Gatsby’, directed by Peter Joucla, he played the character of Wilson. Pieter’s voice is regularly heard in plays and readings on RSG. He has a master’s degree in music and also works as a musician.
Thomas Leabhart (director) is Professor of Theatre and Resident Artist at the Pomona College in Claremont, California. He frequently teaches and performs in Europe, Asia and South America and is a member of ISTA (International School of Theatre Anthropology) Artistic Staff. His specific areas of scholarship is Etienne Decroux, with whom he studied from 1968 – 1972. Thomas Leabhart is the most published writer on the subject of corporeal.
WHERE: Alexander Upstairs Theatre, 76 Strand Street corner Loop St, Cape Town 8001
WHAT: The Woman with a Baby on her Back – Drama, written by Athol Fugard | Performed by Pieter van Zyl | Directed by Thomas Leabhart.
TICKETS: R90 or R80 if paid for in advance. They can be booked online
WHEN: Mon 27th Apr 7pm – Sat 9th May at 7pm
