#Gideon Lombard

[robynsassenmyview]

Ode to the Patron Saint of Mediocrity

TAKE that! Antonio Salieri (Alan Committie) above, in a fit of jealousy with Mozart (Mark Elderkin). Photography courtesy of Montecasino Theatre. WHEN YOU THINK of Amadeus, Peter Shaffer’s perfectly wonderful play of 1979 that cast mischievous light into the mysterious nooks and untold crannies of the life of 18th century Vienna composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the first thing that comes to…

[sarafinamagazine]

A Conversation with Lara Bye

A Conversation with director and educator Lara Bye.

Lara Bye is a prolific and versatile South African theatre director and educator whose work travels extensively locally and abroad. She directs across genres from opera to physical comedy, large-scale outdoor events and more intimate dramas in both English and Afrikaans. Her latest directorial project, the stage adaptation of Mark Behr’s best-selling novel Die reuk van appels is now playing at…

[performanceimprovements]

안녕하세요… Ciao… Hallo… Živjo… Hola… Olá… Today Blackbox learned a few new languages. Today Blackbox is being rereleased worldwide to hundreds of millions of people who call a language other than English their mother tongue. Whether you speak Korean, Portuguese (from Brazil or Portugal), Norwegian, German, Italian, Slovenian, Hebrew, Afrikaans, or Spanish (from Spain, Argentina, or Latin America) you can experience Blackbox’s horrible, wonderful, brain-breaking, rompecabezas with the same infamous and award-winning, 100% accessible, sarcastic charm and design. Blackbox was translated 100% by player volunteers. Players who not only know the game inside and out but who are highly qualified and passionate about their own languages. It has been a fervent joy of mine to work with all of you who have participated in this process which has spanned almost two years. More languages are of course still coming and if you have feedback or find anything you think could be improved, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at translation@growpixel.com. So so so many friends and family and kind internet strangers were a part of this process and I want to find a way to eventually thank them all. In the time being, here is a list of the lovely folks who most directly brought you todays translations (in no particular order). You can of course also find their names in the in-game credits as well. Ofer Idan Miha Mitič Antonio Lopes Tim Roesner Philipp Stollenmayer Heiko Rutz Gideon Wentink Nóemie Tosser Edouard Lombard Harrys Caterine Gonzaga de Souza Morten Nordström Ingebrethsen Tommaso Gianluca Maccaione Emma Hansol Kim Unai Patricia Velasco Alvaro Ernesto Vega Gabriel Alejandro Horacio

Blackbox for iOS, version 1.9

[andrewgerm]

The Winners Of The 9th kykNET Fiëstas

The Winners Of The 9th kykNET Fiëstas

The 9th kykNET Fiëstas was held on Thursday, 14 February 2019 at the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town and broadcast live on kykNET, DStv channel 144. It was an evening celebrating creativity and outstanding achievements in the performing arts.

Bennie Fourie was the MC for the evening, with Schalk Bezuidenhout, Gideon Lombard, Kay Karriem, Jarrid Geduld and Jill Levenberg as his co-hosts.

The…

[artsvark]

Die Avonture van Bal-Oog en Brommel maak sy debuut by die US Woordfees.

Die Avonture van Bal-Oog en Brommel: Richard September and De Klerk Oelofse. Photo credit: Isabelle Grobler.

Die treffende grafiese roman Die Avonture van Bal-Oog en Brommel: Moord in Ixia Straat debuteeras ‘n prettige en aangrypende teater produksie by die US Woordfees.

Die vertonings vind plaas by die Hoërskool Lückhoff en daar is slegs drie datums waarop dit gesien kan word, 7, 10 en 11 Maart by die Woordfees. Daarna volg drie vertonings in Oudtshoorn by die Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) van 29 – 31 Maart.

Die grafiese roman Die Avonture van Bal-Oog en Brommel: Moord in Ixia Straatis offisieel in September 2017 bekend gestel. Dit het reeds ‘n kultis status beryk en die eerste druk verkoop flink. In die strokiesverhaal beskryf die avonture van twee tiener maats, Bal-Oog en sy beste vriend Brommel.Dit is geskryf deur Sjaka Septembir,geilustreer deur Willem Samuel en gekleur deur Swart Streep en word nou lewe gegee op die verhoog deur van ons land se top akteurs.

Die Avonture van Bal-Oog en Brommel: Moord in Ixia Straat is aangepas vir die verhoog met die teks deur die akteur, skrywer, regiseer en vervaardiger, Sjaka Septembir. Die regie word behartig deurdie bekroonde Gideon Lombard (Die Reuk van Appels, …miskien, The View, Suidooster) en die spelers is Richard September (Rooivalk, Rondomskrik, Marat/Sade) as Brommel en De Klerk Oelofse (Liewe Heksie: Flower Power, Na-aap, Balbesit) as Bal-Oog, met musiek en by klanke deur Gertjie Besselsen (Slegs Vir Almal, Die Vlammende Fez, Die Storm).

Die skreeusnaakse speur verhaal word vertel in ‘n strokiesprent teater styl wat jou sal weg voer op ‘n rys saam met die beminlike en avontuurlustige Bal-Oog en Brommel..

Wie het Kobus vermoor? Wat lê agter die moord? Bal-Oog en Brommel besluit om ondersoek in te stel. Wanneer Boltjie – Bal-Oog se hond – snif in die neus kry, vind Bal-Oog en Brommel hulself meteens in ‘n avontuur gevul met spanning en humor – wat hul in die donker onderwêreld van Milnerton in ly.

Om sake te kompliseer is Bal-Oog verlief op Anja – die vermoorde Kobus se meisie.En die misterieuse bak? Hoe sluit dit by Kobus se moord aan?

“Bal-Oog en Brommel pak hul eerste speurverhaal holderstebolderste, met kaal hande aan. Dit lei tot ‘n reeks humoristise situasies,” vertel Septembir. “Tussen deur al die opwinding, besef hul dat hul miskien nie die wêreld wil red nie, maar liefs net hul vakansie wil geniet en musiek wil maak!? Ek is baie opgewonde oor die teaterspan wat die storie lewe gee, dit is ‘n visieële en teatrale fees! “.

Die Avonture van Bal-Oog en Brommel: Moord in Ixia Straat word opgevoer by die US Woordfees by Hoërskool Lückhoff op die 7de Maart om 15:00, endie 10de Maart om 20:30 en 11 Maart om 19:30. Kaartjies kos R100 – R120 by Computicket 0861 915 8000, aanlyn by www.computicket.com of R110 – R140 by die deur.

Die produksie word opgevoer by die KKNK in die Griesselsaal op 29 Maart om 16:00; op 30 Maart om 18:30 en 31 Maart om 20:00. Kaartjies kos R125 by Computicket 0861 915 8000, aanlyn by www.computicket.com of R140 by die deur.

Vir meer informasie oor Bal-Oog en Brommel gaan na www.bal-oog.co.za

“Die kunswerk is vaardig uitgevoer, die storie spannend … interesante karakters en heelwat aksie en intrige … die drukwerk is puik (en) ook die omslag met sy glansafwerking. Moord In Ixiastraat bevat verskeie sappige karakters: ‘n wulpse ma, nare skobejakke, ‘n parate polisieman en Bal-Oog … (en) bladsye waarin die uitleg treffend gebruik word met wisselende raamgrootte, karakters wat uit die grense van die raam breek en raampies wat vervorm e byvoorbeeld beweging aan te dui. Daar is viseule juwele, soos elke blougroen slymblerts op pad sypaadjie toe, die tikkoppe en Anja se ma in haar bra … Moord in Ixiastraat sou maklik op ‘n rak in België of Frankryk kon staan tussen die magdom strokiesverhaalboeke wat jaarliks daar gepubliseer word sonder om enigsins af te steek.“ – Dick Grobler, Rapport

Die Avonture van Bal-Oog en Brommel maak sy debuut by die US Woordfees. was originally published on Artsvark

[artsvark]

Nominees for 53rd Fleur du Cap Awards announced

The Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards will take place on Sunday, 18 March at 17:30 at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town.

These annual awards are regarded amongst the most valued and prestigious in the South African performing arts industry. This year’s ceremony will take place on Sunday, 18 March at 17:30 at the Baxter Theatre Centre in Cape Town and promises to be an “Elegantly Extravagant” evening.

The nominees in the various categories are, in alphabetical order:BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A PLAY

André Roothman in Die Nag van Legio as Dogoman

Charlton George in Marat/Sade as Jean-Paul Marat

Craig Morris in Tartuffe as Tartuffe/Madame Pernelle

Ephraim Gordon in Die Dans van die Watermeid as Mills

Marty Kintu in Topdog/Underdog as Lincoln

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Buhle Ngaba in What Remains as The Student

Charmaine Weir-Smith in Suddenly the Storm as Shanell

Faniswa Yisa in What Remains as The Archeologist

Tinarie van Wyk Loots in Hemelruim as Mariaan

Tinarie van Wyk Loots in Marat/Sade as Charlotte Corday

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A PLAY

Bongile Mantsai in Marat/Sade as Duperret

Darren Araujo in Shakespeare in Love as Henslowe, Ensemble

Gerben Kamper in Die Nag van Legio as Oubaas Menge

Mark Elderkin in Twelfth Night as Malvolio

Wessel Pretorius in Twelfth Night as Feste

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A PLAY

Camilla Waldman in Tartuffe as Cléante

Faith Kinnear in Marat/Sade as Patient, Chorus

Jenny Stead in The Visit as Jackie Lodin

Renate Stuurman in Suddenly the Storm as Namhla

Robyn Scott in Shakespeare in Love as Elizabeth I, Ensemble

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Andile Gumbi in King Kong as King Kong

David Dennis in Priscilla Queen of the Desert as Bernadette

Jonathan Roxmouth in Evita as Che

Marc Lottering in Aunty Merle the Musical as Aunty Merle

Sne Dladla in King Kong as Pop

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEAD ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Ashleigh Harvey in Funny Girl as Fanny Brice

Edith Plaatjies in King Kong as Joyce

Emma Kingston in Evita as Eva

Nondumiso Tembe in King Kong as Joyce

Tarryn Lamb in Aunty Merle the Musical as Abigail

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Anton Luitingh in Evita as Magaldi

Anton Luitingh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat as Pharoah

Sanda Shandu in King Kong as Lucky

Tshepo Ncokoane in Priscilla Queen of the Desert as Miss Understanding

Tshamano Sebe in King Kong as Jack

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR MUSIC THEATRE SHOW

Candice von Litsenborgh in Priscilla Queen of the Desert as Shirley

Isabella Jane in Evita as The Mistress

Josslynn Hlenti in King Kong as Petal

Kate Normington in Funny Girl as Mrs Brice

Tankiso Mamabolo in Aunty Merle the Musical as Lydia

BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE

The Cast of Marat/Sade

The Divas of Priscilla Queen of the Desert

The Cast of Shakespeare in Love

The Cast of Tartuffe

The Cast of What Remains

BEST PERFORMANCE IN A REVUE, CABARET OR ONE-PERSON SHOW

Daniel Mpilo Richards in State Fracture in Various Roles

Gideon Lombard in Die Reuk van Appels as Marnus

Jemma Kahn in In Bocca al Lupo as The Narrator

Sandra Prinsloo in Moedertaal as Nellie

Tony Bonani Miyambo in Kafka’s Ape as Red Peter

BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – MALE

Fikile Mvinjelwa in Rigoletto as Rigoletto

Jaco Venter in Der Fliegende Holländer as Holländer

Lukhanyo Moyake in Rigoletto as The Duke of Mantua

Lukhanyo Moyake in Der Fliegende Holländer as Steuermann

Martin Mkhize in The Magic Flute as Papageno

BEST PERFORMANCE IN AN OPERA – FEMALE

Brittany Smith in The Magic Flute as Pamina

Johanni van Oostrum in Der Fliegende Holländer as Senta

Leah Gunter in The Magic Flute as The Queen

Noluvuyiso Mpofu in Rigoletto as Gilda

Nonhlanhla Yende in Rigoletto as Maddalena

BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

Fred Abrahamse and Marcel Meyer for Peter Pan

Jon Keevy for The Underground Library

Marinda Engelbrecht and Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck for Vlooi en die Koninginby/Kipper and the Queen Bee

AWARD FOR MOST PROMISING STUDENT

Luntu Masiza, AFDA

Matthew Stuurman, UCT

Melani-Roxanne Breedt, AFDA

Tristan de Beer, UCT

Zoe McLaughlin, WTS

BEST NEW DIRECTOR

Dara Beth

Joshua G Ackerman

Nico Scheepers

Nwabisa Plaatjie

Thando Mangcu

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN

Nick Schlieper & Per Hording for Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Patrick Curtis for Marat/Sade

Tim Mitchell for King Kong

Wilhelm Disbergen for What Remains

Wolf Britz for Shakespeare in Love

BEST SET DESIGN

Brian Thomson for Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Bus Concept and Production Design)

Greg King for Suddenly the Storm

Jaco Bouwer for Marat/Sade

Nicola Mayer for Immortal

Nigel Hook for The Play that Goes Wrong

BEST COSTUME DESIGN

Birrie le Roux for King Kong

Birrie le Roux for Funny Girl

Leigh Bishop and Lieze van Tonder for Twelfth Night

Sasha Ehlers for Tartuffe

Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner for Priscilla Queen of the Desert

BEST SOUND DESIGN, ORIGINAL MUSIC COMPOSITION OR ORIGINAL SCORE

Charl-Johan Lingenfelder for Original Music Composition (additional) for King Kong

Daf James & Michael Williams for Original Score for Tiger Bay the Musical

Neo Muyanga for Original Music Composition for Twelfth Night

Pierre-Henri Wicomb for Original Music Composition for Marat/Sade

Tarryn Lamb & Marc Lottering for Original Score for Aunty Merle the Musical

BEST NEW SOUTH AFRICAN SCRIPT

Die Dans van die Watermeid by Amee Lekas

Suddenly the Storm by Paul Slabolepszy

The Eulogists by Louis Viljoen

The Visit by Brent Palmer

What Remains by Nadia Davids

BEST DIRECTOR

Jaco Bouwer for Marat/Sade

Jay Pather for What Remains

Jonathan Munby for King Kong

Lara Bye for Die Reuk van Appels

Sylvaine Strike for Tartuffe

BEST PRODUCTION

Die Reuk van Appels – Theatrerocket (Johan van der Merwe and Rudi Sadler)

King Kong – The Fugard Theatre (Eric Abraham)

Marat/Sade – The Baxter Theatre (Nicolette Moses)

Priscilla Queen of the Desert – ShowTime Management (Hazel Feldman)

What Remains – Nadia Davids

For over 50 years the Fleur du Cap wine brand has proudly associated itself with the Theatre Awards as displaying the flair that is synonymous with the wine. “Theatre is the showcase for generations of artists; it is an honour to support such a pivotal part of the industry,” says SA Brand Manager for Premium Wines, Khanya Mashalaba.

Through awarding excellence in professional theatre Fleur du Cap wine and the Theatre Awards have played a significant role in the lives of South African theatre-makers.

Winners are chosen from productions performed at professional theatre venues in and around Cape Town. Theatre practitioners are recognised for acting, directing, staging and technical ability. These nominations reflect the excellent theatre talent seen on stages throughout the Western Cape last year. For the first time, awards will be made in the categories of Best Performance in an Opera (Male), Best Performance in an Opera (Female), Best Performance by an Ensemble, Best Theatre Production for Children and Young People and Best Production. This year awards will not be made in the category Best Puppetry Design.

The awards are considered in 26 different categories, including for Lifetime Achievement and Innovation in Theatre. The latter will be announced at the ceremony next month. The judges for the 2017 productions were Africa Melane, Dr Beverley Brommert, Eugene Yiga, Johan van Lill, Marina Griebenow, Maurice Carpede, Niel Roux, Tracey Saunders and Wayne Muller.

A total of 80 diverse productions from the year under review were eligible for consideration. They are, in alphabetical order:

A Handful of Keys, Angels on Horseback, Another One’s Bread, Aunty Merle the Musical, bash: latterday plays, Black, Boy Ntulikazi, Brother Love 2, Buzani Kubawo, Cathy and the Trolley Dollies, Chapter 2 Section 9, Cheers to Sarajevo, Der Fliegende Holländer, Die Dans van die Watermeid, Die Nag Van Legio, Die Reuk van Appels, El Blanco: Tales of the Mariachi, Evita, Evita Bezuidenhout and the Kaktus of Separate Development, Fiela se Kind, Funny Girl, Hamlet, Hemelruim, Immortal, In Bocca al Lupo, In Whorefish Bloomers: The Waitresses’ Lament, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Kafka’s Ape, Kidcasino, King Kong, Klara Maas se hart is gebreek, ensomeer: Die vloeistof-trilogie, From Koe’siestes to Kneidlach, Koöperasiestories, Kwamanzi, Macbeth: The Adult Panto, Mama Africa the Musical, Marat/Sade, Mate, Moedertaal, Nasty Womxn, Nice Coat (Lekker Jas), Niqabi Ninja, Peter Pan, Pieces, Police Cops in Space, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Red Aloes, Renaissance, Rent, Rigoletto, Scenes from an Execution, Selwyn and Gabriel, Shakespeare in Love, Sherlock Holmes and the Curse of the Queen’s Diamond, Single Minded, So ry Miss Daisy, Songs of this Soil, State Fracture, Suddenly the Storm, Synergy, Tartuffe, The Eulogists, The Magic Flute, The Mother, The Mystery of Irma Vep, The Native Who Caused All The Trouble, The Play That Goes Wrong, The Rabble, The Visit, Thirst, Three’s a Crowd, Tiger Bay the Musical, Topdog/Underdog, Tswalo/Source, Twelfth Night, The Underground Library, Vlooi en die Koninginby/Kipper and the Queen Bee, What Remains and Who’s Your Daddy.

The student panel adjudicated another 35 student productions, bringing the total number of productions that were considered in 2017 to an astounding 115.

“The increased number of nominees in the category for Best New South African Script is extremely exciting as it means that local theatre-makers are becoming bolder in telling the stories that are at the heart of our collective lived experience. To see life imitating art in this way is truly exhilarating. We thank Fleur du Cap wine brand, the hardworking panel of judges, theatre-makers and all the creatives behind the scenes who made this possible,” says Melanie Burke, chairman of the judging panel.

Each award carries a cash prize of R15 000 and a silver medallion. All voting processes are audited and overseen by Distell Internal Audit and the legal firm Cluver Markotter Inc.

A limited number of tickets for the ceremony at The Baxter Theatre will be on sale at R300 per person.

However, there is no reason to miss this exciting annual event! For the first time in the history of the awards theatre lovers can share in the celebrations from the comfort of their own home, in real-time, through a virtual experience, at only R100 per ticket, standard data rates apply. Purchase your tickets from the Baxter Box Office on 021 685 7880 or Webtickets from 15th February 2018.

Share your Flair with Fleur du Cap wine and celebrate excellence in theatre with the award recipients! Follow the awards on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FleurduCap/ and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/FDCTheatreAward. For more information on Fleur du Cap Wines www.fleurducap.co.za

Nominees for 53rd Fleur du Cap Awards announced was originally published on Artsvark

[artsvark]

REVIEW: Die Reuk Van Appels

Die Reuk Van Appels

A stage, empty but for an army general’s uniform hanging from the ceiling, a carpeted floor and a chair, Die Reuk Van Appels relies on the story telling skills of Gideon Lombard to draw the audience in to the world as seen through the eyes of an 11 year old, coming of age in 1970’s apartheid South Africa. The story is compelling, and I remained hooked from beginning to end. I was born a year after the story is set, and this play reminded me of aspects of my own childhood, but also reminded me just how liberal my own upbringing was.

Growing up in apartheid era South Africa, Marnus Erasmus, son of a South African Defense Force general is innocent and naive. Indoctrinated too, by his parents, his school, schoolmates and the radio. Gideon Lombard relays tales about his parents, sister, domestic worker and her son in a way that reminds me very much of the schoolboy character that I have played regularly over the last 12 years on comedy stages. The show has its moments of comic relief, but there are many laughs brought about in the audience, startled into laughter by shocking reminders of beliefs white South Africans once held about others.

Die reuk van appels

There are elements to the storyline that I do not wish to give away, but even in the buildup to a dramatic plot twist Gideon Lombard, under the direction of Lara Bye, grips tight to the audience’s attention. Die Reuk Van Appels is based on the debut novel of the same name by Mark Behr, translated and published in English as ‘The Smell of Apples‘. The original Afrikaans novel was out of print, but thanks to the praise this production has received on the stages of the KKNK and National Arts Festivals, is back on the shelves.

Having seen the play, and being held spellbound for the duration, I now plan to get my hands on the book. Die Reuk Van Appels is on stage now at the South African State Theatre as part of their Afrikaans Season which opened on Saturday evening. My advice: Go and see it!

REVIEW: Die Reuk Van Appels was originally published on Artsvark

[artsvark]

'Die Reuk van Appels' comes to State Theatre

Die reuk van appels. Photo by Jan Potgieter and National Arts Festival 2017

Amid a heavy scheduled SA tour, the play capturing brutal consequences of apartheid will be showing at State Theatre from 1 to 24 September.

Die reuk van appels is the acclaimed 1993 debut novel of South African author Mark Behr. This seminal work was adapted for the stage and debuted in April 2017 at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) in Oudtshoorn. Die reuk van appels is the coming-of-age story of Marnus Erasmus, 11-year-old son of a South African Defence Force (SADF) general. It eloquently captures the Afrikaner mentality in the late 1970s and early 1980s and the brutal consequences of apartheid and militarisation of South African life.

Die reuk van appels. Photo by Jan Potgieter and National Arts Festival 2017

Upon publication and subsequent translation into English (as The Smell of Apples) that same year, this landmark Afrikaans novel catapulted Behr into the ranks of young and talented dissident voices such as Etienne van Heerden and Koos Prinsloo (Tony Eprile, New York Times). Before his untimely death on 27 November 2015, Behr was a professor of creative writing at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee.

Since reading the novel for the first time, Johan van der Merwe of the newly established production company Theatrerocket has hankered to produce Die reuk van appels for the stage. When he teamed up with co- theatre afficionado Rudi Sadler in 2015, it was an obvious choice for their first venture as a production company.

Die reuk van appels. Photo by Stephanie Gericke.

Van der Merwe and Sadler have assembled a stellar team of theatre-makers to realise their dream. Johann Smith, versatile writer for stage and screen from Pretoria, has turned prize-winning novel into a viable theatre script. Gideon Lombard (…miskien, The View, Special Thanks to Guests from Afar, Orpheus in Africa) performs the role of the hapless Marnus under the guidance of award-winning director Lara Bye (Yellowman, London Road, Oscar en die Pienk Tannie, Vaslav), while Kosie Smit is responsible for the lighting design and Lombard, also a talented musician, for sound design. Die reuk van appels is Gideon’s acclaimed debut solo performance and he subsequently received the Best Actor Award at the 2017 Kanna Awards for his performance at KKNK.

Die reuk van appels has just returned from the National Arts Festival (Grahamstown) where it was invited to be performed as part of the Main programme. After a run at State Theatre will continue to tour across the country to several major arts festivals and theatres including Aardklop Kunstefees (Potchefstroom) and the Fugard Theatre (Cape Town).

Please note that the production has an age restriction of 16, with the guidelines SNLVP (Sex, Nudity, Language, Violence and Prejudice).

‘Die Reuk van Appels’ comes to State Theatre was originally published on Artsvark

[artsvark]

Die Reuk van Appels debuts at KKNK

Die reuk van appels

Die Reuk van Appels is the acclaimed 1993 debut novel of South African author Mark Behr. On 10 April 2017, this seminal work will be seen on stage for the first time at the Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK) in Oudtshoorn, as adapted. Die Reuk van Appels is the coming-of-age story of Marnus Erasmus, 11-year-old son of a South African Defence Force (SADF) general. It eloquently captures the Afrikaner mentality in the late 1970s and early 1980s and the brutal consequences of apartheid and militarisation of South African life.

Die reuk van appels

Upon publication and subsequent translation into English (The Smell of Apples) later that same year, this landmark Afrikaans novel catapulted Behr into the ranks of young and talented dissident voices such as Etienne van Heerden and Koos Prinsloo (Tony Eprile, New York Times). Before his untimely death on 27 November 2015, Behr was a professor of creative writing at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, in the USA.

Since reading the novel for the first time, Johan van der Merwe of the newly established production company Theatrerocket has hankered to produce Die Reuk van Appels for the stage. When he teamed up with co- theatre afficionado Rudi Sadler in 2015, it was an obvious choice for their first venture as a production company.

Die reuk van appels

Van der Merwe and Sadler have assembled a stellar team of theatre-makers to realise their dream. Johann Smit, versatile writer for stage and screen from Pretoria, has turned prize-winning novel into a viable theatre script. Gideon Lombard (miskien, The View, Special Thanks to Guests from Afar, Orpheus in Africa) performs the role of the hapless Marnus under the guidance of award-winning director Lara Bye (Yellowman, London Road, Oscar en die Pienk Tannie, Vaslav), while Kosie Smit of Kosie Smit Produksiehuis is responsible for the lighting design and Lombard, also a talented musician, for sound design.

After the KKNK, the play will also be performed at the Vryfees in Bloemfontein (18-22 July 2017), followed by extensive runs at the State Theatre in Pretoria (1-24 September 2017) and Fugard Theatre in Cape Town (9-28 October 2017). More performance dates will be confirmed soon.

Die Reuk van Appels debuts at KKNK was originally published on Artsvark