SILENT VOICE AT THE BAXTER - GRIPPING, COMPELLING, THRILLING! Straight from its success at the 2014 Edinburgh Assembly Fringe Festival, Aubrey Sekhabi’s high- octane, action-packed thriller Silent Voice comes to the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio for a short season from 13 October to 1 November at 8.15pm nightly with a matinee on 18 October at 2pm. Nominated for five Naledi Awards earlier this year (Best Production of a Play, Best Director, Best Ensemble/Cutting Edge, Best Score/Arrangement/Adaptation and Best Lighting Design), the play has been performed to great acclaim at the South African State Theatre, the Market Theatre and most recently the Edinburgh Assembly Fringe Festival. The production received a five-star accolade from the British Theatre Guide, which described it as “a deceptively clever theatrical piece” and said, “It is a gripping story of four men on the run after a botched robbery that turns into murder, with some meaningful and realistic commentary about life in modern-day South Africa. As their plans begin to unravel, the audience is brought into the midst of the action as they become pawns in a high-stakes fight for survival.” Sunday Independent described it as “utterly compelling viewing”, Mail and Guardian agreed, calling it “a gripping work” and The Citizen simply said, “thrilling”. Affectionately known as the Quentin Tarantino of township theatre Aubrey Sekhabi is the artistic director of the State Theatre in Pretoria and is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s highly respected and dynamic theatre-makers. In 2006 he directed the highly successful return to the stage of John Kani and Winston Ntshona in Sizwe Banzi is Dead at the Baxter Theatre. Despite his prolific and award-winning career, this is the first time in many years that one of his own plays will be staged and performed in Cape Town. Other productions which he was responsible for include Rivonia Trial and most recently he adapted and directed Marikana – The Musical. “The characters in Silent Voice affirm that dreams built on broken morals become broken dreams,” says Sekhabi. “Violence breeds violence. Often it seems so far removed from us because we only read about it or see it on the news. Each time I go back to this play I try to get into the hearts and the silent thoughts of the characters so as to somehow understand their actions.” The stellar cast is made up of television, stage and film stars Presley Chweneyagae (well-known for his role in the Academy Award-winning film Tsotsi) for limited performances, Zenzo Ngqobe (Rhythm City, Tsotsi, Black Diamond), Boitumelo Shisana (Cards, Hillside, Tshepang) Tshallo Chokwe (Bopha, Woza Albert, Ten Ways to Kill a President) and Don Mosenye (Coolie Odyssey, Generations). Chweneyagae will take over the role from Chokwe from 27 October to 1 November. Motshepe Pusho Kgawane provides live onstage percussion accompaniment and the set, lighting and video design is by Wilhelm Disbergen. With the ever-increasing rise in crime of this nature in South Africa and especially in the Western Cape in recent months, this production is now more relevant than ever before. Dealing with trust, betrayal, money, sacrifice and love, Silent Voice exposes not only the two sides of the characters in the drama, but also the spiralling of the emotional and social rollercoaster ride they will all take. This sometimes shocking, sometimes hard-core exposé of events affecting all of us in South Africa today will have audiences riveted to their seats as it examines the relationship between man and his dreams to obtain wealth at all costs, with no thought for the future. Silent Voice previews at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio on 13 and 14 October, opens on 15 October at 8.15pm, with a matinee on 18 October at 2pm and runs until 1 November. Ticket prices are R80 (previews and matinee), R90 (Monday to Thursday) and R100 over weekends. There is an age restriction of 14 years due to language and violence. Booking is through Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at computicketcom or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. For discounted school or group block bookings, fundraisers or charities contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or email [email protected] or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email her at [email protected].
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 11:58:15 +0000