Somewhere on the Border

Written by Anthony Akerman Directed by André Odendaal Designed by Kosie Smit

Written in exile, intercepted in the post and banned as a publication by apartheid censorship because the language was considered "offensive" and the portrayal of the South African Armed Forces "prejudicial to the safety of the state", the Argus hailed Somewhere on the Border as "the toast of the Grahamstown Festival" when it opened in South Africa in 1986. The play was praised for its "bitingly funny language" (The Star), as "the best army play" (Natal Witness) and as "the ultimate anti-war statement in South African theatre" (Argus). The play also attracted the attention of the Military Police in Cape Town, who confiscated the actors' army browns they were wearing as costumes and, while performing in Johannesburg, two actors were severely assaulted by members of the Defence Force's Civil Co-Operation Bureau in an unsuccessful attempt to shut down the production.

Exactly 25 years after the play was first performed in Grahamstown, André Odendaal's innovative production opened at the 2011 National Arts Festival. Not one of the actors in this talented cast was even born when Anthony Akerman wrote the play. "The past is a foreign country", as LP Hartley famously wrote, and these young actors give life to a story that makes the old South Africa seem both foreign and familiar. After almost two decades of silence, the border war has forced its way back into public discourse and this production of Somewhere on the Border is part of that dialogue.

Leon van Nierop concluded his review on Artslink saying the play performs an open heart surgery on the South African psyche. It is timely, finely acted and forcefully directed. See it at all costs. It hits the audience with the force of a sledgehammer." And in Cue, Peter Frost summed up his feelings in the following words: "But the legacy of this play, finally, after all these years, performed right now, here, is massively positive. For an army of 40+ men (and their families) battling the consequences of latent rage, this is an acknowledgement that their history is not incidental, despite the context of their tragedy. Good news. Nothing stunts healing like disregard. Ask this country's other Lost Generation."

Kosie House of Theatre and Market Theatre will be presenting André Odendaal's production of Anthony Akerman's Somewhere on the Border at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg
from 10 January to 12 February 2012.

The play is performed by Glen Biderman-Pam, Charles Bouguenon, Dylan Horley, Luan Jacobs, André Lötter, Kaz McFadden and Ndino Ndilula.




Production Information:

Written by Anthony Akerman




Directed by Andre Odendaal




Set Designer Kosie Smit




Stage Manager Joanna Borton




Cast:




Glen Biderman-Pam




Charlie Bouguenon




Dylan Horley




Luan Jacobs




André Lötter




Kaz McFadden




Ndino Ndilula.




Season 10 January -- 12 February 2012

Press Night Friday 13 January 2012

Venue The Main Theatre

Performance Times Tuesday -- Saturday 20h00 Sunday 15h00

Special 11h00 Performances @ R50.00 only Tuesday 10, Wednesday 11,
Thursday 12 and Friday 13 January 2012




Ticket Prices: Tuesday R66 Wednesday -- Thursday R95 Friday -- Saturday R160 Sun -- R120

Age restriction PG 16 -- Language and subject

For production pictures and further information, please contact:
Lusanda Zokufa or Nantes Pieterse
lusanda@markettheatre.co.za or info@kosie.biz
011 832 1641 ext 123/ 072 367 7867 or 011 4720511 / 072 587 6870

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Somewhere on the border
• André Odendaal
• Anthony Akerman
• Kosie Smit
• Glen Biderman-Pam
• Charles Bouguenon
• Dylan Horley
• Luan Jacobs
• André Lötter
• Kaz McFadden
• Ndino Ndilula.