News

Kuns Onbeperk Board of Directors initiates a Theatre Indaba

Recognition in 2012

My three plays produced by Artscape in 2012 have all won some form of recognition

International distribution

Two plays will be introduced to international audiences in 2012/13.

After a first print run by Junkets Publishers sold out, "Green Man Flashing" has been reprinted and is now available for schools and universities who have prescribed the text. The Independent Education Board is largely responsible for the play's popularity after including it in its list of setworks for 2011.

School's Play Festival

I was invited to serve as judge at Westerford High School’s play festival on Tuesday 14 September. It was interesting to see the kinds of issues that high school learners are dealing with.

Play Prescribed as South African School Setwork

The Independent Education Board with schools such as St Stithians, Cedar House and Hilton College, has set "Green Man Flashing" as a matric setwork for 2011. The same play is being studied at Herzlia High School in Cape Town and by the drama departments of UCT and UKZN.

Drama For Life Panel Discussion

At the end of August, I participated in the Drama for Life Conference, and more particularly in a panel discussion at the Constitutional Court with Albie Sachs and others on the theme, "The Dream Deferred? Art and Social Change: lessons for and from South Africa."

Keynote speaker

On 20 September, I will be the keynote speaker at the 15th anniversary celebration of the HIVOS Culture Fund in Amsterdam. The Hivos Culture Fund, set up in 1995, supports independent artistic initiatives in developing countries.

Mike's Got His Men!

After an intensive audition period, I'm delighted to announce the final cast selection for my upcoming comedy "Is It Because I'm Jack?" Clyde Berning, Andrew Laubscher, Morne Visser and Anele Matoti will feature in the play - a dark comedy about life, friendship and survival. Four young friends in the prime of their lives confront their mortality when one of them - a stand up comic - is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Is it all just a bad joke? ....You can find out in September, when we open at the Aardklop festival. Cape Town and Pretoria dates to be announced.

New Play!

I'm just putting the finishing touches to my new play - a dark comedy about life, friendship and loyalty called "Is it because I’m Jack?" The play was a commission for the Aardklop Festival in September this year and will be directed by Yvette Hardie. We're working on ideas for a Cape Town run later this year, so watch this space!

From Africa With Laugh

Excerpts from my comedy "Bafana Republic 3: Penalty Shootout" were performed by Lungi Pinda as part of the African Arts Institute’s project “From Africa with Laugh.” This production featured 3 comedians from Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia at the Baxter Theatre from 10 June-3 July.

Reworking the World Conference

I recently attended a conference in Sweden - together with 1700 people from 120 countries - called "Reworking the World." I was there to participate in a seminar on the creative industries and cultural entrepreneurship as sectors for employment. While there, I was invited to participate in a reading of "Seven," an internationally acclaimed play about the stories of 7 women from Russia, Ireland, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Guatemala and Cambodia. I read the part of Mukhtar Mai from Pakistan, as the only man in the cast….