The explosive hit production The Parrot Woman sees its revival as it returns to the Market Theatre stages for limited season!
Charles J. Fourie’s critically acclaimed play The Parrot Woman returns to the Market Theatre after its premier in 1990.
Set against the harsh backdrop of the Anglo-Boer war of the previous century this new production features award-wining stage and television actors Gontse Ntshegang and Andre Lotter.
In this new version of the play a woman of African descent is found on a farm with the dead bodies of a Boer farmer, his wife and children. The British soldier who guards this strange parrot woman reveals an even more painful and touching truth surrounding this mysterious and apparently mad woman’s relationship with the farmer, his wife and children.
South Africa’s leading contemporary playwright and director Fourie adapts The Parrot Woman to bring to life a part of history which is seldom told; that many black South Africans were also incarcerated in these concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer war in 1901.
Transferred to a concentration camp she is held captive in a cage and guarded by the unwilling British soldier who seeks the truth surrounding the murders in a game of ritual and escapism. What is disclosed in the touching end sheds light not only on the ravaging effects war has on humans today, but sees two characters find solace in each other’s pain and loss.
PAST REVIEWS
Artslink – “The setting is a unique one – the Boer war not being the most romantic or exotic of settings for a love story to unfold – but the themes are poignantly relevant. Difficult topics such as family murders are tackled head on, and questions raised as to whether there is a justifiable situation in which to take others’ lives. The Parrot Woman also shines a bleak light on how war can break the human psyche, driving good, moral people to make decisions they never would contemplate otherwise.”
Cape Times – “The Parrot Woman allows audiences a glimpse into a slice of history not frequently interrogated on stage. Viewing the Anglo-Boer War through the lens of this unusual relationship renders the past more vivid and is a painful reminder that not all casualties of war die on the battlefields.”
Oxford Daily – “Powerful theatrical experience by one of South Africa’s foremost playwrights.”
The Citizen – “A remarkable piece of theater by Charles J. Fourie.”
The Argus – “Gripping theater!”
The Star – “A must see!.”
PRODUCTION INFORMATION CREATIVE TEAM
Writer and Director: Charles J Fourie
Lighting Designer: Wesley France
Set & Props Designer: Jade Bowers
Movement Coach: MoMo Matsunyane
Stage manager Ali Madiga
Stage manager intern Sanelisiwe Gumede
Cast:
Andre Lotter as Venter
Gontse Ntshegang as Itatuleng Strydom
Season: Friday 26th August – Sunday 25th September 2022
Venue: The Mannie Manim
Performance times: Tuesday – Saturday @19h00 and Sunday @15h00
Ticket prices: Tuesday – Thursday R90
Friday – Saturday R150
Sunday – R130
To make block bookings and discounts please contact Anthony Ezeoke 011 832 1641ext 203/ 083 246 4950 or Bandile Luvalo 078 4344 860
For further information, interviews and images, contact:
Lusanda Zokufa 072 367 7867 or lusandaz@markettheatre.co.za and Desmond Mathebula 062 329 4741 or desmondm@markettheatre.co.za