PRESS: KARATARA at the Baxter Theatre for five nights only

Marie Vogts

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The Baxter Theatre Centre in collaboration with KKNK, Suidoosterfees, TOYOTA US Woordfees, NATI, and the Western Cape Government presents KARATARA, written by Shaun Oelf & Wilken Calitz.

Grant van Ster, Shaun Oelf (Figure of 8 Dance Collective) and Dean Balie take centre stage in this highly acclaimed new dance-drama production. After a two-year delay due to the Covid-pandemic, KARATARA debuted at KKNK 2022 with a sold-out run. The production won the award for Best Debut Production at the festival. Other nominations include: Best Theatre Production, Best Director, and Best Theatre Design.

KARATARA tells the story of the devastating “Knysna-fires” of 2018. On the 29th of October, in the middle of the night, a blazing inferno incinerated a small town. The residents lost everything, some even their lives. This deeply personal dance-drama deals with the loss of family, home, community and land. It examines the complex racial and social history between the communities of the area, and how political powers and some media exploited this tragedy.

“Die Karatara rivier, boetie. The deep dark place. Hy sluk alles in. Al die neighbourhoods langs hierdie swartslang in die Outeniqua

– húlle sluk al alles vir jare en jare en jare”.

"Karatara is sintuiglike ervaring waar rou talent geslyp is tot professionaliteit." – Anroux Marais, MEC for Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape

"Boeiend. Kartara sal nooit weer dieselfde betekenis het, Karatara drives you to action. Impossible to forget." – Shihaam Domingo, The Domingo Effect

"‘n Moet-kyk, absoluut ongelooflik!" – Marion Holm, Aktrise

Producer & Production Manager: Marié Vogts

Director & Sound design: Gideon Lombard

Actors: Dean Balie, Grant van Ster, Shaun Oelf

Choreography: Devised by the company

Stage manager: Andi Colombo

DURATION: 50min

LANGUAGE: Afrikaans, English & Dance

TICKETS: Webtickets

20 - 24 September

R100 (Pensioners) / R180