.png)
Christine Skinner
Rehearsals are in full swing and the countdown is on to the world premiere of the stage adaptation of Damon Galgut’s Booker Prize-winning novel, THE PROMISE.
Club Dezza Productions and The Market Theatre present THE PROMISE – ON STAGE which will have its world premiere from 16 September to 6 October at The Star Theatre at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town (formerly The Fugard Theatre).
The production will then transfer to The Market Theatreon The John Kani stage from 18 October to 5November. Bookings for both cities are now open via Webtickets.
Featuring a star-studded South African cast and creative team, the production is directed by internationally acclaimed, multiple award-winning director Sylvaine Strike.
THE PROMISE – ON STAGE is written by Damon Galgut, directed by Sylvaine Strike with stage adaptation by Damon Galgut and Sylvaine Strike.
“The rehearsal process for bringing this exceptional novel to the stage has been a profound and electrifying journey,” says director Sylvaine Strike. “We are developing the theatre language for the piece, while the costumes and sound design are springing magically to life under the genius of Penny Simpson and Charl-Johan Lingenfelder respectively. It has been a gift to work with Josh Lindberg’s exceptional set from day one, which, without giving too much away, does not have a single flat surface, a true playground for us all creating the landscape of The Promise – on Stage.”
“We have been reflecting on ourselves as South Africans, with the recent events in our country highlighting how disparate our daily experiences are. It serves as a sharp reminder that the themes of The Promise remain absolutely relevant, and how vital it is to have continued conversations around these realities.’
The stellar cast line-up is: Rob van Vuuren (Curse of the Starving Class, Endgame) as Anton Swart; Kate Normington (Tali’s Baby Diaries, Storm in a B-Cup) as Rachel Swart; Frank Opperman (Ouboet and Wors, Toutjies en Ferreira) as Manie Swart; Chuma Sopotela(Standard Bank Young Artist, Karoo Moose) as Salome; Cintaine Schutte (Die Seemeeu, Fynskrif, Tien Duisend Ton) as Tannie Marina; Jenny Stead (The Glass Menagerie, Elesin Oba) as Astrid Swart; Albert Pretorius(Die Seemeeu, Nêrens, Noord-Kaap, Tien Duisend Ton) as Dominee Simmers; Sanda Shandu (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Unlikely Secret Agent) as Lukas and Jane de Wet (Spoorloos, The Watch) as Amor Swart.
The dream creative team is completed with Sound Design and Original Music Composition by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (King Kong); Set and Lighting Design by Josh Lindberg (Birdy); Costume Design by Penny Simpson (The Producers) and Choreography by Natalie Fisher (Free Flight Dance Company).
Galgut was awarded the prestigious Booker Prize for THE PROMISE in 2021. It is only the third time a South African writer has been given that honour.
The story: On a small farm outside Pretoria, the Swart family – “a typical bunch of white South Africans” – tries to hold itself together through the violent lurches of recent history. They have promised to give a small piece of land with a tiny house on it to Salome, the Sotho woman who has worked for them her whole life. A worthless property, but still, they will not give it up.
Are they cursed, or just unlucky? One by one, members of the family die, while everything around them changes and they try to stay the same. Only two siblings will eventually be left, facing each other over a great divide: Anton, the tormented older brother, and Amor, his strange younger sister.
*Catch author Damon Galgut and director Sylvaine Strike at Open Book Festival in conversation with Africa Melane about the process of bringing The Promise from the page to the stage. The event takes place on Friday 8 September at 12 in the Avalon Theatre. Seating is limited. Tickets cost R50 and can be booked at Webtickets.
Don’t miss the chance to experience THE PROMISE – ON STAGE which will have a strictly limited run!
THE PROMISE – ON STAGE will be presented from 16 September to 6 October at The Star Theatre at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town, followed by a run at The Market Theatre from 18 October to 5 November.
Bookings can be made at Webtickets - www.webtickets.co.za
Join the conversation on social media:
Facebook: The Promise On Stage
Instagram: @thepromiseonstage