New Short Play Compilation, ANTHOLOGY: AFTER THE END, Coming to Alexander Upstairs

The Alexander Upstairs loves new writing and the "Anthology" series is a platform for writers to play with style and material. In this edition, three writers, two actors, and one director come together to create an anthology of three new short plays on the theme AFTER THE END. Performed by Daneel van der Walt and Donna Cormack, Nicholas Spagnoletti, Jon Keevy and Louis Viljoen's plays will be directed by the latter in a 15-performance season this August and September. The three playwrights represented in this season created the "Anthology" initiative, which has had three successful seasons at the Alexander Bar's Upstairs Theatre to date.

In the first of three plays, 'abreast', Nicholas Spagnoletti lifts the lid on a vicious rivalry. Spagnoletti is a playwright and the co-owner of Alexander Bar. He is best known for his play LONDON ROAD, for which he received a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award and the Olive Schreiner prize. His other plays include that have been performed in SA and abroad are SPECIAL THANKS TO GUESTS FROM AFAR and CIVIL PARTING. He also works as a software developer.

Jon Keevy makes politics personal in the second play in ANTHOLOGY: AFTER THE END, 'The Shepard'. As a playwright, Keevy flounces through different genres, from children's theatre through saucy sketch comedy to solo shows dealing with dark South African themes. Most of these he has produced himself or with the aid of ASSITEJ and the Theatre Arts Admin Collective. Currently, Keevy is writing an absurd computer game for local game design company Free Lives. Keevy fits his writing schedule and his crazy collaborations around running the Alexander Upstairs.

Finally, Louis Viljoen sets stoner against seraph in 'Cherub-A-Dub-Dub'. A Cape Town based playwright and director, Viljoen has written and produced numerous plays including, THE BILE BOYS, THE FRONTIERSMEN, THE VERBALISTS, PORNO 88, THE PERVERT LAURA and THE EMISSARY. Viljoen has won two Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards for the Best New South African Script, for CHAMP in 2013 and THE KINGMAKERS in 2015. He was the recipient of the Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for New Directors for THE KINGMAKERS and THE PERVERT LAURA. Viljoen is currently the writer-in-residence for The Fugard Theatre.

Donna Cormack graduated with a degree in Theatre and Performance from the University of Cape Town. Her most recent performance was in Tom Eyen's THE WHITE WHORE AND THE BIT PLAYER, directed by Christopher Weare. She has also appeared in OUR COUNTRY'S GOOD and BLACK DOG/INJEMNYAMA.

Following her graduation from the same course at the same university, Daneel van der Walt has appeared in shows like Juliet Jenkin's BIG GIRL, Nicky Rebelo's LONG STREET NIGHTS and The Fugard's THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. She recently wowed Alexander Bar audiences with her original cabaret DANI AND THE LION: LAST NIGHT AT THE DEN.

ANTHOLOGY: AFTER THE END runs from 29 August - 17 September with shows taking place at 7pm nightly. Tickets cost R100-R120 and can be booked online or at the bar, anytime during its regular opening hours. Telephone bookings can be made on 021 300 1652. Alexander Bar & Café is situated on 76 Strand Street in Cape Town's CBD. Find out more about the venue on Facebook or Twitter.

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