Alexander Bar and Café Upstairs Theatre Welcomes Back COCK & BULL STORY

Alexander Bar and Café welcomes back Micheal Kirch's production of c*ck& BULL STORY, performed by Rowan Studti and Dylan Skews, to the Upstairs Theatre following its succesful debut run there last year. The drama will run for 4 performances, starting 19 January.

In c*ck& BULL STORY, Trav, an up-and-coming boxer on the verge of the big time, prepares for battle in the fight that could make his life-long dreams a reality. Jackie, his friend and coach, psyches him into fitness with grand illusions of a world of endless bodily pleasures and material spoils. Trav's zealous drive for power and glory leads to questionable conduct in the boxing ring. Although Jackie has little regard for the rules of the game, and is only concerned with winning, he is faced with a serious blow to his conscience: How far is too far?

The story delves into the themes of male friendship, homosexuality, masculinity, dreams and ambitions, the fight for survival and keeping the male ego in check. It is gritty and fierce, and the characters are challenged psychologically and physically, making for an exciting, emotional and gripping journey of discovery. What is the prize for being a real man?

Originally written, directed and performed by Richard Zajdlic and Richard Crowe in 1985, c*ck& BULL STORY toured in and outside London, and had its first performance at the Palza Theatre, Romsey on April 25th 1985. This staging has been reworked by the cast and director to suit a South African context.

Director Michael Kirch is a University of Cape Town graduate with a Master's Degree in Directing for Stage. Over the years, he has tried his hand at stand-up comedy, improvised theatre, acting for stage as well as film and television. Kirch has directed several one-man shows for stand-up comics and was nominated in 2013 for a Fleur du Cap Award for Best New Director for Brent Palmer's BENCH, which ran at various venues around Cape Town. He also works as a freelance assistant casting director, directing and filming candidates' audition tapes for film and television commercials.

Actor and producer Rowan Studti has studied abroad at the New York film Academy and at the Actors' Centre in San Francisco in 2008. Thereafter he enrolled at ACT Cape Town to be coached by the likes of Grant Swanby and Nicola Hanekom, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama, Film and Screenwriting from the University of Cape Town. His most notable and recent work includes, "AN ABSOLUTE TURKEY, directed by Chris Weare and THE BEAUTY OF INCOMPLETE THINGS, written and directed by Daniel Dercksen. He has also acted in a number of international and local film and television productions. c*ck& BULL STORY is Studti's debut in the role of producer, the first of many productions that he hopes to produce independently.

Dylan Skews is an actor and stand-up comedian, the winner of the 2009 Nando's Comedy Showdown as well as of the title of "Cape Town's Next Comedian" at Phat Joe's Comedy Show in 2010. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Live Performance from the South African School Of Motion Picture And Live Performance (AFDA). Since then he has featured in numerous international and local feature films, series and documentaries including, DEATH RACE, DOMINION, MANKIND, RACE, KIDNAP AND RANSOM, THE RUNAWAY, AMERICA: THE STORY OF US and GETTYSBURG, but to date his most memorable role is when he played a boisterous and charismatic drunk pirate called Logan in the Michael Bay series BLACK SAILS. Skews is also one of South Africa's fastest rising comedians and recently finished his one man show SKEWS ME, which he wrote, performed and directed.

COCK & BULL STORY runs from 19 - 22 January at 9pm nightly. Tickets cost R90-R100 and can be booked securely online with a credit card by visiting alexanderbar.co.za/show/cockandbullstory. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the bar anytime during its regular opening hours on Mondays through Saturdays between 11am and 1am. Telephone bookings can be made at 021 300 1652. More information about Alexander Bar can be seen on their Facebook page or on Twitter. For futher information on Rowan Studti Productions, visit https://www.facebook.com/RowanStudtiProductions.

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