March Opening for COCK at the Alexander Bar and Café's Upstairs Theatre

Mike Bartlett's drama, COCK, in a production directed by Paul Griffiths and starring Francis Chouler, Matt Newman, Melissa Haiden and James Skilton, comes to Alexander Bar and Café's Upstairs Theatre this March. Winner of the 2010 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in an Affiliate Theatre, Bartlett's sharp, witty script takes a candid look at one mans sexuality and the difficulties that arise when faced with a whole new world of possibility.

Unhappy in his relationship, John wants out. Or maybe he just wants time out? A break from his boyfriend for a few weeks. Or maybe months? Actually, the whole problem is John doesn't know what he wants. But the last thing he expects is to fall in love with a woman - and now he has a big choice to make.

Playing the central role of John is Francis Chouler. Cape Town born Chouler trained at UCT, graduating cum laude with a BA in Theatre and Performance in 2010. He played his first film lead in the Bollywood film, CROOK, which released worldwide in the same year, and has appeared in a total of seven feature films, most recently Academy Award-winning director Gavin Hood's EYE IN THE SKY, opposite Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman. Others films include LOVE THE ONE YOU LOVE, IMPUNITY and MANDELA'S GUN. Television credits include CRIMES UNCOVERED and THE BOOK OF NEGROES. On stage, Chouler has played in TWELFTH NIGHT, AS YOU LIKE IT, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW and CARDENIO at Maynardville's open air theatre. He has toured with Juliet Jenkin's MARY AND THE CONQUEROR to Johannesburg and Dublin. Chouler is also a founding member and the vice secretary of the South African Guild of Actors.

Opposite Chouler as M and F are Matt Newman and Melissa Haiden respectively. Newman's theatre roles include Andrew in THE TREATMENT, Gremio in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW, Tom Snout in A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, Robin in ROBIN HOOD and Brad in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. Recent television credits include STRIKE BACK III and BLUESTONE 42.

Haiden graduated from UCT Drama Department in 2009. In 2011, she was part of the Siyasanga Repertory Theatre Company based at Artscape. Theatre highlights include co-producing and performing in SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO with Sugar Daddy Productions, directed by Chris Weare. Last year, she played a recurring comedic role in BLACK SAILS and played Camille in THE WRONG MANS. She has also produced BOUND, a short film which will soon be released. She also performed alongside Paddy Lyster in the upcoming short SAVAGE IVY, written and directed by Jon Plowman. Haiden joins c*ckdirect from playing the role of Desdemona in OTHELLO at Maynardville.

James Skilton rounds out the cast of COCK. Having first appeared on stage in a 1976 production of the musical CAMELOT, he has gone on to appear in over fifty productions both here and in the United Kingdom, among them HABEAS CORPUS, COLOMBE, ABSURD PERSON SINGULAR, RUN FOR YOUR WIFE, THE COLLECTOR, MACBETH, CYPRIENNE and ABIGAIL'S PARTY and most recently as Dennis Cain in the 2014 production of Willy Russell's comedy ONE FOR THE ROAD. When not on stage, Skilton can be periodically spotted on television screens around the world, appearing in an ever-growing number of commercials.

Director Paul Griffiths heads up the renowned Waterfront Theatre College. With business partner, Delia Sainsbury, he works consistently to feed the national and international performing arts industry with a stream of highly skilled artists. To support the end of developing emerging talent, the pair has created The Galloway Theatre, a necessary platform for both emerging and established performers. This theatre adds to a vibrant fringe theatre circuit in Cape Town. Griffiths is also an active trustee of the Imbewu Trust and is involved in a range of initiatives designed to support the development of contemporary South African theatre, one such initiative being the annual ScRibe New Writing Competition and the other the Fly Free bursary for graduates in the performing arts. As freelance director, Griffiths has a string of national and international credits including: SHIRLEY VALENTINE; EDUCATING RITA; HAPPY DAYS; THE LAST FIVE YEARS; I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE!; EDGES; LEGALLY BLONDE; HAIRSPRAY; FOOTLOOSE; OTHELLO; THE YELLOW WOOD and ADAM EVE. Before returning to South Africa in 2005, he was resident director at The Orange Tree Theatre and Associate Director at The Bridewell Theatre in London. He holds an MA in Theatre Directing which included studies in London, Russia and Spain.

In addition to COCK, Mike Bartlett has written LOVE, LOVE, LOVE (Best New Play at the 2011 UK Theatre Awards); ARTEFACTS (Old Vic New Voices Award); CONTRADICTIONS; 13; EARTHQUAKES IN LONDON and BULL. KING CHARLES III has just completed its critically acclaimed run in the West End and his new play, GAME, has just received its premiere at the Almeida Theatre, London. One of the United Kingdom's most recognised playwrights, he is currently an Associate Playwright at Paines Plough. In 2007, he was the Pearson playwright in residence at the Royal Court Theatre, after which he was writer-in-residence position at the National Theatre in 2011. He was also nominated for a BAFTA for His television series THE TOWN.

COCK runs at Alexander Upstairs from 3 - 14 March and tickets, costing R90-R100, can be booked at the Alexander Bar and Café's website. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the bar anytime during its regular opening hours, from Monday to Saturdays between 11am and 1am. For telephone bookings and enquiries, call 021 300 1652. Keep up to date with all of Alexander Bar's shows on Facebook and Twitter.

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