PG du Plessis Hertzog Prize-winning Drama DIE NAG VAN LEGIO to Bow at Artscape Arena in November

DIE NAG VAN LEGIO, the Hertzog Prize-winning drama by P.G. du Plessis, will enjoy a short run at the Artscape Arena theatre this November. This revival of the play was commissioned by Innibos to be performed at their annual arts festival, after which it toured to the Vrystaat Kunstefees.

DIE NAG VAN LEGIO is recognised as a South African masterpiece. The psychological thriller is set in a psychiatric institute, where the lives of four patients are drastically altered when a character, Dogoman, appears on the scene. One of the four, Dirk Jooste, knows Dogoman's ability to take advantage of people's religious beliefs and opposes him. But with masterly manipulation and as an act of revenge for a previous encounter with Dirk, Dogoman turns everyone against Dirk. What unfolds is a thrilling and mesmerising battle between good and evil. The themes of mass hysteria, power struggles, manipulation and the subjugation of the individual are as relevant today as they were when the play first premiered.

Du Plessis's timeless debut work was written in the late 1960s with legendary actors such as Carel Trichardt, Marius Weyers, Louis van Niekerk and Schalk Jacobsz, among others, bringing the piece to life in 1969 in a production by PACT, the Performing Arts Council of the Transvaal. Du Plessis was a student of N.P. van Wyk Louw, who held the belief that every generation should protest some cause, and Pretoria came to a standstill with this unprecedented protest of language and politics. In 1972, Du Plessis was awarded the Hertzog Prize and went on to write a number of plays following this prestigious beginning of his work as a dramatist.

This long-awaited revival of this famous play, which translates easily to today's political landscape, is directed by Albert Maritz, who discusses his journey with the production:

To be able to do his play is almost a calling. But one is cautious about what it means today and you cannot force your will on a master's work by simply changing everything. In those days, in Pretoria this was a huge success, and then you dare to try and make it happen again.

I have previously said that a script doesn't prove itself on paper. It can only be evaluated when it comes to life upon the stage. The actors have to tread lightly. It is difficult material, but it translates into fantastic entertainment for audiences.

We have been careful with this text. It's almost as though we've worked with a scalpel to remove little bits, a sentence here and there or a short paragraph. It's genuinely difficult because the structure of the play is so good. We've attempted to make the fewest possible cuts. It is important that the piece remains in step with the times.

DIE NAG VAN LEGIO boasts the cream of the crop of South Africa's actors, with André Roothman, Gerben Kamper, Deon Lotz, Duncan Johnson, Hein Poole, Francois Potgieter, Francois Jacobs and Riaan Visman taking on these classic roles. Scenic design for the production is by Gaerin Hauptfleisch in collaboration with Maritz, costume design is by Elrina Marais and lighting design by Jako Beylevelt.

With generous support from the National Afrikaans Theatre Initiative, the Innibos Arts Festival and the Damhuis Restaurant, DIE NAG VAN LEGIO runs at the Artscape Arena from 14 - 19 November at 20:00, with matinees on 15 and 19 November at 15:00 and 18 November at 14:30. Tickets cost R120 and are available from Computicket and Artscape Dial-a-seat on 021 421 7695. Special discounts for pensioners and students available, costing R95 for the 14:30 matinee and R110 for evening shows. Adults should accompany children under the age of 10 years old.

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