Star-Studded South African Production of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE Set for The Fugard

An all South African production of the West End smash hit comedy SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE comes to the Fugard Theatre in 2017 with the best of this country's acting talent. This South African premiere is a Fugard Theatre production presented by Eric Abraham.

Adapted by Lee Hall from Tom Stoppard and Marc Norman's Academy Award-winning screenplay for the 1999 film of the same name, the comedy ran for an extended sold out season at the West End's Noel Coward Theatre in London in 2014. AS in the film, young Will Shakespeare has writer's block, the deadline for his new play fast approaching. He is in desperate need of inspiration, but then he finds his muse, Viola. This beautiful young woman is Will's greatest admirer and will stop at nothing - including breaking the law - to appear in his next play. Against a bustling background of mistaken identity, ruthless scheming and backstage theatrics, Will's love for Viola quickly blossoms and inspires him to write his greatest masterpiece.

The South African production of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE features 21 actors and a dog. The cast is led by Dylan Edy (NEW BOY, HAMLET) as Will Shakespeare, Roxane Hayward (BLOOD DRIVE, SAINTS AND STRANGERS) as Viola de Lesseps, and also includes Cape Talk's John Maytham as Fennyman.

Multiple award-winner Robyn Scott (LONDON ROAD, ELIZABETH I - ALMOST BY CHANCE A WOMAN) stars as Queen Elizabeth, Jason Ralph (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CHICAGO) as Lord Wessex, Richard Wright-Firth (ROBIN HOOD, VACANCY) as Robin, Bianca Flanders (DISTRICT SIX - KANALA, ORPHEUS IN AFRICA) as Mistress Quickly, Theo Landey (THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, THE HISTORY BOYS) as Marlowe, Nicholas Pauling (A STEADY RAIN, CLYBOURNE PARK) as Ned Allen, Sven Ruygrok (THE MOTHER, EPSTEIN) as Sam and Mark Elderkin (TWELFTH NIGHT, CHAMP) as Burbage.

Completing the ensemble are Lucy Tops (FUNNY GIRL, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW) as Nurse, Nathan Lynn (RAIDERS: THE MUSICAL, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE) as John Webster, Louis Viljoen (THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG, THE FRONTIERSMEN) as Mr Wabash, Darron Araujo (CHAMP, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW) as Henslowe, Adrian Collins (BENCH, KING LEAR) as Ralph, Sizo Mahlangu (OTELLO, BLACK SAILS) as Lambert, Walter van Dyk (ARMS AND THE MAN, A FLEA IN HER EAR) as Tilney and Andrew Roux (WIT, MACBETH) as Nol.

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE is directed by the Fugard Theatre's resident director, Greg Karvellas (THE FATHER, CLYBOURNE PARK, BAD JEWS). The design team comprises set designer Paul Wills (KING KONG, A HUMAN BEING DIED THAT NIGHT), costume designer Birrie Le Roux (KING KONG, FUNNY GIRL), lighting designer Wolf Britz (DIE SEEMEEU, WIE'S BANG VIR Virginia Woolf?) and sound designer Charl Johan Lingenfelder (WEST SIDE STORY, KING KONG).

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE is an imaginative, sexy and timeless tale behind the creation of the greatest love story ever told in the sixteenth century for the twenty-first century. Daniel Galloway, the executive director of the Fugard Theatre comments on the production:

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE is a charmingly funny romantic comedy that has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences the world over. We at The Fugard are delighted to showcase the best of South African talent in this wonderful piece of theatre which is the Fugard Theatre's first engagement with the mighty Bard albeit not in his own words.

SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE will run at the Fugard Theatre from 10 October 2017 on Tuesdays through Saturdays at 20:00, with 16:00 matinee performances on Saturdays and Sundays, excepting 15 October. Tickets range in price from R130 to R320 and can be booked through the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554. There is a 15% discount available for the Friends of The Fugard members.

The Fugard Theatre is situated in the heart of District Six, on the corner of Harrington and Caledon Streets, Cape Town. The Harrington Street car park is located at the corner of Caledon and Harrington streets and is available for the use of theatre patrons. Audiences are invited to visit the cosy ground-floor bar, which opens two hours before all scheduled shows and stays open until last rounds are called. If the weather is fine, the bar on the fantastic rooftop terrace, with its panoramic views of the city, is opened. Both bars offer a range of wines from some of the Cape's top estates.

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