Louis Viljoen's THE KINGMAKERS to Play Fugard Theatre

Following the highly regarded Fugard Theatre productions of award-winning playwright Louis Viljoen's plays CHAMP (2013) and THE PERVERT LAURA (2015), his multiple 2014 Fleur du Cap Theatre Award-winning THE KINGMAKERS will be produced at the Fugard Theatre Studio from 23 February to 19 March 2016. Viljoen, who won the 2014 Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best New Director for his staging of THE KINGMAKERS, will direct.

A 'pitch black' political comedy, THE KINGMAKERS follows a group of opposition party strategists as they attempt to place a neutral party member in contention for leadership. After an internal power struggle leaves them out in the cold and on the fringes of the party, they come up with a plan to shape a seemingly ambitionless, but well-respected politician into a leader. With the help of a rising commercial corporation seeking political clout and possible government contracts, the stage is set for a merciless power grab and perhaps a chance at revenge.

THE KINGMAKERS is set in the familiar world of skullduggery, backstabbing, one-upmanship, disloyalty, blackmail and profiteering, otherwise known as South African politics. Our three heroes spend their days making sure the system works for no one except the lucky few or the ones who can afford to do as they please. But after years of working in the dark and the cold, financially speaking, they conspire to get something for themselves, whether it be gold or power. Preferably both.

Founding producer and owner of the Fugard Theatre, Eric Abraham, comments on this production and Viljoen, who is the Fugard Theatre's first playwright in residence:

The Fugard Theatre exists to showcase the best of South African talent and it all begins with writers. While we are committed to world class South African and international productions of existing plays and musical theatre, we are equally committed to encouraging new South African writing. Louis Viljoen is one of these new voices who the Fugard Theatre will nurture by appointing him our first playwright in residence. The playwright in residence programme provides the writer with a series of guaranteed commissions and production of his work on the Fugard Theatre Studio stage.

THE KINGMAKERS stars Pierre Malherbe (SEXUAL PERVERSITY IN CHICAGO), Rebecca Makin-Taylor (LAST ROUNDS) and Brent Palmer (A STEADY RAIN). Viljoen has collaborated with Greg Karvellas on the set design, while the lighting design is by Ben du Plessis and costume design by Lamees Albertus.

Tickets for THE KINGMAKERS, ranging from R130 - R150, are available through Computicket or the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554.

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