World Premiere for Lara Foot's THE INCONVENIENCE OF WINGS at the National Arts Festival, with Baxter Season to Follow

Lara Foot, the 2016 National Arts Festival Featured Artist and 1996 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre, has assembled a stellar cast and creative team for the much-anticipated world premiere of her latest play, THE INCONVENIENCE OF WINGS. Following its debut at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, the production - starring Jennifer Steyn, Andrew Buckland and Mncedisi Shabangu - transfers to the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio in Cape Town from a season in July and August.

Set in a landscape of memory and dreams, THE INCONVENIENCE OF WINGS tackles the issues of friendship, dysfunction, addiction and angels. Sara (Steyn) has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder: she is compulsive, alive and hates women who know how to make cupcakes. Andrew (Buckland), her husband, is on a mission to find a cure for her afflictions and Professor James (Shabangu) quietly tries to save Andrew from the inconvenience of his wings.

This dynamic new drama was inspired by author Abraham J. Twerski's book, ADDICTIVE THINKING, which that examines the notion of compulsion, addiction, denial and abuse of self as well as conversations on bipolar disorder that Foot had with celebrated psychiatrist Dr Sean Baumann. It was further stirred by Foot's father who has suffered from dementia for more than a decade.

This production also celebrates Foot's illustrious history of collaborating with Buckland (BETRAYAL, THE WELL BEING and SCROOGE) and Shabangu (TSHEPANG and FISHERS OF HOPE). It marks her first journey with Steyn, who was the 2014 Fleur du Cap award winner for THE MILK TRAIN DOESN'T STOP HERE ANYMORE and who was recently seen at the Baxter Theatre in A DOLL'S HOUSE. Most recently Buckland was seen in TOBACCO, AND THE HARMFUL EFFECTS THEREOF and Shabangu in SIZWE BANZI IS DEAD.

Foot once again teams up with the award-winning set designer Patrick Curtis and lighting designer Mannie Manim, with whom she shared success for SOLOMON AND MARION. Other collaborations with Curtis include REMEMBERING THE LUX, FISHERS OF HOPE, BETRAYAL, KAROO MOOSE and SCROOGE. Composition and sound design is by Philip Miller, choreography by Grant van Ster and costume design by Birrie le Roux.

Foot is the CEO and artistic director of the Baxter Theatre Centre and a former Rolex protégé to Sir Peter Hall in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. She has become known and respected for her own hard-hitting plays, which sensitively and creatively, tackle social issues in South Africa and for which she has won several awards. Earlier this year her production of FISHERS OF HOPE, which premiered at the National Arts Festival in 2014, scooped four Naledi Theatre Awards in Johannesburg, including the coveted Best Production of a Play accolade. The play also won two Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards last year.

As the 2016 Featured Artist at the 43rd National Arts Festival, Foot leads the charge on the Main Programme which is made up of 80% of work written, directed, curated or headlined by women. The artistic director of the National Arts Festival, Ismail Mahomed, comments:

In a year when the National Arts Festival sharpens the spotlight on women writers, directors, choreographers and artists Lara Foot's contribution to South African theatre both in South Africa and abroad, positions her as a leader in the field. She is one of South Africa's most prolific theatre-makers. Her prowess as a formidable arts manager under a challenging funding climate is most admirable. Under her wing, the Baxter Theatre Centre continues to be one of South Africa's leading theatres. Her commitment and passion for strategically devised development initiatives has also created opportunities for many emerging artists to be catapulted into the mainstream. Presenting her as the 2016 Featured Artist honours both her achievements and her contribution to the sector over the past 20 years.

THE INCONVENIENCE OF WINGS, which carries an age restriction of 16, premieres at the 2016 National Arts Festival, running at the Rhodes Theatre from 3 - 5 July. Tickets can be booked through the National Arts Festival website. Performances take place at 14:00 and 20:00.

The subsequent season at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio previews on 12 and 13 July, opens on 14 July and runs until 13 August at 19:30 nightly, with Saturday matinees at 14:30. Booking is online through Computicket, by phone on 0861 915 8000, or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. For corporate, block or school bookings, charities and fundraisers, contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993.

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