Press Release: See the stars, with the stars, at Baxter for Death of a Colonialist

In a unique first, the Baxter Theatre Centre will be hosting an evening watching the stars, alongside the stars.

On Friday 31 January, leading names from the theatre and entertainment industry will be attending the performance of Death of a Colonialist featuring a stellar cast including popular TV and film actor Jamie Bartlett; Shirley Johnston (Felix, Heel Against the Head, Dancing at Lughnasa, Shadowlands); Nicholas Pauling (The Frontiersmen, Amadeus, Champ) and Ashleigh Harvey (Sophiatown, Truth in Translation). The play is directed by Craig Freimond of Material and Jozi fame. It is written by Greg Latter ((Forgiveness, Black Butterflies).

Tickets are only R80 for the performance, and audience members will have the chance to glimpse comedy icon and recent lead in Scrooge, Marc Lottering; South African acting legends John Kani and Sandra Prinsloo; acclaimed theatre and soap star Christo Davids; singing sensation Poseletso Sejosingoe and a host of other names including actors such as Lee-Ann van Rooi and Denise Newman.

“This is a unique opportunity to watch some of South Africa’s finest theatre, in the company of some of South Africa’s finest acting talent,” says Lara Foot, director and CEO of the Baxter Theatre Centre.

Winner of three Naledi awards, Death of a Colonialist has its Cape Town premiere in the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio until 1 March. The play tells the story of Harold Smith (Bartlett), an aging, eccentric, unpredictable but extremely passionate history teacher at a high school in Grahamstown. Harold is at the end of his powers and his increasingly erratic teaching techniques are making the school’s hierarchy look for some new blood in the history department.

What Harold is not aware of is that his wife Margaret (Johnston) has cancer and has decided not to tell him. His two children Jonathan and Susan (Pauling and Harvey respectively) who have moved overseas, decide to come home for an unconventional family reunion.

Exploring questions of identity, history and cancer, this is a funny, sad, profound and passionate play that weaves between the tragedy of our past and the challenges of our present. Ultimately, the play reinforces what it means to be South African. Praise it has garnered includes comments such as “uniformly superb ... justifies all the praise you could heap upon it” (Artslink); “move heaven and earth to see Death of A Colonialist” (Business Day) and “extraordinarily powerful ... riveting theatre” (Sunday Independent).

There is an age restriction of 13.

Tickets to the celebrity night on Friday 31 January cost R80.

Death of a Colonialist will be performed until 1 March, Monday to Saturday at 8.15 pm, in the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio, with a matinee on Saturday 8 February at 2 pm.

Tickets to Monday performances cost R100, when patrons can enjoy a light meal in the Baxter restaurant included in their ticket price. Tickets for performances from Tuesday to Thursday cost R120 and on Friday and Saturdays they cost R140. Tickets for students, senior citizens and block bookings of ten or more are R100 (Tuesday to Thursday only).

Bookings can be made at Computicket 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet countrywide.

For discounted block bookings (entire house), charities, schools, corporate bookings and fundraisers, contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za.

Press release provided by Christine Skinner.