Press Release: Fast-paced story of everyday hero premieres at Kalk Bay Theatre

Undermined, a new production presented by KBT Productions and Here Manje Productions, and directed by multiple award-winning Tara Notcutt, premieres at Kalk Bay Theatre from 9 April until 3 May.

Written by Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Luke Brown, with choreography by Cleo Notcutt, Undermined mashes up comic book and African storytelling, to tell the true tale of Madlebe, an ordinary man with an extraordinary gift, who came from Mozambique to find a job and take a better life home to his father and wife to be. However his unique talent of a finely tuned sense of hearing leads to some interesting developments along the way. Told against the backdrop of urban Jozi and the deep of the mines, it is a story of hope, perseverance, and an unexpected hero. The cast features Luke Brown (Below My Feet) , Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi (Orpheus; A Man and A Dog; Mama Tembu’s Wedding, My Low-Fat Almost Italian Wedding) and Stefan Erasmus (Lie).

“We are proud to be premiering this new South African production on the Kalk Bay Theatre stage,” says Kalk Bay Theatre owner, Simon Cooper. “It is a touching and inspiring story, told in a fresh, fun and fast-paced way, creating a delightful and unique theatre experience.”

Tara Notcutt is a seasoned and internationally acclaimed director and producer, and artistic director of The Pink Couch. Her works such as Mafeking Road and A Town Called Fokol Lutho have captivated Kalk Bay Theatre audiences, while the multiple productions she has produced, co-written or directed have toured to rapturous responses around South Africa and abroad. . ..miskien and The Three Little Pigs have both been performed in Perth, Amsterdam and New York, with The Three Little Pigs winning the Silver Award for Best International Production at the Amsterdam Fringe. At the tender age of 27, she has already received more than twenty awards and nominations.

Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi trained locally and internationally and his illustrious career has spanned performing, writing, composing, choreographing and devising theatre performances and educational programmes. He has worked with some of South Africa’s top companies, including Theatre for Africa, Sakhile Theatre Company (founder member), FTHK, Third World Bunfight, Artscape and Siyasanga Cape Town Theatre, where he was Roy Sergeant’s joint artistic director. Nhlanhla has toured the SADC regions, the US, England, Europe and Asia, performing and facilitating theatrical workshops and he has helped build four theatres. His extensive list of credits include Cry, the Beloved Country; Now Now; The Bird;, Orpheus, Nguni: The Love Story; Dairies of Diesel Du Toit; Subject to Citizen; Mama Tembu’s Wedding; My Low-Fat Almost Italian Wedding and A Man and A Dog, for which he received a Fleur du Cap nomination.

He is artistic director of Here Manje Productions, which he established with Luke Brown and Sammie Davies, and Nhlanhla currently appears on television in the SABC series Traffic and 90 Plein Street.

Luke Brown was born in Cape Town and found his way into the arts after his first Shakespeare during his school days. He is passionate about and has experience in various disciplines in the arts, including dance and acting on stage and film. He runs Here Manje Productions with Nhlanhla and also BMF Productions, a young company formed with co-director Ciara Baldwin after their work, Below My Feet, was invested in by Arts Education, Assitej and recently ended a three year run.

Stefan Erasmus trained at UCT and has been directed by Sandra Temmingh, Geoffrey Hyland and Luke Ellenbogen. In 2012, he worked with Philip Rademeyer, in one of two starting productions for Rust Co-Operative, playing Anna Jones in Lie. Stefan has worked with exciting theatremakers such as Roy Seargent, Kim Kerfoot and Gabriella Pinto.

Following its run at Kalk Bay Theatre, Undermined will be performed at Princess Alice Hall as part of Cape Town Edge at the National Arts Festival.

Undermined will be performed at Kalk Bay Theatre on Tuesdays to Saturdays from 9 April to 3 May at 8pm. Tickets cost R80 and R70 for Gallery seats. To book visit www.kalkbaytheatre.co.za

Guests can enjoy a delicious supper before the show. For information and to book a table for dinner, call 079 361 8275.

Press release provided by Christine Skinner.