Press Release: Acclaimed adaptation of favourite classic The Snow Goose for Kalk Bay Theatre

KBT Productions presents the Cape Town premiere of the acclaimed adaptation of Paul Gallico’s The Snow Goose. It will be performed at Kalk Bay Theatre from 5 to 28 June at 8pm. The production has been brought to life by the dream creative team of actors James Cairns (The Three Little Pigs, Sie Weiss Alles, Dirt) and Taryn Bennett (Sie Weiss Alles, Kaput, Frogs) under the direction of Jenine Collocott (Sunday Morning, Dirt, High Diving). The Snow Goose is a classic favourite that has captured the hearts of young and old readers alike over the past seven decades. On the desolate Essex marshes and against the background of the miracle of Dunkirk, a wounded, storm tossed snow goose brings a young girl, Fritha, and the recluse Philip Rhayader together in a moving story about love and courage. This adaptation was devised by the cast and director and opened at the National Arts Festival last year to rapturous reviews. Arts journalist Robyn Sassen, commented on Artslink.co.za: “A multi-tissue play, The Snow Goose celebrates writer Paul Gallico and 1940's values. It's an immense achievement. ..…. in its succinct simplicity it beautifully straddles being identified as either literature for children or adults. …..This play is a must-see. It will make you cry but it will shift your parameters as to how good theatre in this country can actually be….Don’t miss it” James Cairns is a creative director at The Framework and has performed and written extensively for South African screen and stage. He won a Silver Ovation Award at 2011’s National Arts Festival for his two-hander, Sie Weiss Alles and was nominated for Fleur de Cap awards for his performances in Dirt and The Sitting Man. The Three Little Pigs, Cairns' collaboration with Rob van Vuuren and The Pink Couch, has toured extensively nationally and internationally, receiving a number of awards. This year the production has runs at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, in New York and in Johannesburg. Recent stage credits also include Paul Slabolepszy’s My Low Fat Not Quite Italian Wedding at Artscape and Pale Natives at the Market Theatre. Taryn Bennett is a busy freelance actor and teacher. Credits include the Silver Ovation Award winner, Sie Weiss Alles and Kaput in which she performed, devised and co-produced. Also the Framework Theatre Company’s Hamlet, playing the roles of Ophelia, Guildenstern, Fortinbras and the Second Clown; Well Worn Theatre Company’s environmental children’s show The Pollution Revolution; FTHK’s QUACK!; Doctor Collinger's Funeral Service directed by Janet Buckland; Frogs; and Scorpion directed by Andrew Buckland. In 2011, she was seen as 'Amy' in the SABC1 drama, Intersexions. Jenine Collocott studied at AFDA and also under the acclaimed pedagogue Giovanni Fusetti, at his drama school Helikos, in Florence, Italy. Johannesburg-based, Collocott’s work includes High Diving which won a 2010 Ovation award and was nominated for a Handspring Puppet Company Award for Best Design; Dirt, a one-man play with James Cairns which was recently nominated for a 2013 Artrage Award at the Fringe World Festival in Perth; and Sunday Morning, a one-man play with James Cuningham who won 2013 Best Actor Fleur du Cap. It was nominated for Best Play, Best Director and Best Lighting Design at the 2013 Naledi Theatre Awards and has been invited to perform at the Edinburgh Festival as part of the official South African selection in August 2014. Collocott’s most recent work A Day in the Desert, won an Encore Ovation award in 2013. Following the run at Kalk Bay Theatre, The Snow Goose will be performed at Glennie Hall at the National Arts Festival. The Snow Goose will be performed at Kalk Bay Theatre Tuesday to Saturday from 5 to 28 June at 8pm. Tickets cost R95 and bookings can be made at www.kalkbaytheatre.co.za Guests can enjoy a delicious supper before the show. For information and to book a table for dinner, contact 079 361 8275. Review comments for The Snow Goose: “A multi-tissue play, The Snow Goose celebrates writer Paul Gallico and 1940's values. It's an immense achievement. ..…. in its succinct simplicity it beautifully straddles being identified as either literature for children or adults. …..This play is a must-see. It will make you cry but it will shift your parameters as to how good theatre in this country can actually be….Don’t miss it” Robyn Sassen, Artslink “Die Kalkbaai-teater se The Snow Goose is ’n klein juweel. Almal ken die storie, maar hier word dit op ’n unieke manier vertel.” Mariana Malan, Die Burger “Gallico’s story soars…. With the significant talents of James Cairns and Taryn Bennett, masterfully swapping faces (literally) to play all the story’s characters, the story of the unlikely friendship between two people over an injured snow goose thrown off course over pre-war England is brought vividly to life.” Gayle Edmunds, City Press “a beautifully made and exquisitely acted show” Steve Kretzmann, Artsblog “I was giddy with admiration, gratitude and honestly, love, when I left the Drill Hall after watching The Snow Goose. Directed by Jenine Collocott ,this play is proof of that elusive magic made between actor and audience in well-made theatre; an energy with the ability to get you buzzing.” Kei-Ella Loewe, Artsblog

Photo credit Suzy Bernstein

Press release provided by Christine Skinner