Press: Sasolburg Common "Birds" of South Africa is the latest project from Canned Rice Pro

Two small-town sisters, Cobalize and Jacomine, "klap the sokkietreffers", braai and don't take any #@k as they navigate the harsh realities of flame-grilling, hard chilling and poephol-handling. Unwilling to conform to any "rules" set by their culture, careers, or good taste, and with a tenuous grasp on social niceties, the van der Vlok sisters attempt to soar in life, as long as it doesn't take too much effort. The show features current Maynardville leading "man", Daneel van der Walt as Jacomine alongside her former classmate, Candice van Litsenborgh who also wrote the script. The two met at UCT where they both completed a BA Theatre and Performance, but they have not been seen on the same stage since Geoffrey Hyland's 2004 production of Hamlet and so, decided to remedy the oversight. "I wanted to create a project for Daneel because I have always admired her skill as an actress and comedienne. Selfishly, I really wanted the chance to get to play something big and insanely absurd opposite her. But 14 years after graduating, that opportunity simply hasn't come along" says van Litsenborgh, "So I wrote it!" Directed by Richard Wright-Firth, Sasolburg Common "Birds" of South Africa, is a dark comedy which centres on the co-dependancy between two sisters through the milestones and pitfalls of growing up and trying to launch into maturity, often without the benefit of a lot of common sense.

Daneel is currently appearing on stage as Petruchio in the historic all-female production of The Taming of the Shrew at Maynardville. She won the Fleur Du Cap for best supporting actress in a musical for her portrayal of Magenta in The Rocky Horror Show and was nominated for a Fleur Du Cap for her hilarious cabaret, Dani and the Lion; Last Night at the Den, which featured some of her original songs. Among others, she appeared in Long Street Nights, Missing and Juliet Jenkin's one woman show, Big Girl. She works as a voice artist for RSG radio dramas and voices several animals in RSG se Storiedieretuin. Candice is a three-time Fleur Du Cap nominee and is currently nominated for best supporting actress in a musical for her portrayal of Shirley in Priscilla Queen of the Desert. She recently won the Broadway World SA award for this role. She has appeared in a string of hit musicals in South Africa as well as touring internationally with several productions, including Annie, Sweeney Todd (Fleur du Cap nominee), Little Shop of Horrors (Naledi and Fleur Du Cap nominee and Broadway World winner), Showboat and Evita. She is also known for playing comedy villains in the annual Canal Walk children's shows (Little Mermaid, Hansel and Gretel, Alice in Wonderland). For Canned Rice, she adapted the June Carter Cash story, From the Heart and wrote, produced and performed in Understudy Blues, Vacancy and Court.

Wright-Firth appeared as Muldoon in three seasons of the Starz Network series, Black Sails and was an award-winning member of the BBC Radio Drama Company. As an actor in the UK he has appeared on stage in classics like Macbeth, Julius Caesar, They Shoot Horses Don't They, Under Milk Wood, and Mother Courage and her Children. He also lectured and directed at Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts before moving to Cape Town where he has appeared on television and in films including the Boer War drama Modder en Bloed, SAF3, The Sinking of the Laconia, and Saints and Strangers. He is a sought-after voice-over artist with campaigns for Emirates, Rimmel, Audi, American Express, Showmax and Cape Town Tourism as well as voicing several Netflix cartoons and dubbing international series and films. For Canned Rice, he has directed Understudy Blues, From the Heart and Court, and he co-created and played Gavin in Vacancy. Directed by Richard Wright-Firth Starring Daneel van der Walt and Candice van Litsenborgh Written by Candice van Litsenborgh Alexander Bar 12-17 March 9pm Tickets R90/R100 Bookings on: shows.alexanderbar.co.za Warning: Language. (English, some Afrikaans, a bit of swearing en sokkietreffers)