Cardenio at Maynardville Theatre

Shakespeare’s lost play brings the drama to Cape Town’s famed open-air, summer stage

The bard’s most mysterious play provocatively hits Maynardville’s outdoor theatre from Wednesday, 9 January to Saturday, 9 March 2013 as the first act of this summer season’s much-anticipated Shakespeare in the Park.

The play, set in 16th century Spain, involves the courtly Cardenio, the young nobleman (and Cardenio’s best friend) Fernando and a slew of signature Shakespearian soap opera-like heartbreak and jealousy. As the two men vie for the affection of the beautiful Luscinda, a web of betrayal and deceit ensues, and in the end, the performance explores the idea that `Love for the most part is not love but lust’.

The plot, however, is far from the only element of the piece with its fair share of twists and turns. This authorship of the two-part drama is also the subject of much debate. Though the King’s Men (the theatre troupe to which Shakespeare belonged) performed the betrayal-filled play twice in 1612, the script was then lost and never found. While historical record confirms these performances, many hold suspect the account of the man who attributed these shows to Shakespeare to begin with.

As a result, much argument around whether this is, in fact, a Shakespearean play has been batted around, but after years of investigation into the controversial matter, the artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Gregory Doran, has put together his own interpretation of the play. The result? A piece deeply rooted in history and in Cervantes’s Don Quixote (from which the work is said to have taken much of its original inspiration). Reminiscent of a Spanish honour play in parts and echoing Shakespearean sonnet in others, this work will nonetheless have tongues wagging for quite a while.

Shows start promptly at 7:30pm or 8:15pm; please consult with your booking agent to ensure that you have the right time.

Tickets for Shakespeare in the Park: Cardenio at Maynardville

Previews of the show will take place on Wednesday, 9  Thursday, 10  Friday, 11 Tuesday, 15 and Wednesday, 16 January 2013, and ticket prices range from R110 for two to R160 for two, depending on how close to the stage you are. These special rates only apply to tickets bought in pairs; single tickets will be charged at the full price (R110 or R160p/p). Tickets are available through Computicket.com. To take advantage of the half-price preview tickets, call Computicket on +27 (0)861 915 8000.

Tickets for the rest of the  run (Saturday, 12 January until Wednesday, 16 February 2013) range from R110p/p to R160p/p, depending on your proximity to the stage; tickets are available through Computicket.com. Alternatively you can book through Artscape Dial-a-Seat +27 (0)21 421 7695 or at the Maynardville Box Office, an hour prior to the performance.

Discounts are available for block bookings of 10 and more and can be attained through purchases at the Maynardville box office. Pensioners and learners (between 6 and 18) can get tickets at R100p/p, provided they buy their tickets at least 30 minutes before the show and provide a valid ID at Maynardville’s box office.

Lastly, Computicket.com is now running a combo deal special for Cardenio and A Midsummer Night’s Dream where you pay R250p/p for both shows. Please consult Computicket.com for further details. Alternatively you can book through Artscape Dial-a-Seat +27 (0)21 421 7695 or at the Maynardville Box Office, an hour prior to the performance.

More about Maynardville Park

This spacious escape from the hustle and bustle of the city is beautifully situated in the Southern Surburbs of Cape Town. With rolling hills and a wide array of flora and fauna, the park is the perfect place to make the prospect of a lazy summer evening a reality. There’s even a playground to keep the kids occupied.

 The park opens at 7am and closes at 7pm in the summer, so why not grab a picnic basket and make a day of it before the show? For those who don’t want to pack treats, there will be light refreshments on sale around the stage.

Please note that Cardenio runs alongside two other productions and therefore has weeks when it is not running to make way for A Midsummer Night’s Dream or Giselle.

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