The Blue Iris play at the Fugard Theatre

Athol Fugard’s poignant production makes its Cape Town debut in July

In honour of world-renowned playwright Athol Fugard’s 80th birthday, the Fugard Theatre in District Six is presenting the respected writer’s latest work, The Blue Iris, for a limited period from 4 July 2012 to 28 July 2012. This showcase immediately follows the play’s world premiere at the 2012 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, making it the first ever showing of the production in a major city.

Directed by multi award-winning Cape Town-based director Janice Honeyman, and put on in collaboration with the Fugard’s Founding Producer Eric Abraham and Lighting Designer Mannie Manim, the play features a talented creative team.  The three-man cast comprises gifted performers Graham Weir and Claire Berlein - both of whom have worked with Honeyman before – and actress Lee-Ann van Rooi, who is performing at the Fugard Theatre for the first time.

Set in the vast Karoo in an old farmhouse ruined by a devastating fire, the poignant story centres on an intimate exchange between farmer Robert Hannay (Graham Weir) and his faithful housekeeper Rieta Plaasman (Lee-Ann van Rooi). As the two work to restore the ravaged site, they share personal tales, unveil and explore painful memories and reveal long-hidden secrets. Through such private revelations, the play tackles touching, deeply human and universally relevant issues such as the dissolution of marriage, the consequences of misunderstanding, the sting of chances lost and the burden of regret and dark secrets kept.

As it digs deep into the very soul of the characters, uncovering many layers of highly personal meaning, emotion and memory, the play is bound to strike a chord with most any audience member. Reportedly one of Fugard’s most raw, reflective works, The Blue Iris makes for especially moving, captivating theatre.

Tickets cost between R110 and R140 and are available via Computicket or the Fugard Theatre Box Office. Discounts apply for registered Friends of the Fugard, students, groups of 10 or more and pensioners.

The play will run Mondays to Saturdays at 8pm.

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Read our review of the Blue Iris

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Read about Kat and the Kings, another must-see production that is running concurrently at the Fugard Theatre.