Anthology: Young Bloods
Three writers, two actors, and one director come together to create an anthology of short plays on the theme 'Young Bloods'.
For this instalment of Anthology the task has been set for the young bloods of Cape Town. A young waitress has the worst first day at a trendy restaurant in Kei-Ella Loewe's "Eat, Dear." Louis Roux's "Coma Null" takes a dark look at the absurd degeneration of a relationship. And then Ameera Conrad's "Reparations" imagines what happens when South African politics turns from preposterous to perverse.
For this instalment of Anthology the task has been set for the young bloods of Cape Town. A young waitress has the worst first day at a trendy restaurant in Kei-Ella Loewe's "Eat, Dear." Louis Roux's "Coma Null" takes a dark look at the absurd degeneration of a relationship. And then Ameera Conrad's "Reparations" imagines what happens when South African politics turns from preposterous to perverse.
This is the 3rd production in the Anthology series, a platform for playwrights to explore the short play format.
Biographies:
Writers:
Ameera Conrad graduated from UCT’s Drama Department in 2015 as a Theatre Maker. In her final year, she directed an adaptation of Nadia Davids’ The Healer, co-wrote and starred in the UCT Grahamstown National Arts Festival production Don’t Shoot the Harbinger (which won best new script), and wrote and directed her graduating production, bloom. Outside of the theatre world, Ameera has also written for the SAX Appeal (Dear White Boys™) and for the Cape Argus and Mahala Magazine.
As a theatre maker, Ameera considers herself firstly a writer, secondly a director and thirdly an embarrassment to her family. Like a Muslim Mulan. She has a knack for stage managing, and can do lighting stuff, if anyone’s hiring. Ameera is represented by Samantha Bernhardi Artist Management, and looks forward to a long and fruitful career of reading tweets on Supersport.
Louis Roux is supposed to be a writer and academic, but mostly he just sits around stressing. Hestresses about his future, about his work that doesn’t pay enough, about the possibility of a race war, and about climate change. He’s also stressed about doing his dishes, his eating habits, and his relationships. He was involved in quite a few plays, as actor and writer, but probably nothing you’ve ever heard of. Louis is interested in Marxism, jazz, and a good night’s sleep. Louis hopes to one day wake up without being nauseous, or at least to be able to afford medical aid.
Actors
Kiroshan Naidoo is Cape Town based actor, who made his television debut as a presenter on the South African Children’s show K-TV, he completed his actor training at the University of Cape Town to obtain a BA(hons) in Theatre and Performance. He has been seen playing: Mack the Knife in Threepenny Opera (directed by Claire Stopford), Tristan Tzara in Travesties (directed by Meg Culligan), Lavinia in Titus Andronicus – (directed by Geoffrey Hyland and Jeffery Sichel), Narcissus and First Double in Wounds to the face – (directed by Geoffrey Hyland), he has sung lead vocals and chorus in Stranger here myself – (directed by Tober Reilly and under the mus. dir. Godfrey Johnson). He played the role of Sachin in Cincinatti (directed by Jacqui Singer) and the role of Don in People are living there (Directed by Blythe Linger and Kathleen Stephens).He’s a young and passionate actor that thrives in grappling with new characters.
Biographies:
Writers:
Ameera Conrad graduated from UCT’s Drama Department in 2015 as a Theatre Maker. In her final year, she directed an adaptation of Nadia Davids’ The Healer, co-wrote and starred in the UCT Grahamstown National Arts Festival production Don’t Shoot the Harbinger (which won best new script), and wrote and directed her graduating production, bloom. Outside of the theatre world, Ameera has also written for the SAX Appeal (Dear White Boys™) and for the Cape Argus and Mahala Magazine.
As a theatre maker, Ameera considers herself firstly a writer, secondly a director and thirdly an embarrassment to her family. Like a Muslim Mulan. She has a knack for stage managing, and can do lighting stuff, if anyone’s hiring. Ameera is represented by Samantha Bernhardi Artist Management, and looks forward to a long and fruitful career of reading tweets on Supersport.
Louis Roux is supposed to be a writer and academic, but mostly he just sits around stressing. Hestresses about his future, about his work that doesn’t pay enough, about the possibility of a race war, and about climate change. He’s also stressed about doing his dishes, his eating habits, and his relationships. He was involved in quite a few plays, as actor and writer, but probably nothing you’ve ever heard of. Louis is interested in Marxism, jazz, and a good night’s sleep. Louis hopes to one day wake up without being nauseous, or at least to be able to afford medical aid.
Actors
Kiroshan Naidoo is Cape Town based actor, who made his television debut as a presenter on the South African Children’s show K-TV, he completed his actor training at the University of Cape Town to obtain a BA(hons) in Theatre and Performance. He has been seen playing: Mack the Knife in Threepenny Opera (directed by Claire Stopford), Tristan Tzara in Travesties (directed by Meg Culligan), Lavinia in Titus Andronicus – (directed by Geoffrey Hyland and Jeffery Sichel), Narcissus and First Double in Wounds to the face – (directed by Geoffrey Hyland), he has sung lead vocals and chorus in Stranger here myself – (directed by Tober Reilly and under the mus. dir. Godfrey Johnson). He played the role of Sachin in Cincinatti (directed by Jacqui Singer) and the role of Don in People are living there (Directed by Blythe Linger and Kathleen Stephens).He’s a young and passionate actor that thrives in grappling with new characters.
Maggie Gericke is an actor, photographer and artist living and working in Cape Town. She graduated from UCT in 2014 receiving her Honours in Theatre and Performance with distinction. She has appeared in several plays directed by Christopher Weare. She played the role of Mrs. Du Bois in Sue Pam Grant’s Curl up and dye; Helena in Anton Chekhov’s 'Die Buffel', an Afrikaans translation of The Bear; and Viola in Twelfth night @ the Macbeths. She has also performed in several projects directed by Kathleen Stephens including Animist, an extract from The Grace of Mary Traverse by Timberlake Wertenbaker and Present in Culpa. Her film credits include: a lead role in Hoekom nie? Directed by Inus Venter, which won best film at the AFDA student awards; several short films including LunaC directed by James Cheese Williamson and The Companion by Desmond Bowles. She has also stage managed various university productions including Richard September's Adamastor and the 2015 production of UHM which won Best new student writing at the 2014 National Arts Festival. She currently works as an assistant at Alexander Upstairs where she has the privilege of learning from the vibrant inner workings of an inspiring establishment.
Louis Viljoen is a Cape Town based playwright and director. He has written and produced numerous plays including, The Bile Boys, The Frontiersmen, The Verbalists, Champ, Porno 88, The Kingmakers and The Pervert Laura. Viljoen has won Fleur Du Cap Theatre awards (Best New South African Script) for Champ (2013) and The Kingmakers (2015). He was the recipient of the Rosalie van Der Gucht Best New Director award for his plays, The Kingmakers and The Pervert Laura. Viljoen is currently the Writer In Residence for The Fugard Theatre.
Audience Responses
Blythe here. I think that the concept is absolutely lovely! And like the fact that there was a sense of transparency and encouragement from Jon for theatre makers to step forward andake it happen!. This I'd definitely something I would like to get involved in and possibly even direct a piece. Lovely work team!
I enjoyed the productions and the performances. Great to see Young Bloods.
Fantastic stuff. Enough to lapse into purple prose. “Eat, dear” delivers Michelin grade unhinged, scatter-gun splatters of high nutrient vitriol skewered on the broken stem of a wine glass. Essential catharsis for catering industry casualties.
Excellent direction and acting brining these interesting new works to life.
I can't give a rating but love the fact your encourage new writers , directors and actors , and allow them a loving platform to get their work out there ... thank you
Fabulous! the acting was superb, entertaining, funny and not too long -