Metamorphoses, the Roman poet Ovid’s epic poem about the loves, losses and transformations of gods and mortals, will be evocatively brought to life in Mary Zimmerman’s adaptation, directed by Steven Stead, at the Baxter Studio, from August 30 to September 14 at 8pm, with Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
The unique, visceral theatrical experience takes place in and around a rectangular pool of water, with eight actors playing out a vivid adaptation of nine Greek and Roman myths.
The magical and compelling tales feature fascinating characters such as Midas, Orpheus, Aphrodite and Eros, as they explore what it is to be human; to love, to lose, to laugh and to lament.
The ancient and the contemporary collide as the gods and mortals wrestle in the water that represents both origin and oblivion.
They are changed, transformed into beings other than who they once were, drawing the audience into a profoundly theatrical experience that is both ritual and rite of passage.
No stranger to Cape Town audiences, director Stead (The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady), has brought together a vibrant ensemble comprising the Baxter Fire’s Burning company made up of Carlo Daniels, Awethu Hleli, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe, Lyle October and Tamzin Williams (all seen in Othello and Neighbourhood), along with Brent Palmer (King George, Dinner at the 42s), Cassiel Eaton-Winnik (The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Summertide) and Matthew Vey (Summertide, Moffie).
Set design is by Patrick Curtis, lighting design by Franky Steyn, costume design by Wolf Britz and music composition by Jannous Nkululeko Aukema.
Stead has won over 15 Best Director Durban Theatre Awards, received a Naledi Award for Best Director of a Musical 2015, for Sweeney Todd, and was recently nominated for a Fleur du Cap Best Director award for The Sound of Music.
He was senior staff director at the English National Opera for eight years and directed many operas in London and in Europe, before coming back to Durban to work with Greg King and develop KickstArt Theatre.
“The tone of the piece is hugely varied, being both epic and intimate,” explained Stead, “sometimes enigmatically mythical, sometimes prosaically funny, but always compelling and entertaining.
“It is sensual and playful in equal measures, occasionally terrifying and disturbing.
“As far as I am aware, this is the first time that the play will be performed professionally on stage in South Africa. The physical and emotional intensity of the performances and the visual beauty of the images the actors conjure, will hopefully leave audiences spell-bound and deeply satisfied.”
Mary Zimmerman is a prolific American theatre and opera director and playwright. Her Metamorphoses
is based on a translation by David R Slavitt’s of Ovid’s classic poem, The Metamorphoses.
“The play was nominated for three Tony Awards in 2002, including Best Play and Zimmerman received Best Direction of a Play award. Time magazine called it the “theatre event of the year”.
Metamorphoses runs at the Baxter Studio for a limited season from August 30 to September 14 at 8pm nightly, with Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.
The production is made possible through the generous support of the City of Cape Town, the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and National Arts Council.
Booking is through Webtickets online (www.webtickets.co.za) or at Pick n Pay stores. For discounted block bookings, contact Mark Dobson on 021 680 3972 or email him [email protected], or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email her [email protected].
Weekend Argus