Pay Back The Curry

28/06/2024

Earlier this year, I was the inaugural artist-in-residence at the University of Free State in Bloemfontein. Yesterday, they hosted the official launch of the residency programme which will become a regular feature of the UFS programme and its proposed international institute for the arts.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Francis Petersen, did the opening address after which Prof Anthea van Jaarsveld, Head of the Drama Department, and I engaged in a conversation.

Then there were staged readings of excerpts of the two scripts I worked on during the residency: THE GOOD WHITE, set against the backdrop of the Fees and Rhodes Must Fall campaigns (so resonating with contemporary issues on the campus) and RETURN OF THE ANCESTORS.

Genuflecting to the South African theatre classic, WOZA ALBERT, in which Jesus returns to SA during apartheid, RETURN OF THE ANCESTORS has the Council of Ancestors sending two of their own - Steve Biko and Neil Aggett, both of whom died in apartheid detention - back to South Africa to see if their sacrifices have been worth it. First produced in 2014 to mark 20 years of democracy, the residency allowed time to update the script to a decade later.

Both excerpts were done extremely well, particularly RETURN OF THE ANCESTORS' where the actors were completely off script! It was a real privilege to have the time to work on the plays and after the readings yesterday, I'm excited to see both these works on stage in the near future!

05/06/2024

My Fellow South Africans will be doing a mini-tour of some towns in the Western Cape. We'll be in Prince Albert on Saturday evening at the Showroom. Tickets through Quicket.
https://www.quicket.co.za/events/259256-my-fellow-south-africans/?ref=events-list #/

27/02/2024

It's Kim Blanché Adonis' birthday today. 28 (since many want to know - and it is up on her FB page) on the 27th. Not yet her crown birthday, but she's already been crowned with the US Toyota Woordfees Award for Best Solo Show and the inaugural Independent Theatre Awards Award for Best Solo Performance in MY FELLOW SOUTH AFRICANS. (Last week, she was nominated for a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award in a similar category).

As many of you know, Kim tore ligaments in her ankle in December and has been unable to work since. She's making good progress and will perform again from mid-March! We've launched a BackaBuddy Campaign to cover her fees and expenses while she's unable to work, and to integrate Mphumzi Nontshinga into a version of MY FELLOW SOUTH AFRICANS aimed at young people in particular in the build up to the elections on 29 May. We've already raised about 60% of our goal! If you'd like to contribute, see the link below.

Mphumzi will be available to perform the piece from next week (a good catalyst for discussion with younger voters), and Kim will do the original as well as new sketches related to the elections from the week of 11 March. Should you be interested in hosting either version, feel free to DM me.

In the meantime, have a great day/week Kim! It's been an absolute pleasure working with you over the last year (104 performances in 40 venues across five provinces)! Here's to many more!

https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/kim-adonis-5823217728018471153

13/02/2024

Kim Blanché Adonis represented the My Fellow South Africans team at the inaugural Independent Theatre Awards held at the TX Theatre in Tembisa this last Saturday. Kim won the Best Solo Performance Award (to add to her Toyota US Woordfees Best Solo Award) and the show was also recognised with the Best New Script Award.

Kim is still wearing a moonboot, recovering from torn ligaments in her ankle and will be available to perform again from mid-March.

Also on Saturday night, while the Superbowl final was taking place in the USA, the genocidal state - again revealing its arrogance and impunity, its contravention of international humanitarian law and its utter disregard for the International Court of Justice, launched an assault on Rafah, a southernmost town in Gaza which houses an estimated 1,4 million displaced Palestinians who have been forced to flee from the devastation and destruction of the rest of Gaza.

The aims of the genocidal state to ethnically cleanse Gaza of Palestinians, to force them to flee to other countries, continues with the diplomatic, economic and military aid of so-called western democracies.

Western morality - such as it is - has died, and continues to die thousands of death in Gaza!

12/12/2023

Black Friday matinee at 17:00 on 15 December! Okay, maybe more like a rugby holiday (We beat the All) Black(s) Friday.

What a great audience last night (both a full, responsive house, and excellent written feedback).

Marc Lottering was there and had this to say on Facebook earlier: 'Went to see this Phenomenal woman perform last night. Kim Blanché Adonis. In Mike van Graan's MY FELLOW SOUTH AFRICANS. Good Lawwwd what a Powerful piece. Brilliant. This is the final week at the Masambe Theatre at the Baxter. Sensational Satire.

The show includes cartoons by Zapiro, like the one below. We've been invited by a number of different groups to do the show as part of motivating young people to vote next year. With the HSRC reporting that more than 80% of young people may not vote, Lawwwd knows, they need hope!

Last six public shows in a Cape Town theatre! Book through Webtickets.

05/12/2023

We open at the Masambe Theatre at the Baxter this evening at 8pm! More than a third of the tickets for the run have been booked already. This will be our last public run in a theatre in Cape Town. For every two tickets bought for the first three shows (Tues 5, Wed 6 and Thurs 7), the buyer stands a chance of winning a pair of tickets to Marc Lottering's SO I WROTE THAT MUSICAL during its current run at the Baxter! See Kim Blanché Adonis in her award-winning performance (Woordfees 2023 Best Achievement: Solo winner). Book through Webtickets.

09/05/2023

A review of My Fellow South Africans by Robyn Cohen.

Second week performances from Wednesday to Saturday at 19.30, Artscape Innovation Lounge.

Book through Computicket.

Review: Mike van Graan’s My Fellow South Africans, laughing, but it hurts - Stage

23/09/2022

It has been years! Hello again! Thank you for your support over the years.

Cape Town - A dear friend (Tankiso Mamabolo ) and I are doing one more show together (WHAT’S YOUR BUDGET) at the Baxter Theatre before I emigrate to London in November. Let’s laugh together, share stories and sing our hearts out! Join us from 11-15 October at the Golden Arrow Studio.

https://www.webtickets.co.za/event.aspx?itemid=1518156811

02/10/2017

STATE FRACTURE at The Kalk Bay Theatre And Restaurant opens this week!
Don’t miss this award-winning show.

By the creative team that brought you the award-winning Pay Back The Curry!

Written by Mike van Graan
Directed by Rob Van Vuuren
Produced by Siv Ngesi
Stage manager - Stephanie Papini
Starring Daniel Mpilo Richards

14/08/2017

FINAL WEEK of STATE FRACTURE at the Baxter Theatre (ends 19 Aug). 8PM every night. Tickets are flying.
After two ovation awards at the National Arts Festival Grahamstown and an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from audience members in Johannesburg at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square it's time we turn up the heat at the Golden Arrow Studio!
If you saw Pay Back The Curry - you are most certainly going to have a blast at this one.
Book on Computicket or call the Baxter Theatre on 0861 915 8000

Produced by Siv Ngesi
Written by Mike Van Graan
Directed by Rob Van Vuuren
Starring Daniel Mpilo Richards (Daniel Richards)
SM: Stephanie Papini

"...STATE FRACTURE starring versatile Daniel Mpilo Richards takes a look at the South Africa in which we currently have a love-hate relationship. Award-winning writer Mike van Graan ticks all the boxes with his insightful writing in a skilfully crafted show by accomplished director Rob van Vuuren…not to be missed by those who really care about this beautiful country…”
Richard Loring

01/08/2017

STATE FRACTURE opens at the Baxter Theatre from tonight! (1 Aug - 19 Aug). After two ovation awards at the National Arts Festival Grahamstown and an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response from audience members in Johannesburg at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square- it's time we turn up the heat at the Golden Arrow Studio!

We all know how theatre works at the moment - WORD OF MOUTH - so if you saw the show at NAF or in Jozi - let people know what you thought of the show. Spread the word. Spread the love.

If you saw Pay Back The Curry - you are most certainly going to have a blast at this one.

Do us a favour if you are reading this: break Cape Town tradition and come see the show this week. (1 Aug - 5 Aug) You won't regret it.

Book on Computicket or call the Baxter Theatre on 0861 915 8000

Produced by Siv Ngesi
Written by Mike Van Graan
Directed by Rob Van Vuuren
X Daniel Mpilo Richards
SM: Stephanie Papini

"...STATE FRACTURE starring versatile Daniel Mpilo Richards takes a look at the South Africa in which we currently have a love-hate relationship. Award-winning writer Mike van Graan ticks all the boxes with his insightful writing in a skilfully crafted show by accomplished director Rob van Vuuren…not to be missed by those who really care about this beautiful country…”
Richard Loring

18/07/2017

STATE FRACTURE at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square: 18-29 July.

The highly anticipated satirical sequel to the award-winning Pay Back The Curry arrives in Johannesburg fresh from its hugely successful debut on the Fringe at the National Arts Festival Grahamstown 2017.
Daniel Mpilo Richards who won the Naledi Theatre Award for Best Breakthrough Artist/Newcomer for his performance in the one-person show PAY BACK THE CURRY, returns in STATE FRACTURE which picked up a Standard Bank - South Africa Ovation Award after its premiere at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. Daniel also received a Standard Bank Stand Out Individual Performance award for his performance in State Fracture.

With the same creative team as “Curry” (the script is by Mike Van Graan who was nominated in the Naledi Theatre Awards for the “Curry” script; theatre legend Rob Van Vuuren directs and television celebrity Siv Ngesi produced the show), STATE FRACTURE wowed audiences in Grahamstown where
it played to numerous sold-out crowds and to daily standing ovations.

Cue’s critic described the piece as “a hard-hitting and incredibly well-performed satirical comedy, sparing no-one from Zupta to Zille. There’s so much talent here – superb acting and a phenomenal script make it fully deserving of its standing ovation.”

STATE FRACTURE follows a similar multi-sketch format to “Curry” with Richards’ physical dexterity, singing, acting range, accents and characterisation at least as impressive as in “Curry”.

The hour-long performance will provoke, entertain and allow for catharsis at a time when we are most in need of these. Bookings can be made through Computicket- www.computicket,com or tele-book on
0861 915800. Bookings can also be made by calling the theatre’s box office on 011 883 8606. Enquire about group booking discounts and dinner/show packages at one of the restaurants on the Nelson Mandela Square to complete the evening’s entertainment!