Comedy/Satire
News
My New Dark Comedy
The cast of "Is it because I’m Jack?" has started rehearsals, and the play will premiere at the Aardklop Arts Festival at the end of September. Afterwards, this dark comedy about life and friendship featuring Clyde Berning, Morne Visser, Andrew Laubscher and Anele Matoti, will play at On Broadway in Cape Town (5-16 October) and then at the State Theatre from 18-30 October.
Books and Bikes Campaign
I was invited to speak at the launch the Books and Bikes campaign on Friday 3 March, with a number of riders from the Youth Development Project in Khayelitsha cycling to various towns and collecting books for school libraries. Jake White also spoke, and I suppose many would have wished that he were rather in Bloemfontein, in charge of the Springbok rugby team. We will use the runs of my new play, "Is it Because of I’m Jack?" to collect books for the Equal Education campaign to have a library in every school. (At the moment, only 8% of schools nationally have libraries).
Play Prescribed as South African School Setwork
The Independent Education Board with schools such as St Stithians, Cedar House and Hilton College, has set "Green Man Flashing" as a matric setwork for 2011. The same play is being studied at Herzlia High School in Cape Town and by the drama departments of UCT and UKZN.
School's Play Festival
I’ve been invited to serve as judge at Westerford High School’s play festival on Tuesday 14 September. It will be interesting to see the kinds of issues that high school learners are dealing with.
Drama For Life Panel Discussion
At the end of August, I participated in the Drama for Life Conference, and more particularly in a panel discussion at the Constitutional Court with Albie Sachs and others on the theme, "The Dream Deferred? Art and Social Change: lessons for and from South Africa."
Keynote speaker
On 20 September, I will be the keynote speaker at the 15th anniversary celebration of the HIVOS Culture Fund in Amsterdam. The Hivos Culture Fund, set up in 1995, supports independent artistic initiatives in developing countries.
Mike's Got His Men!
After an intensive audition period, I'm delighted to announce the final cast selection for my upcoming comedy "Is It Because I'm Jack?" Clyde Berning, Andrew Laubscher, Morne Visser and Anele Matoti will feature in the play - a dark comedy about life, friendship and survival. Four young friends in the prime of their lives confront their mortality when one of them - a stand up comic - is diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Is it all just a bad joke? ....You can find out in September, when we open at the Aardklop festival. Cape Town and Pretoria dates to be announced.
New Play!
I'm just putting the finishing touches to my new play - a dark comedy about life, friendship and loyalty called "Is it because I’m Jack?" The play was a commission for the Aardklop Festival in September this year and will be directed by Yvette Hardie. We're working on ideas for a Cape Town run later this year, so watch this space!
From Africa With Laugh
Excerpts from my comedy "Bafana Republic 3: Penalty Shootout" were performed by Lungi Pinda as part of the African Arts Institute’s project “From Africa with Laugh.” This production featured 3 comedians from Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia at the Baxter Theatre from 10 June-3 July.
Reworking the World Conference
I recently attended a conference in Sweden - together with 1700 people from 120 countries - called "Reworking the World." I was there to participate in a seminar on the creative industries and cultural entrepreneurship as sectors for employment. While there, I was invited to participate in a reading of "Seven," an internationally acclaimed play about the stories of 7 women from Russia, Ireland, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Guatemala and Cambodia. I read the part of Mukhtar Mai from Pakistan, as the only man in the cast….
Play Launch With Copenhagen Collective
Earlier this year, I was approached by a Danish theatre company to write a short play on the subject of 'time.' Several playwrights around the world were briefed to write at the same time on the same day, with the collection of plays ready to be printed and produced this week in Copenhagen. I only wish I could be there to see it happen, but I'll be attending a launch of my own in Franschhoek!
Essay Publication and Panel Discussion
I've had an essay published in "Sport Versus Art: A South African Contest," edited by Chris Thurman and published by Wits University press. The launch is being held on Wednesday 19 May 2010 at the Sigrid Rausing Studio at the Fugard Theatre in District 6.
Scripts Published
Hot on the heels of the publication of 'Green Man Flashing' earlier this year comes an edition of 'Iago's Last Dance' - my trilogy of plays around the theme of HIV/AIDS. Junkets Press has once again done a beautiful job and the scripts are available on order from MVG Productions. Please contact Carla on info@mikevangraan.co.za for ordering details.
Franschhoek Book Launch
I will be celebrating the publication of 'Iago's Last Dance' - my 2009 trio of playlets dealing with the theme of HIV/AIDS - with a launch at the Franschhoek Literary Festival. On the 14 May at the Franschhoek Screening Room, you can catch a once-off screening of extracts from the play, as filmed during the 2009 run in Grahamstown. Scripts will be on sale and snacks will be readily available...come and join me!
MVG Theatre Club
I'm delighted to launch my new-look Theatre Club, together with my new-look website for April! For R250 per year membership fees, you get a free ticket to one of my shows, discounts on all bookings with (my own and affiliated) theatre productions, exclusive monthly events and lucky prize draws.
Publication of Plays
As a result of some of my plays being studied at university and senior school levels, some of these works have been published. In the last 12 months, 'Some Mothers’ Sons' was published by Wits University Press as part of an anthology of new South African plays, 'Green Man Flashing' was published by Junket Press who are also about to publish the trilogy, 'Iago’s Last Dance.' Should you wish to order any of these, write to info@mikevangraan.co.za.
London Book Fair Staged Readings
This year’s London Book Fair runs from 19-21 April and focuses on South Africa with numerous local writers being featured at book launches, panel discussions and public lectures. I will stage readings of four recent plays in London from 22th-24th April to introduce my work to one of the world’s key theatre markets.
Awards
In March, 'Brothers in Blood' – my play about Jewish, Muslim and Christian relations commissioned by the Charles Diamond Foundation and the Market Theatre – won the Naledi Theatre Award for 'Best New South African Play Produced'. My most recent play – 'Iago’s Last Dance,' that deals with the HIV/AIDS pandemic – was also nominated in the recent Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards ‘Best New Script’ category.
Brothers in Blood
My play about Muslim/Jewish/Christian relations commissioned by the Charles Diamond Foundation and produced by the Market Theatre - won the Naledi Award for Best New South African Play Produced on Sunday 7 March at a ceremony hosted in Pretoria's State Theatre. Denis Hutchinson also won an award for his lighting design for the play.
Iago's Last Dance
My trilogy inspired by the South African HIV/AIDS pandemic which premiered on the Main Programme of the National Arts Festival in 2009 - has been nominated in the Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards Best New Script category. Mbulelo Grootboom has also been nominated as Best Supporting Actor for his various roles in the piece. This awards ceremony will be held on 21 March.
