Four new South African plays are hitting the stage.
The plays, Dust, The Dropped Baby, Knock Knock and the first Afrikaans entry to the programme, H(Eg) will be showcased at the The Masque’s One-Act Play Festival from 10 to 12 April 2025.
The plays, featuring works by writers Lauren Bates, Alex Learmont, Dawn Garisch and Charlene Colling, have been developed as part of the Theatre’s Play Reading Programme.
“Each script has been through our Play Reading Programme and is ready to be brought to life on stage. After the performance, audiences will have a chance to chat to the writers, directors and actors about the entire process,” said festival director Melanie O'Connor Horn, who will host the post-performance discussions.
“South Africa’s vibrant theatre industry has a wealth of stories to tell, and we have seen the diverse range of topics covered from the scripts we received,” she added.
“Each writer who has their script selected for the monthly play reading programme receives feedback on their writing. From the monthly series, we select four productions to be staged as part of the One-Act Play Festival. We are proud to be able to provide this platform, celebrating South African writers and their stories.”
O’Connor Horn fell in love with theatre in primary school. She took to the Masque stage while at high school and has been intermittently involved in amateur theatre ever since, as both director and actor. She completed a BA in English and Drama and went on to help many students find their voices, both on the page and the stage.
Dust
Dust is written by Lauren Bates and directed by Sue Wilkes. The play tells the tale of a young, white Capetonian woman, Megan Storey, newly qualified as an English teacher, beginning her career at an under-resourced school on the Cape Flats. Megan instantly clashes with the head of her department, Clive Adams, who has been at the school for nearly 30 years. Megan encourages her students, particularly a matric student named Jason, to dream of achieving something outstanding. Despite the tragic events that strike the school, the play is a hopeful celebration of both art and reconciliation.
The Dropped Baby
Written by Alex Learmont and directed by Digby Young, The Dropped Baby explores: Who are you? Who were you in your class photo? Your wedding photo? Are you your memories? Can your memory be trusted? What made you who you are? Full of wry humour, The Dropped Baby tells the surprising but troubled life story of Charlie Niemand, a man who is just this side of the grave.
Knock Knock
Knock Knock is written by Dawn Garisch and directed by Ceridwen Morris. The play is set in a seaside resort. A woman knocks on a man’s door asking for sugar. An intriguing encounter follows - two people in a room, rudderless under a sickle moon. "Fear can ruin your life.” “Fear can save your life!"
H(Eg)
The first Afrikaans entry to the programme, H(Eg) is written by Charlene Colling and directed by Dian Harcovecchio. H(Eg) centres around Klara, a 19-year-old woman with a passion for dance, who is navigating the challenges of adulthood while dealing with the impending loss of her best friend, Hanri, to cancer. The story unfolds through vignettes of Klara’s life - meeting Hanri for the first time, her strained relationship with her parents, and her loving bond with Maggie, the family’s housekeeper. It’s a story of grief and hope as Klara continues to strive for her dreams.
Tickets cost R120 and are available via Quicket - https://qkt.io/1-AFest2025
Weekend Argus