Off the Record: Interactive theatre like you’ve never seen

The award-winning Off the Record, a unique challenge-based game show, will be presented by Johannesburg’s Kiri Pink Nob at the Foxwood Theatre in Houghton, on Saturday, March 16, at 3.30pm.

The production combines panel, quiz and game shows, using panel banter to present a sharp take on trivia quizzing.

The panelists drive the content of the show with wit, humour and daring commentary, while during the general knowledge quiz, points are scored for various correctly answered trivia questions.

The interesting twist, however, is that the facts or answers are masked in sharp framing based on the source material. Think the BBC’s QI.

The entertaining game show aspect involves impromptu physical games based on the content.

Speaking about the concept, Kiri Pink Nob founder Jefferson Bobs Tshabalala says: “The tasks and challenges are the game – the sport of it all – the panel’s quips are the gems – the magic of it all – and the trivia in the quizzes is the unpredictable jewel, the wow of it all.

“Here, the overt flamboyance of the township meets the subdued vileness of suburbia and the blend is as beautiful as it is intriguing.”

It is a romantic mingle of palates that makes for an evening of riotous entertainment.

“Every show is one of loud chants, deafening screams, points scored, bonuses earned, victories felt, losses, winners, losers, prizes, fines, penalties … the whole game show shebang. It is interactive, improvised theatre like you have never witnessed and the biggest player of every night is the audience.”

In 2017, Tshabalala won two awards at the Cape Town Fringe Festival for Off the Record, while in 2018 he scooped the Gold Ovation Award at the Grahamstown festival for the production.

This is the first time the live arts production house will present a show at the Foxwood Theatre and Tshabalala is excited to have the opportunity to stage Off the Record at the venue.

“It is a beautiful, intimate space and we look forward to a lasting relationship with the venue,” he said.

Info

• Tickets for the production are R100 online or R120 at the door and can be booked on Skybookings or e-mail theatre@foxwood.co.za.
• Foxwood House is at 13, 5th Street, Houghton.
• Audiences can also purchase copies of Jefferson’s recently self-published book Khongolose Khommanding Khomissars for R150.

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