Eugène Ionesco’s Rhinoceros debuts at the Market Theatre
JOHANNESBURG – Rhinoceros was first performed in 1959, and is an emblematic work from Ionesco, one of the foremost figures of the French avant-garde theatre and the Theatre of the Absurd, said IFAS.
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The French Institute of South Africa (IFAS) in collaboration with the Market Theatre Laboratory alongside the support of Mazars, is proud to present Kwasha! Theatre Company’s latest production, Rhinoceros.
The production was written by celebrated French-Romanian playwright Eugène Ionesco and directed by The Theatre Duo. The play is taking place at the Ramolao Makhene Theatre in Johannesburg from 4 to 20 October.
IFAS explained that the play depicts an imaginary epidemic of ‘rhinoceritis’, a disease that frightens all the inhabitants of a city and soon transforms them into rhinoceroses.
“A metaphor for the rise of totalitarianism on the eve of the Second World War, it addresses the themes of conformism and resistance to political power. Directed by Theatre Duo Mahlatsi Mokgonyana and Billy Langa, who are known for their mastery of physical theatre, the company will combine different registers to bring this metaphor to life, exploring the tragic situation of human politics through the use of fantastical images,” said IFAS.
IFAS affirmed that Kwasha!’s work is a fitting way to open the Market Theatre Laboratory’s 30 Years of the Lab celebrations, which will be comprised of a nine-week long festival of events, with diverse offerings of alumni productions, storytelling evenings, a performance lecture, an alumni showcase and an exhibition on the Market Theatre Laboratory’s 30-year journey.
Rhinoceros will play at the Ramolao Makhene Theatre in Johannesburg from 4 until 20 October, at the Durban Courtyard Theatre from 24 until 26 October and at the Cape Town Magnet Theatre on 8 and 9 November 2019.
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