‘THE EULOGISTS’
THREE people walk into a small town and wait for a famous leader to die in Louis Viljoen’s new play, The Eulogists, which will run from May 30 until June 24 in the Fugard Studio Theatre. Greg Karvellas is directing Emily Child, Pierre Malherbe and Kiroshan Naidoo.
Child and Malherbe have been in other Viljoen plays, but this is a first for Naidoo and the first time he is appearing on the Fugard stage. He may be only 23 but has already established himself as an innovative and prolific theatre maker – tuned into the contemporary landscape.
In addition to appearing in student productions, while studying for his drama degree at UCT, he co-founded Hungry Minds Productions – a collective developing new work and staging contemporary classic plays, such as Out of Bounds by Rajesh Gophie. Out of Bounds picked up a prestigious Ovation Award at last year’s National Arts Festival.
Naidoo, graduated from UCT at the end of 2015 and won the 2016 Fleur du Cap Award for Most Promising Student.
In Viljoen’s The Eulogists, he plays Zee, who works as researcher for Audrey (Child). She is a writer – with one bestseller to her name – and hopes her book on the leader will rekindle her fame. Zee and Audrey share a room and cabin fever sets in. Harris (Malherbe), a correspondent for an American radio station is the third protagonist in The Eulogists.
I asked Naidoo if the issue of colour/ demographic is woven into the script or could it be about any three people in a town in South Africa?
“Both colour and demographic play a part in the play,” he said. “Audrey represents the older (30s) generation of white people whereas
is an important piece for South Africans to watch. Ameera illustrates the possible future of South Africa in a witty, dark and heart-breaking way
Zee represents the post-1994 generation trying to grapple with the idea of race, white-privilege and the so called ‘new South Africa’.
“Zee is a young man, grappling with family, work and what it means to be a man of colour in the ‘new South Africa’ (post-apartheid). He’s very ambitious, passionate and headstrong.”
As a student, Naidoo was very much involved in the #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movements.
Cultural activism is core to his outlook as a theatre maker and Zee strikes a chord with him: “Zee is definitely one of those characters that share my political view.
“In a political piece based on South Africa, it’s hard to avoid the politics that come with the colour of my skin. The beautiful thing about the script is that it gives a voice to these thoughts and feelings. Zee is a young Indian man who would definitely follow and support the #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movements.”
After The Eulogists, it will be a busy time for Naidoo. Hungry Minds (headed up by Naidoo, Blythe Linger, Kathleen Stephen and Dara Beth) is presenting Reparations in Grahamstown at the National Arts Festival, as part of the Arena Programme.
The acclaimed Reparations has been written and directed by Ameera Conrad who won the Theatre Arts Admin Directors Bursary. Reparations wrestles with critical questions ignited by the #FeesMustFall movement.
I asked Naidoo what debt is owed and how it is repaid.
“It might be cheesy to say but Reparations is an important piece for South Africans to watch. Ameera illustrates the possible future of South Africa in a witty, dark and heart-breaking way. If you want to see what theatre the black youth of SA are making – come to Reparations. It’s a ‘lit’ piece of theatre.”
Regarding what is next for Naidoo and the Hungry Minds, he said: “A lot of my work this year has been focused on film and TV work. One of the things we concentrate on doing as a production company is producing new and existing works, or re-works and taking them further than their current point of production – so that continues. As for Hungry Minds Productions we will start focusing more on workshops and services offered to artists in South Africa.
“Although it is still in the planning stages, artists can look forward to an Artist Clinic – a platform where artists can come together weekly for movement classes, vocal classes, dance, yoga, hikes and clinical therapy.”
Naidoo is excited about branching out in a new direction in The Eulogists – into the ambit of a mainstream theatre space and is thrilled to be living and working in Cape Town.
“I was born in Rustenburg and grew up in Pretoria. UCT’s Theatre programme brought me to Cape Town. After graduating, the industry has made me want to stay.”
The Eulogists is on May 30 until June 24 at the Fugard Studio – Tuesdays to Saturdays at 8pm with 4pm matinees on Saturdays.
R120-R160/ www.computicket. com/ 0861 915 8000
For information about shows at the National Arts Festival, see www. nationalartsfestival.co.za