End of run of brilliant ‘Endgame’ put back

FOLLOWING the overwhelming success of Samuel Beckett’s classic Endgame, playing at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio, the season has been extended by a week and will now end on September 1.

The star-studded and multiaward-winning cast comprises Andrew Buckland, Rob van Vuuren, Antoinette Kellermann and Soli Philander, directed by Sylvaine Strike.

Praise also came from Theatre Scene Cape Town.

“Nothing makes more sense than to have Samuel Beckett’s brilliant play about senselessness performed by two ludicrously longawaited clowns joining forces – Andrew Buckland and Rob van Vuuren,” said Strike.

Not forgetting her own sense of the absurd and magic, that she cleverly weaves into all her work and which has become her signature of success.

Strike added: “Having two theatre icons like Antoinette Kellermann and Soli Philander play in the supporting roles is a dream for any director, if for no other reason than to spend time in the company of these South African theatre greats, performing one of the most extraordinary plays ever written, who take the audience on a journey into the dark heart of the post-apocalyptic circus of this play.”

This production combines the talent and expertise of comic and theatrical craftsmen and women in what has been described as one of Beckett’s favourite plays.

Buckland plays the role of Hamm, with the inimitable Van Vuuren as Clov, and veterans Philander and Kellerman as Nagg and Nell. Set and lighting design is by Patrick Curtis and costume design by Birrie le Roux.

Beckett was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1906. He is described as an avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, poet, and literary translator who lived in Paris for most of his adult life, where he wrote in both English and French.

In 1969, he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature with Endgame, Waiting for Godot and Krapp’s Last Tape being some of his best-known plays, still performed all over the world.

Beckett’s work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human existence, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour, which is why he is considered one of the last modernist writers and one of the key figures in what is called “Theatre of the Absurd”.

Endgame is presented by Derek Lubner in collaboration with the Baxter Theatre Centre, and runs until September 1 at 7.30pm nightly, Monday to Saturday.

There is an age restriction of 12 years and parental guidance is advised.

Booking is through Webtickets, online at www.webtickets.co.za, or at selected Pick n Pay stores.