Eatre journey
But the most anticipated of Foot’s work to be presented at this year’s festival is her latest play, The Inconvenience of Wings.
This is different from both Karoo Moose and Tshepang in that it is not
social or political statement. It is dark and more personal. I feel like
have moved into a different space with it,” she says.
And its premiere is a point of some anxiety for Foot. “It’s brand-new. We’ve never shown it to an audience and I am keen to see how it will be received.”
Writing it, she says, was also different to her previous work.
It was a very personal journey. Dark, difficult and research-intensive,” Foot explains, describing the story of friendship, dysfunction and addiction centred around a protagonist diagnosed with bipolar disorder and her husband’s struggle find a cure for her. Inspired by Addictive Thinking, book by Abraham J Twerski, the play explores themes of compulsion, addiction and denial; the writing was amplified by Foot’s experience with her father’s dementia.
“In a year when the National Arts Festival sharpens the spotlight on women writers, directors, choreographers and artists, Lara Foot’s contribution to South African theatre both in South Africa and abroad positions her as a leader in the field,” says Ismail Mahomed, the National Arts Festival artistic director.
This year, 80% of the festival’s main programme is made up of work written, directed, curated or headlined by women — and Foot is leading its charge.
“She is one of South Africa’s most prolific theatremakers,” Mahomed says. “Her commitment and passion for strategically devised development initiatives has also created opportunities for many emerging artists to be catapulted into the mainstream. Presenting her as the 2016 featured artist honours both her achievements and her contribution to the sector over the past 20 years.”
Foot is looking forward to yet another pilgrimage to South Africa’s arts mecca. “It’s a very strong programme this year and I hope that, between the openings of the three plays and the interviews that come with them, I will be able to see some of the works,” she says. “This year, my daughter will be there with me and I am really looking forward to enjoying time with her and watching fantastic theatre.”