26/04/2024
THEATRE NEWS ALERT: Alice Childress’ witty and thought-provoking play, Trouble in Mind, puts the spotlight on sexism, racism, identity and power, with celebrated actress Thembi Mtshali-Jones leading an outstanding cast, at the Baxter Flipside, from 14 May to 1 June 2024, at 7.30pm and Saturday matinees at 2pm.
Under the direction of the award-winning Mdu Kweyama, highly respected stage, film and television blueblood, Mtshali-Jones, heads up a formidable cast, featuring Antony Coleman (Expelled, Curse of the Starving Class), Royston Stoffels (Aunty Merle It’s a Girl, Hamlet), Nicky Rebelo (Scenes from An Ex*****on, Aunty Merle It’s a Girl), Adrian Collins (Hamlet, Bench ), Daniel Newton (Delela, Shadow Boxing) and Alyssa van Reenen (Mirre en Aalwyn, Drowning Diaries). Members of the Baxter’s Fires Burning company complete the ensemble comprising Lyle October, Awethu Hleli and Tamzin Williams who were all seen in Othello and Of Loss - Handle with Care.
Set in the 1950’s during rehearsals for an upcoming Broadway production, the ‘play-within-a-play’ comedy-drama follows the challenges and differences, faced by the group of multigenerational, black and white actors and their white, male director and stage manager. Racial politics and tensions collide, as backstage hypocrisy and prejudice unravels at the theatre. What unfolds is a moving, funny, yet penetrating look at the behind-the-scenes ‘goings-on’ in a dubious theatrical environment.
It is made possible by the City of Cape, the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust and the National Arts Council.
The production runs at the Baxter Flipside for a limited season from 14 May to 1 June at 7.30pm with Saturday matinees at 2pm. Booking is through Webtickets online or at Pic n Pay stores. For discounted block bookings contact Mark Dobson on email [email protected] or call him on 021 680 3972 or Carmen Kearns on email [email protected] or telephone 021 680 3993.
