Eric Abraham and The Fugard Theatre present the South African premiere of Happy New Year, a hilarious, heart-warming rom com, adapted by South African icon David Kramer from the hit, award-winning play Midsummer (A Play With Songs) by David Greig and Gordon McIntyre.
Happy New Year will be presented from 19 February 2019 in The Fugard Studio Theatre and bookings are now open through The Fugard Theatre box office and website.
Directed by internationally acclaimed director and former Artistic Director of The Tricycle Theatre in London, Nicolas Kent, the cast stars popular actors Bianca Flanders (Krotoa – Eva Van De Kaap, The Demon Bride, Aunty Merle the Musical, Blood Brothers, Orpheus in Africa, Kristalvlakte) as Lee-André, and Dean Balie (Orpheus in Africa, Blood Brothers, Kat and the Kings, Hamlet, Babbelagtig, Sweet Bird of Youth), as Dan.
High flying divorce lawyer Lee-André meets car salesman and small-time criminal Dan in a bar one midsummer’s night when the married man she’s been seeing cancels their date.
She’s out of Dan’s league, he’s totally not her type, but when these two desperate souls come together, a wild weekend of alcohol-infused adventure and abandon ensues. Between bridge-burning, car chases, wedding bust ups and self-loathing hangovers, they discover they are not so different after all, and that maybe there are second chances at life – and love.
The original production of Midsummer (A Play With Songs) won the Carol Tambor Best of Edinburgh Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and garnered praise such as, ‘an exhilarating theatrical journey… you float out laughing as if you’ve just swallowed sunshine on a spoon’ (The Guardian), ‘theatrical ingenuity’ (The New York Times), ‘riotously funny as it is touchingly romantic’ (Variety), ‘a joyous romp’ (The Independent) and ‘beautifully written, combining sharp dialogue with evocative description and passages’ (The Telegraph).
“Happy New Year is a delightful and refreshing twist on a rom-com,” says Daniel Galloway, Managing Director of The Fugard Theatre. “It is honest, down to earth and deliciously hilarious – a brilliant piece of storytelling with wonderful songs. We are honoured to have South Africa’s own David Kramer adapting this universal and musical tale of love, hope and acceptance to resonate more deeply with our local audiences.”
Happy New Year will be performed from 19 February 2019 at 8pm with matinees at 4pm on Saturdays.
Tickets from R160 to R220 can be booked through The Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 or through The Fugard Theatre’s website at www.thefugard.com
There is a 20% discount available for the Friends of The Fugard members on Wednesdays to Saturdays, a 15% discount for pensioners and 10% discount for students. These discounted tickets can be booked through the Fugard Theatre box office. Not yet a Friends of the Fugard member? Sign up now at the box office or online for priority booking and great specials!
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