Camera Mode: DANGER IN THE DARK Hits the Streets

With only days to go before the first preview of the Baxter Theatre Centre‘s Danger in the Dark, the company took to the streets of Cape Town for a photographic feature by Jesse Kramer. The production is a new adaptation of Poison, the 1992 musical written by David Kramer and Taliep Petersen, which Kramer himself has reinvented.

Elton Landrew, Eldon van der Merwe, Loukmaan Adams, Alexis Petersen, Rushney Ferguson, Edith Plaatjies, Chad Baai and Tashreeq de Villiers in DANGER IN THE DARK (Photo credit: Jesse Kramer)

Chad Baai, Elton Landrew, Rushney Ferguson, Loukmaan Adams, Alexis Petersen, Tashreeq de Villiers, Edith Plaatjies and Eldon van der Merwe in DANGER IN THE DARK (Photo credit: Jesse Kramer)

Made possible by the City of Cape Town, Danger in the Dark is a timely response to the critical social issues that plague communities all over the Western Cape. Set in the underbelly of the Cape Flats, the musical unfolds in 1995, when Pamela (played by Alexis Petersen), a social worker who is writing a thesis on drug abuse, meets up with Juanita (Rushney Ferguson), a friend from her school days. When she realises that Juanita is trapped in an abusive relationship with a drug lord, she finds herself drawn into dark and dangerous places and situations as she tried to help her friend escape.

With Kramer at the helm of the production, Camillo Lombard takes up the duties of musical director with Grant van Ster and Shaun Oelf choreographing the show. A 22-strong South African cast and a live band bring to life the painfully beautiful narrative and soaring music.

Bookings are now open through Webtickets, with information about discounted block or schools’ bookings, fundraisers and charities available from Leon van Zyl. Ticket prices range from R100 to R195. The production previews at the Baxter Theatre from 11 – 14 October, opens on 15 October and runs until 2 November. There is an age restriction of 12 years.

Camera Mode: DANGER IN THE DARK in Rehearsal

It’s crunch time for the Baxter Theatre Centre‘s Danger in the Dark, David Kramer‘s new adaptation of Poison, the musical he created with Taliep Petersen in the early 1990s, with the first previews of the show scheduled for next weekend.

Made possible by the City of Cape Town, Danger in the Dark is a timely response to the critical social issues that plague communities all over the Western Cape. Set in the underbelly of the Cape Flats, the musical unfolds in 1995, when Pamela (played by Alexis Petersen), a social worker who is writing a thesis on drug abuse, meets up with Juanita (Rushney Ferguson), a friend from her school days. When she realises that Juanita is trapped in an abusive relationship with a drug lord, she finds herself drawn into dark and dangerous places and situations as she tried to help her friend escape.

Take a peek through Jesse Kramer’s lens into the rehearsal room, where Kramer is putting the finishing touches on the production, together with the assistant director for the production, Grant van Ster. Van Ster is also choreographing the show in collaborataion with Shaun Oelf. Camillo Lombard serves as musical director.

Chad Baai as Shawn confronts Loukmaan Adams as Michael in DANGER IN THE DARK (Photo credit: Jesse Kramer)

Ensemble members Luke Buys, Lubabalo Pupu, Loreto Cabrera and Mekaila Mathys in DANGER IN THE DARK (Photo credit: Jesse Kramer)

Ensemble members Alex Rodkin, Luke Buys and Gabriela Dirkse in DANGER IN THE DARK (Photo credit: Jesse Kramer)

With a cast of 22 vibrant South African performers and a live band bringing to life the painfully beautiful narrative and soaring music of Danger in the Dark, this production promises to be a thrilling reinvention of the original Kramer-Petersen musical.

Bookings are now open through Webtickets, with information about discounted block or schools’ bookings, fundraisers and charities available from Leon van Zyl. Ticket prices range from R100 to R195. The production previews at the Baxter Theatre from 11 – 14 October, opens on 15 October and runs until 2 November. There is an age restriction of 12 years.

DANGER IN THE DARK Reworks Kramer and Petersen’s POISON

David Kramer’s Danger in the Dark, a reworking of the hit musical, Poison, which he and the legendary late Taliep Petersen wrote in the early 1990s and was produced by Renaye Kramer, will premiere at the Baxter Theatre Centre this October. Kramer has written a new book for Danger in the Dark, but he has retained many of the original songs.

Poison was very well received in South Africa, Malaysia and London. The original production premiered in 1992 under the auspices of CAPAB Opera and was first reworked in 1994 for a season produced by Volkswagen Musicactive. A production at the Port Elizabeth Opera House followed in 1995, with another revival, directed by Bobby Heaney, having been staged at the Baxter Theatre in 2004 as part of the Klipfontein Corridor Project.

In the current adaptation of this powerful musical, Kramer has decided to tell the story from the point of view of Pamela, a social worker who is writing her thesis on drug abuse on the Cape Flats. Considering the critical crisis plaguing communities all over the Western Cape, the timing of this production could not be more perfect.

Danger in the Dark unfolds in 1995, when Pamela meets up with Juanita, a friend from her school days. She soon realises that Juanita is trapped in an abusive relationship with a drug lord and she is desperate to help her friend escape. Pamela is drawn into dark and dangerous places and situations, yet she endures against all odds, for the safety and survival of her friend.

Directed by Kramer with assistant director Grant van Ster, the acclaimed creative team for Danger in the Dark is made up of Camillo Lombard (musical director), Patrick Curtis (set and lighting designer), David Classen (sound designer), Widaad Albertus (costume designer), Kirsti Cummings (videographer) and Shaun Oelf and Grant van Ster (choreography).

Kramer has assembled a stellar cast of eight lead performers with a chorus of 14, who dance, sing and play a variety of roles, accompanied by a live band of five musicians.

The cast is led by Alexis Petersen as Pamela, Rushney Ferguson as Juanita, Elton Landrew as Poison, Eldon van der Merwe as Chicco, Tashreeq de Villiers as Lucky, Edith Plaatjies as Mrs Joseph, Loukmaan Adams as Michael and Chad Baai as Shawn. The ensemble comprises Luke Buys, Loreto Cabrera, Lewellyn Afrika, Luke de Kock, Anzio September, Lubabalo Pupu, Rori York Bingham, Nadine Suliaman, Alex Rodkin, Chamonay Anthony, Mekaila Mathys, Crystal Finck, Gabriela Dirkse and Tanzley Jooste.

Grandall Vlotman (conductor and keyboards), Shaun Francke (guitar), Jason Ward (drums and percussion), Yvan Potts (synthesizers) and Kurt Randall (bassist) make up the band.

Made possible by the City of Cape Town, Danger in the Dark previews at the Baxter Theatre from 11 – 14 October, opens on 15 October and runs until 2 November. Ticket prices range from R100 to R195 and booking is now open through Webtickets. For discounted block or schools’ bookings, fundraisers and charities, contact Leon van Zyl. There is an age restriction of 12 years.

LANGARM Takes to the Floor at The Fugard

Langarm, the latest musical created by the award-winning David Kramer, opens tonight at The Fugard Theatre for the festive season. With Kramer directing the production, musical direction and arrangements have been created for the production by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder. Grant van Ster choreographs.

A story of love and intrigue, Langarm is set in the world of Cape Town’s ballroom dance culture in the 1960s. When the recently widowed Dinah Levin invites her nephew Jeff to help her manage her late husband’s Canterbury Hotel, he meets Angelina, a lovely young ballroom dancer who asks him to partner her in The Swaziland Ballroom Championships. Seeing this as an opportunity to humiliate his ex-fiancé, who has just dumped him, Jeff agrees, even though he will risk arrest by flouting the laws of apartheid-era South Africa.

Currently booking through 31 January 2019, Langarm will be performed from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 20:00 with a matinee performance on Saturdays at 15:00.  From Sunday 16 December, there will be an additional Sunday matinee at 15:00. There will be a Monday night performance at 20:00 on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2018. Tickets ranging from R150 to R260 can be booked through the Fugard Theatre’s box office on 021 461 4554 or through the Fugard Theatre’s website.

Heritage Month Special for LANGARM

Available for the month of September only, The Fugard Theatre is holding a Heritage Month special which sees patrons able to purchase four premium-priced tickets for the new David Kramer musical, LANGARM, at the price of only R130 each for Tuesday and Wednesday performances between 7 and 30 December. This special is exclusively available through the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554.

Langarm tells a story of love and intrigue set in the world of Cape Town’s ballroom dance culture in the 1960s. With the threat of the new apartheid laws hanging over their heads, people will do almost anything to survive.

Langarm will be performed at the Fugard Theatre from 20 November from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 20:00 with a matinee performance on Saturdays at 15:00.  From Sunday 16 December, there will be an additional Sunday matinee at 15:00. There will be a Monday night performance at 20:00 on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2018. Tickets ranging from R150 to R260 can be booked through the Fugard Theatre’s box office on 021 461 4554 or through the Fugard Theatre’s website.

Countdown to LANGARM: 84 Days to Go!

Only 84 days remain until the first performance of the award-winning writer-director David Kramer’s new musical, Langarm, which will open at The Fugard Theatre on 20 November. Produced by Eric Abraham,  Langarm tells a story of love and intrigue set in the world of Cape Town’s ballroom dance culture in the 1960s. With the threat of the new apartheid laws hanging over their heads, people will do almost anything to survive.

In 1965, when Dinah Levin is widowed, she invites her nephew, Jeff, whose fiancé has just dumped him to help her manage her late husband’s Canterbury Hotel. Here he meets a lovely young ballroom dancer named Angelina, who asks him to partner her in The Swaziland Ballroom Championships – the perfect opportunity for Jeff to humiliate his ex. Aware that he will risk arrest by flouting the law, he throws caution to the wind and agrees. When Jeff decides to rejuvenate the Canterbury by offering langarm dances and Eddie Jephta comes to play the hotel with his Moonlight Serenaders langarm band, Dinah has to confront the secrets of her past.

David Kramer says:

I have been wanting for many years to do a musical inspired by the langarm-ballroom bands from this time.  I grew up watching my parents dancing to the music of these bands, and Langarm pays homage to the likes of the Johnny Lyners Blue Moon Jazz Band and Willie’s Starlite Orchestra.

The stellar creative team who will work with Kramer to bring Langarm to life includes Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (musical arrangements), Saul Radomsky (set design), Widaad Albertus (costume design) and Grant van Ster (choreography).

Daniel Galloway, the executive director of the Fugard Theatre, comments:

We are proud to be collaborating on our fifth production with David Kramer following the success of District Six – Kanala, Orpheus in Africa, Blood Brothers and Kat and the Kings.

Langarm will be performed at the Fugard Theatre from 20 November from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 20:00 with a matinee performance on Saturdays at 15:00.  From Sunday 16 December, there will be an additional Sunday matinee at 15:00. There will be a Monday night performance at 20:00 on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2018. Tickets ranging from R150 to R260 can be booked through the Fugard Theatre’s box office on 021 461 4554 or through the Fugard Theatre’s website. There is a 15% discount available for the Friends of The Fugard members.