Bitter Winter - A New South African play by Paul Slabolepszy

Name: Bitter Winter - A New South African play by Paul Slabolepszy
Start: 2025-02-20T19:30:00+02:00
Location: Pieter Toerien Theatre, Montecasino

Schedule

Thu, 20 Feb, 2025 at 07:30 pm

UTC+02:00

Location

Pieter Toerien Theatre, Montecasino | Sandton, GT

Paul Slabolepszy’s Bitter Winter Premieres at Montecasino’s Pieter Toerien Studio Theatre – A poignant Tribute to South African Theatre
Johannesburg, South Africa – Audiences are in for a treat as Bitter Winter, the latest play by acclaimed South African playwright Paul Slabolepszy, makes its debut at The Studio, Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre. This topical and timely production will run from February 20 to March 16, 2025, with tickets priced between R150 and R220.
𝗔 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆
The Sheriff in the American Western film Six Guns at Sesriem is not the role a classically-trained actor in his mid-70s would typically aspire to—yet for Jean-Louis Lourens, this casting could be his lifeline. As Jean-Louis waits at a high-stakes audition for the arrival of the American movie director, he encounters Prosper Mangane, an up-and-coming television and film star. Prosper’s youthful energy and adventurous spirit offer Jean-Louis a new perspective on their shared profession—a career both rewarding and unforgiving.
With slick and efficient casting director, Felicia Willemse, keeping the actors updated on the impending arrival of the hot-shot director, Jean-Louis and Prosper are left alone to reflect on their journeys in the cold, barren audition room. Their dialogue takes audiences through the struggles and triumphs of actors who remain deeply committed to their craft despite the challenges they face.
𝗔 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁-𝗪𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁
Bitter Winter offers a heartfelt exploration of the artist’s life. It celebrates the legends of South African theatre while shining a light on the new generation of rising stars making their mark on the global stage. This tender tale takes audiences along the winding, sometimes rocky road that many artists feel compelled to travel in pursuit of their dreams.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺
The production boasts a stellar cast, with André Odendaal as Jean-Louis Lourens. Odendaal, who won a Naledi Award for Best Actor for his role in DOP, is also well-known for his TV roles in Binnelanders, Getroud Met Rugby, and Dwaalster. Oarabile Ditsele, fresh from a sold-out run of Rapela and K*ll Move Paradise, as well as the acclaimed production of Woza Albert at the Baxter Theatre, takes on the role of Prosper Mangane. Chantal Stanfield, best known for her work in 7de Laan, Getroud Met Rugby, and her one-woman show From Koe’siestes to Kneidlach, recently starred as The Widow in the sold-out musical Mamma Mia!, and now plays casting director Felicia Willemse. Directed by award-winning director Lesedi Job, whose notable credits include When Swallows Cry, Brutal Legacy and K*ll Move Paradise, among others and produced by Weslee Lauder, this production promises to deliver a powerful and moving theatrical experience.
𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀
Venue: The Studio at Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre
Dates: February 20 – March 16, 2025
Ticket Prices: R150 - R220
Language Mix: 75% English, 25% Afrikaans
Duration: Approximately 80 minutes, with no interval
𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
Bitter Winter is a must-see for anyone who appreciates the power of storytelling and the magic of live theatre. This production pays homage to the resilience, dedication, and passion of South African artists who continue to inspire and entertain.
𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
Tickets are available through Webtickets: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/Event.aspx?itemid=1550796719
or at Pieter Toerien’s Box Office.
For additional information, please contact:
Geraldine Swanepoel
Phone: 011 511 1988
Email: [email protected]
Paul Slabolepszy, recent recipient of a NALEDI Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in Theatre, is one of South Africa's most revered playwrights, known for his character-driven stories that speak to the human condition, with a body of work that resonates both locally and internationally.