DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

Much like the process of developing a play, a film, or any piece of art, true pleasure is found in the process of making it, not in the accolades that proceed it. Fear of what others might think of your work can take the enjoyment away from the experience of creating. 

I have always worried about the future and where my life will go, this often distracts me from living and enjoying the moments that lie before me. Reflecting on the past year I wanted to write something that pulls us back, back to a time of different normality. For me, that was the theatre. I was never big into theatre growing up, though when I was in high school a few of my friends tricked me into auditioning for a show at our local amateur theatre. Since then, I have done a few shows and fell in love with the process and chaos involved when trying to put on a live performance. 

On the 16th of March 2021, the Fugard Theatre in Cape Town closed its doors for good after a year of no productions due to the covid-19 pandemic. I was not too familiar with that specific theatre though many of my close friends and relatives were very saddened by the news. I found this a sad reality because not only has this pandemic affected this beautiful theatre, but it has affected the livelihoods of so many who were unable to remain open and working during the past year. There is a real sense that something has been lost, that no longer exists post-2020. This script for me is a reflection back to a time in my life. I have taken great inspiration from my actual experiences, and the people's experiences around me in armature theatre. My goal was to write a script that displayed the beauty in the chaos of working together, creating, and persevering through challenges, while also displaying the drama, passion, and strain when trying to work with one another.