After a sold-out six week season at the Fugard Theatre, the hit musical King Kong will return by overwhelming public demand for the summer season. Presented by Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre, King Kong will run from 12 December with bookings now extended to 18 February 2018.
More than half a century since the first performance in 1959, the Fugard Theatre’s production of this iconic and historic musical has received five star reviews and rapturous responses such as “a knock-out success”, “simply magnificent”, “a tribute to South Africa’s performance arts legacy” and “a theatrical treat”.
King Kong tells the story of heavyweight fifties boxing champion Ezekiel Dlamini (whose self-appointed ring name was “King Kong”), set to the wildly exhilarating music of Todd Matshikiza.
Stepping in to the shoes of shebeen queen Joyce in the role which helped propel Miriam Makeba to international fame in the original production of King Kong, is Edith Plaatjies, who has previously dazzled Fugard Theatre audiences in productions such as District Six: Kanala, Orpheus in Africa and Blood Brothers. With her powerhouse voice and electric stage presence, she has also been seen in productions such as Radio Classics directed by David Kramer and Slick Swing and Kaap Se Musiek In Kleur, both directed by Alistair Izobell.
Top grade cast and team
Reprising his acclaimed performance in the role of King Kong is actor, singer and dancer Andile Gumbi (The Lion King, isiBaya). Gumbi made his Broadway debut as Simba in Disney’s The Lion King and has starred in productions of this musical in London, Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai and South Africa. He was voted by The Sowetan as one of Mzansi’s Sexiest Top 12 celebs in 2015, and played the character Zweli in the Mzansi Magic soap opera isiBaya, which was voted most popular TV soap at the 2017 SAFTA Awards.
“For those Capetonians who missed out on the first run of King Kong, or who want to return with friends and family, this is the perfect holiday summer season entertainment and a celebration of local talent with our all-star South African cast,” says Daniel Galloway, the Executive Director of the Fugard Theatre.
The Fugard Theatre’s King Kong is directed by Jonathan Munby who directed the Fugard Theatre’s production of A Human Being Died That Night with Noma Dumezweni (the only double Olivier award-winning Southern African actor) amongst many other international productions including the recent production of Shakespeare’s King Lear for the Chichester Festival in the UK starring Sir Ian McKellen.
The original production featured music by Todd Matshikiza, lyrics and original book by Pat Williams and book by Harry Bloom. The revised book (with additional lyrics) is by Academy award nominated screenwriter and playwright William Nicholson (Shadowlands, Gladiator, Les Miserables, Sarafina, Long Walk to Freedom). South African choreographer star and recent French Legion D’Honneur recipient Gregory Maqoma choreographs King Kong with Musical Direction by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder (West Side Story, Funny Girl, Cabaret) and Sipumzo Trueman Lucwaba with additional music and arrangements by Charl-Johan Lingenfelder.
What: King Kong
Where and when: Fugard Theatre from 12 December 2017 to 18 February 2018
Book: Webtickets
WS
