The Masque One-Act Play Festival 2025 once again proudly presents four new South African plays, which have been developed as part of the Theatre’s Play Reading Programme.
This year, the Festival runs from 10 to 12 April 2025, featuring works by writers Charlene Colling, Alex Learmont (top row L to R), and Dawn Garisch and Lauren Bates (bottom row, L to R).
“Each script has been through our Play Reading Programme and is ready to be brought to life on stage. After the performance, audiences will have a chance to chat to the writers, directors and actors about the entire process,” says Festival Director Melanie O’Connor Horn, who will host the post-performance discussions.
“South Africa’s vibrant theatre industry has a wealth of stories to tell, and we have seen the diverse range of topics covered from the scripts we received,” she says. “Each writer who has their script selected for the monthly Play Reading Programme receives feedback on their writing. From the monthly series, we select four productions to be staged as part of the One-Act Play Festival. We are proud to be able to provide this platform, celebrating South African writers and their stories.”
The Masque One-Act Play Festival 2025
Dust is written by Lauren Bates and directed by Sue Wilkes. The play tells the tale of a young, white Capetonian woman, Megan Storey, newly qualified as an English teacher, beginning her career at an under-resourced school on the Cape Flats. Megan instantly clashes with the head of her department, Clive Adams, who has been at the school for nearly 30 years. Megan encourages her students, particularly a matric student named Jason, to dream of achieving something outstanding. Despite the tragic events that strike the school, the play is a hopeful celebration of both art and reconciliation.
Written by Alex Learmont and directed by Digby Young, The Dropped Baby explores questions such as who are you? Who were you in your class photo? Your wedding photo? Are you your memories? Can your memory be trusted? What made you who you are? Full of wry humour, The Dropped Baby tells the surprising but troubled life story of Charlie Niemand, a man who is just this side of the grave.
Knock Knock is written by Dawn Garisch and directed by Ceridwen Morris. The play is set in a seaside resort. A woman knocks on a man’s door asking for sugar. An intriguing encounter follows – two people in a room, rudderless under a sickle moon.
The first Afrikaans entry to the programme, H(Eg) is written by Charlene Colling and directed by Dian Harcovecchio. H(Eg) centres around Klara, a 19-year-old woman with a passion for dance, who is navigating the challenges of adulthood while dealing with the impending loss of her best friend, Hanri, to cancer. The story unfolds through vignettes of Klara’s life – meeting Hanri for the first time, her strained relationship with her parents, and her loving bond with Maggie, the family’s housekeeper. It’s a story of grief and hope as Klara continues to strive for her dreams.
What: The Masque One-Act Play Festival 2025
Show times:
Thursday 10 April 7.30pm – H(Eg) and Dust
Friday 11 April 7.30pm – The Dropped Baby and Knock Knock
Saturday 12 April 2.30pm – The Dropped Baby and Knock Knock
Saturday 12 April 7.30pm – H(Eg) and Dust
Tickets: Quicket
WS
