h(eG) - Play Reading

For August's play reading, we're delving in h(eG) - a new Afrikaans work by Charlene Colling.

The evening will include a table read of the play by actors, followed by a discussion of the work. The discussion will be led by Melanie O'Connor Horn and a panel of experts. Input from the audience is most welcome!

About the play

h(eG) fokus op Klara, 'n 19-jarige vasberade en artistieke jong vrou met 'n passie vir dans, wat die uitdagings van volwassenheid hanteer terwyl sy komplekse gesinsdinamika en die naderende verlies van haar beste vriendin, Hanri, aan bloekkanker hanteer. Die narratief ontvou deur 'n nie-lineêre tydlyn, wat belangrike oomblikke in Klara se lewe uitbeeld. Die toneelstuk begin met Klara en Hanri wat ses maande gelede by 'n koffiewinkel ontmoet, wat hul diep band en Hanri se onlangse diagnose vestig. Die verhaal gaan voort om die gespanne verhouding tussen Klara en haar ouers, Heleen en Johan, beide prokureurs wat met hul eie probleme worstel—Heleen se alkoholisme en Johan se koue houding—te onthul. Klara vind troos en moederlike leiding by Maggie, die gesin se jarelange huishulp, wat 'n pilaar van krag vir haar word. Soos die tonele verskuif tussen 'n hospitaal, 'n dansateljee en verskeie gesinsinstellings, verhoog die spanning met Heleen se konfrontasies met beide Maggie en Renske, Hanri se angstige moeder en Heleen se universiteitsvriendin. 'n Bepalende oomblik in die toneelstuk is 'n hartverskeurende dansreeks in Klara se ateljee, wat haar emosionele onstuimigheid en veerkragtigheid simboliseer. Die klimaks onthul die verweefde lotgevalle van die karakters, wat kulmineer in Hanri se laaste oomblikke en haar aangrypende brief aan haar pa, Louis. Die brief weerspieël haar aanvaarding van haar lot en haar blywende liefde vir haar pa, wat 'n bittersoet afsluiting van haar verhaal bied en die temas van liefde, vergifnis en die soeke na innerlike vrede te midde van die lewensuitdagings onderstreep.

Die toneelstuk eindig met 'n somber maar hoopvolle noot, aangesien Klara steeds haar hartseer hanteer en na haar drome streef, wat die blywende gees van menslike veerkragtigheid beliggaam.

About the play

h(eG) centers around Klara, a 19-year-old determined and artistic young woman with a passion for dance, who is navigating the challenges of adulthood while dealing with complex family dynamics and the impending loss of her best friend, Hanri, to blood cancer. The narrative unfolds through a non-linear timeline, depicting crucial moments in Klara's life. The play opens with Klara and Hanri meeting at a coffee shop six months prior, establishing their deep bond and Hanri's recent diagnosis. The story progresses to reveal the strained relationship between Klara and her parents, Heleen and Johan, both lawyers dealing with their issues—Heleen's alcoholism and Johan's cold demeanor. Klara finds solace and maternal guidance in Maggie, the family's long-time housekeeper, who becomes a pillar of strength for her. As the scenes shift between a hospital, a dance studio, and various family settings, the tension escalates with Heleen's confrontations with both Maggie and Renske, Hanri's anxious mother and Heleen's university friend. A pivotal moment in the play is a heart-wrenching dance sequence in Klara's studio, symbolizing her emotional turmoil and resilience. The climax reveals the intertwined destinies of the characters, culminating in Hanri's final moments and her poignant letter to her father, Louis. The letter reflects her acceptance of her fate and her enduring love for her father, offering a bittersweet closure to her story and underscoring the themes of love, forgiveness, and the search for inner peace amidst life's tribulations. The play concludes with a somber yet hopeful note, as Klara continues to cope with her grief and strive for her dreams, embodying the enduring spirit of human resilience.

More about the writer, Charlene Colling

Charlene Colling is 'n bekwame dramaturg, regisseur en verhoogbestuurder met 'n ryk agtergrond in drama en teaterkuns. Sy het haar BA Honneurs in Drama en Teaterkuns, met spesialisasie in regie en dramaturgie, aan die Universiteit van die Vrystaat (UV) verwerf. Haar opvoedkundige reis sluit ook 'n BA in Drama en Teaterkuns en verskeie sertifikate van Noordwes-Universiteit en die Akademie vir Drama Kuns in. Deur haar loopbaan het Charlene haar veelsydigheid in die teaterwêreld gedemonstreer. Sy het as 'n assistent verhoogbestuurder en beligtingsoperateur vir verskeie produksies gewerk, insluitend die Vryfees Kunsfees en "Midsummer Night’s Dream" onder regie van Thys Heydenrych. Sy het ook die rol van verhoogbestuurder by die Vrystaat Kunsfees en die Vrystaat Mini Mark aangeneem. Charlene se talent strek tot toneelspel, met noemenswaardige vertonings in "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" onder regie van Marijda Kamper, en "Child’s Guide to Hitchhiking" onder regie van Barend Kriel. Sy het ook agter die skerms beduidende bydraes gelewer deur mede-regie en regie van toneelstukke soos "Huishou" en "Nag, Ma." Benewens haar teaterwerk het Charlene studentefilms soos "Peek-a-B00!" en "Bloody Eve" geskryf, geregisseer en geredigeer. Haar toewyding aan die kunste blyk uit haar rol as drama-instrukteur by die Isabel Byers Skool vir Spraak en Drama. Charlene se toewyding aan teater en haar veelvlakkige vaardighede in verhoogbestuur, regie en toneelspel maak haar 'n merkwaardige talent in die wêreld van drama en teaterkuns.

More about the writer, Charlene Colling

Charlene Colling is an accomplished playwright, director, and stage manager with a rich background in drama and theatre arts. She earned her BA Honours in Drama and Theatre Arts, specializing in directing and playwriting, from the University of the Free State (UFS). Her educational journey also includes a BA in Drama and Theatre Arts and various certifications from North-West University and the Akademie vir Drama Kuns. Throughout her career, Charlene has demonstrated her versatility in the theatre world. She has worked as an assistant stage manager and lighting operator for several productions, including the Vryfees Arts Festival and Midsummer Night’s Dream, directed by Thys Heydenrych. She has also taken on the role of stage manager at the Vrystaat Arts Festival and the Vrystaat Mini Market. Charlene's talent extends to acting, with notable performances in "Five Women Wearing the Same Dress" directed by Marijda Kamper, and "Child’s Guide to Hitchhiking" directed by Barend Kriel. She has also made significant contributions behind the scenes, co-directing and directing plays such as "Huishou" and "Nag, Ma." In addition to her theatre work, Charlene has written, directed, and edited student films like "Peek-a-B00!" and "Bloody Eve." Her commitment to the arts is evident in her role as a drama instructor at the Isabel Byers School of Speech and Drama and her participation as a guest speaker at The Masque Theatre’s Stage Manager Workshop. Charlene's dedication to theatre and her multifaceted skills in stage management, directing, and acting make her a remarkable talent in the world of drama and theatre arts.

THINGS TO KNOW:

You are welcome to take your food and drink into the theatre, but please be sure to return your glass to the bar afterwards.

Strict admittance policy - no entry after the show start time. Latecomers will be admitted entry at intermission.

Children are not permitted to sit on laps.

No flash photography or videography is allowed.