Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nell an unspeakable ordeal

By CityLife Arts Writer

The Market Theatre and the Roodepoort Theatre in association with Theatrerocket presents Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nel  from 19 January to 14 February 2021. South African theatre legend Sandra Prinsloo comes home after hiatus to perform this challenging and electrifying role at the Market Theatre.

Based on a true story, Susan was faced with an unspeakable ordeal during the Anglo- Boer War in the Winburg concentration camp. Directed by international award winning Lara Foot who started her exceptional career at the Market Theatre.

The drama is based on the best-selling and debut novel Kamphoer  by Francois Smit and the non-fiction publication The Boer Whore by Nico Moolman, and has been adapted for the stage by Cecilia du Toit, in collaboration with Sandra Prinsloo and Lara Foot. This powerful solo-productiontells a story of a family dealt with devasting loss that’s followed by devasting ordeal that will haunt them forever. Following Susan father’s death during the war, she and her mother end up in a concentration camp where she is brutally raped and left for dead by two British officers and joiner.

She survives the traumatic experience and qualifies as a psychiatric nurse in the Netherlands. Sixteen years later, she travels to England during the First World War and while serving at a military hospital for shell-shocked soldiers, she recognises a patient as one of her rapists. With this unfortunate reunion, Susan has to relieves the rape trauma  once again and is confronted with the pain that comes with humiliation of her past.

The play premiered as the flagship production of the 2019 Free State Arts Festival in Bloemfontein. It was awarded Best National Theatre Debut at the festival’s Blinker Awards. Sandra won the national 2020 kykNETFiësta Theatre Award for Best performance in a Solo Production, while the production also received a nomination nod for Best adaption of an Existing Work. It was further nominated for Best performance in a Solo production at the 2020 Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards and nominated for four awards (Best Actress, Best Director, Best performance in a solo production and Best Overall Production) at 2019 Aardklop National Arts Festival.It also enjoyed rave reviews at both the Artscape Women’s Festival and the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town.The novel Kamphoer was nominated for the Jan Rabie Rapport Award, an ATKV Award and was shortlisted for the 2018 Sunday Times Literary Awards.

This gut wrenching production Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nell will transfer to the Roodepoort Theatre for a limited season 20 – 28 February 2021.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION CREATIVE TEAM

Adapted for stage Cecilia du Toit in collaboration with Sandra Prinsloo and Lara Foot

Produced by                                          Theatrerocket

Director                                         Lara Foot

Set and Lighting design                                    Patrick Curtis

Sound design, soundscape and composition   Simon Kohler

Costume design                                      Mariechen Vosloo and Birrie le Roux

Stage manager                                       Jeanne Steenkemp

Performer

Sandra Prinsloo                                      as Susan Nell

Age Recommendation          14

Season:                                Tuesday 19 January – Sunday 14 February 2021

Venue:                                           The Barney Simon

Performance times:               Tuesday – Saturday @20h15 and Sunday @15h15

Ticket prices:                         Tuesday – Thursday R90.00 Friday – Saturday R150.00 and Sunday R130.00

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