New dates for The Unlikely Secret Agent
The cast of The Unlikely Secret Agent, which had a highly successful opening in June are set to take to the boards again when the production reopens. The production will reopen at the Drama Factory in Strand on the 17th August for a limited run.
Due to COVID regulations the production of The Unlikely Secret Agent had to stop performances.
Says producer Erika Marais
“We are so excited to be back in the theatre and cannot wait for the audiences to see this production. We were lucky enough to have such positive feedback and people who had booked tickets can exchange them for a performance when we reopen. The story of Eleanor Kasrils is an important one to tell. And with August being woman’s month, what better way to celebrate our women than honouring the legacy of this remarkable woman”
It is 1963 in South Africa. The country is on a knife edge. Political protest, sabotage and violence has engulfed the country. Government forces of the Apartheid regime, under Hendrik Verwoerd, brutally suppress resistance. Under the State of Emergency, the feared Special Branch of the police arrest anyone suspected of being involved in underground activities.
The plot focusses on Eleanor, an unassuming, young single mother who is arrested in Griggs Bookstore where she works in Durban and taken for questioning. The police are on the hunt for her lover, the notorious “terrorist”, Red Ronnie Kasrils.
There is no point in her resisting, the police “know everything”. But do they really? Eleanor is keeping a secret. She is a clandestine agent for the Underground ANC. But she must protect her comrades and Ronnie. She makes the daring decision to fake a nervous breakdown in order to be transferred to a psychiatric institution. From there, she begins to plot her escape.
There was an incredible feedback from the audiences who managed to see te production on the opening weekend,
“It was a great story line with the most phenomenal acting. Thank you for a really great experience. I am recommending it to everyone.”
Congratulations to everyone involved in the production of this historic piece of theatre. It’s a gem. – Ira
The show was fantastic. The storyline was powerful. I was amazed how so much history and background made it into the story and stage. The acting was top tier, I mean the moving in and out of different characters was something to behold. What a show! Bravo. – Lonwabo
Keith Bain on Facebook – ‘In this time when the performing arts sector has been decimated, not only by the loss of so many performers and artists, but also by the curtailment of audiences, the closure of theatres, the ban on people sitting calmly together in a room, it gives hope to see a brand-new play, and an excellent one at that. 'The Unlikely Secret Agent', Paul du Toit's brilliant adaptation of Ronnie Kasril's book about his beloved late wife, Eleanor, will remind you of theatre's power to stoke the imagination like nothing else on earth. It's an important story - a bit of our history conjured into a context that challenges and provokes and makes you laugh and then makes you cry. It is everything we need right now; the ensemble is dazzling, the writing sparkles, the emotions are heartbreakingly real.’
‘The Unlikely Secret Agent is a poignant evocation of the life of a woman of courage, evocatively framed and contextualised in the struggle for a democratic South Africa…. powerful performances….bravo to the entire team….an engrossing piece of theatre’. Robyn Cohen – The Cape Robyn
‘in equal measures chilling and heart-warming….THE UNLIKELY SECRET AGENT truly is a must-see. It is a part of South African history that needs to be told and this play tells it so beautifully through a cast of talented and dedicated actors.’ Faeron Wheeler, Broadway World
“Attended the play based on Eleanor's arrest, interrogation and escape. It was a brilliant production. Had a chance to chat to Ronnie as well. If you get the chance to see this it is well worth it. Absolutely riveting. Thanks for the invitation. Best four hours I have spent in a long time. Question and answer time was also wonderful. They eventually had to tell everyone that Q and A time had run out. So much interest. Just wonderful.” A former security police officer.
“The Drama Factory in the Strand deserves a standing ovation for presenting in these difficult times, in theatre specifically, the World Premiere of “The Unlikely Secret Agent”, the courageous story of Ronnie Kasril’s wife…A play born from workshops with a stringent budget and acted out on stage with belief, courage and passion by the players Erika Marais, Gideon Lombard, Sanda Shandu, Paul du Toit and Ntlanhla Kutu who manage to portray in their diverse roles the injustices of the era. To single out any performer would be unfair, but unquestionably Erika Marais captures the vulnerability but courage of a woman in love fighting for a belief in a better world…[it] is heart-warming. This is a play, although still in its beginnings, that should be seen by everyone who looks to overthrow evil dictatorships. The question and answers after the play, led by Ronnie Kasrils, were an exploration of feelings and emotions towards an era in which most of the players on stage were still in their early childhood. A must for school children to learn and grow from their own history… [this]is a wonderful example in these time of artists prepared to put themselves on the line, in belief of their work making for a better world. As J.F. Kennedy said: ‘ We must never forget that art is not a form of propaganda; it is a form of truth.’” Richard Loring – on Facebook.
There is also the wonderful opportunity of making a staycation of a trip to The Drama Factory - see the show, spend the night and enjoy the beauty and many activities on offer in the surrounding Helderberg region. Contact one of our fabulous accommodation partners with proof of your ticket booking to receive a preferential rate on your stay.
Bookings can be made through The Drama Factory .
The Unlikely Secret Agent will be staged at The Drama Factory Somerset-West from 17 – 22 August 2021
