Two Helen O'Grady Drama Academy boys perform with leading actors Ian McKellen, Roger Rees and Matthew Kelly

Artslink.co.za News

Cape Town boys cast in Waiting for Godot

Khathu Khangala from Thornton and Hisham Ryklief from Athlone, both 12, have been cast in the role as the Boy in Sean Mathias' Waiting for Godot. (Both boys attend the Helen O'Grady Drama Academy and Aardvark Casting in Cape Town)

They will be joining the stellar international cast on stage at the Fugard Theatre, Cape Town from 31 July until 14 August, with previews on 29 and 30 July. They will start rehearsing on 26 July.

Neither of the boys have previously performed on a professional stage, with their experience to-date being in school talent shows and drama school performances. They are both very excited about starting rehearsals for the production and are busy learning their lines.

"It was always important to me to cast a boy who would be natural and uncomplicated, and not to have someone who brought too much interpretation to the role. This way the mystery of who the Boy is takes a grip on the audience's imagination," said internationally acclaimed director Sean Mathias. "I am delighted we have found Khathu and Hisham, who are both extremely natural young actors. They will be a real asset to our production," he added.

Sir Ian McKellen, one of the greatest theatre actors of our time, but perhaps most famous for his role as Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings films, tops the cast as Estragon; Roger Rees who has been a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company for 22 years and also starred in the acclaimed The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby, will play Vladimir; Matthew Kelly, award-winning actor and TV presenter, is Pozzo and Brendan O'Hea, who has previously performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at the National Theatre will play Lucky.

Waiting for Godot opens at the Fugard on 31 July and the gala opening will be attended by various South African and international theatre and media celebrities.


Preview dates
29 and 30 July 2010
Show dates and times
31 July - 14 August 2010
Mondays - Saturdays: 19:30
Saturday matinee: 14:30

Ticket prices
All performances: R250
Students and Pensioners: Tuesdays - Thursdays and Saturday matinees R150

Tickets can be booked at the Fugard Theatre or by calling the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554 or online at www.thefugard.com.

Seating at the Fugard Theatre is unreserved and guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis.


About Waiting for Godot

Presented by Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre
A Theatre Royal Haymarket/Triumph Entertainment production

Creative Team:
By Samuel Beckett
Director: Sean Mathias
Designer: Stephen Brimson Lewis
Lighting Designer: Paul Pyant
Lighting Designer for Fugard Theatre: Mannie Manim
Sound Designer: Paul Goothuis

Cast:
Estragon: Ian McKellen
Vladimir: Roger Rees
Pozzo: Matthew Kelly
Lucky: Brendan O'Hea
Boys: Khathu Khangala and Hisham Ryklief