FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
God Save The Queen
JOHANNESBURG – Play Club, South Africa’s most inspiring community, is proud to present the
all-star reading of Peter Morgan’s hit 2013 play, THE AUDIENCE, featuring 51 top actors from film
and theatre across three cities for one night only, on Monday 30 January*.
The play that inspired the worldwide phenomenon Netflix series, The Crown, will be read
simultaneously over three cities by three South African stage and screen royalty: Fiona Ramsay in
Johannesburg, Robyn Scott in Cape Town and Clare Mortimer in our inaugural, new for 2017,
Durban.
In Johannesburg, Fiona Ramsay leads as Queen Elizabeth II with Renos Spanoudes as her
Equerry, David Dennis as John Major, Michael Richard as Winston Churchill, James Borthwick as
Harold Wilson, Kate Normington as Bobo MacDonald, Alan Committie as Gordon Brown, Malcolm
Terrey as Sir Anthony Eden, Theo Landey in the dual role of Tony Blair and David Cameron and
Louise Saint-Claire as Margaret Thatcher. It is set to feature Charlie Bouguenon and Jeremy
Richard in various ensemble roles with Mikah Jaye Smith as Young Elizabeth. The evening will
feature stage directions by actress and Head of Faculty of Dance and Musical Theatre at Oakfields
College, Jackie Rens.
In Cape Town, Robyn Scott leads as Queen Elizabeth II with Joe Vaz as her Equerry, Adrian Galley
as John Major, Graham Hopkins as Winston Churchill, Deon Lotz as Harold Wilson, Candice van
Litsenborgh as Bobo MacDonald, Richard Wright-Firth as Gordon Brown, Benedikt Sebastian as
Sir Anthony Eden, Francis Chouler in the dual role of Tony Blair and David Cameron and Vicki
Bawcombe as Margaret Thatcher. It is set to feature Mark Wijsman and Schoeman Smit in various
ensemble roles with Emma-Rose Blacher as Young Elizabeth. Stage directions for the evening will
feature teacher, theatre maker and longtime friend of Play Club, Laura Bosman.
In Durban, Clare Mortimer leads as Queen Elizabeth II with Darren King as her Equerry, Adam
Doré as John Major, Michael Gritten as Winston Churchill, Steven Stead as Harold Wilson, Lisa
Bobbert as Bobo MacDonald, Rowan Bartlett as Gordon Brown, Peter Court as Sir Anthony Eden,
Bryan Hiles as Tony Blair, Lyle Buxton as David Cameron and Liesl Coppen as Margaret Thatcher.
It is set to feature Mpilo "Straw" Nzimande in various ensemble roles with Gracie McIllroy as Young
Elizabeth. Actor and playwright Marc Kay will handle stage directions for the evening.
THE AUDIENCE
by Peter Morgan
THE PLAY: For sixty years, Queen Elizabeth II has met with each of her twelve Prime Ministers in
a private weekly audience. The discussions are utterly secret, even to the royal and ministerial
spouses. Peter Morgan imagines these meetings over the decades of the Queen’s remarkable
reign, through Prime Ministers from Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, to the 2015
incumbent David Cameron. THE AUDIENCE is a glimpse into the mind of the woman wearing the
crown, and the moments that have shaped the modern monarchy.
ABOUT PLAY CLUB: Since 2012, Play Club has aspired to inspire community among top theatre
and film makers and their audiences, introducing the ultimate behind-the-scenes look into the
creative process at the ground-floor of a play. For actors, it’s a chance, once-a-month, to dive into
the world’s leading scripts and, as the name suggests, play. For drama students and audience, it’s
a chance to see where it all begins and to be part of the process. Simply put, it is not a
performance, as we would traditionally know it, but the beginnings. And it all happens exclusively
for one night only. And it is all driven with a simple vision: to break down walls and create dialogue
surrounding the industry. THE AUDIENCE marks Play Club’s 42nd reading, currently home in
FRIDAY 20 JANUARY 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Johannesburg, Cape Town and our newest city, Durban, with over 1,000 actors, producers, drama
students and their audience coming through our doors since our beginnings, truly South Africa’s
most inspiring community.
DONATION: R50 Donation Guests, R30 Play Club Members, R30 SAGA Members, R30 Students
TO RSVP: playclub.co.za
QUESTIONS: [email protected]
Strictly no walk-ups.