By Laurie Scarborough Elliott
Francis Chouler’s upcoming theatre production of Nocturne will open at the Alexander Bar Theatre on 10 September. The play is directed by multiple Fleur du Cap Award winner, Emily Child, in her directorial debut, and was written in 2000 by Pulitzer finalist, Adam Rapp.
Chouler is of course no stranger to theatre in Cape Town, having studied theatre and performance at UCT, and is this year returning again to the Alexandar Bar Theatre (where he also starred as John in Cock alongside SBAM actress Melissa Haiden) this September for his first one-man show, Nocturne, in the South African premiere of the play.
Capetonian theatre lovers will also recognise Chouler from four seasons in the annual Maynardville Shakespeare stagings (Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Taming of the Shrew and Cardenio), and also from Born in the RSA, in which he starred alongside Emily Child. He also regularly performs at Alexander Bar as a troupe member of The Long Shots comedy group, alongside other SBAM artists like Rob Coutts and Tamith Hattingh
Chouler has “dreamed of performing a one man play” since graduating from UCT and he feels this is the “perfect” play to take on now. This play intelligently grapples with the nuance of grief and guilt. The central character, Joliet, accidentally killed his younger sister 15 years ago and his life has been shadowed by this trauma, from which he has been running ever since.
The press release describes the play as “a clear, arresting recollection of love, hilarity and pain as well as a boldly inspiring reminder of what it is to be human.”
The shows will run from 7-8.15pm 10 September until 21 September. You can book tickets here for R120. Tickets are R140 at the door. The Alexander Bar also has a wonderful bar and snacks available for you to enjoy before or after the show.
SBAM Theatre Blog 