Touching theatre in Blood Brothers

However, if you want to engage with some of the cultural and religious issues of post-apartheid South Africa, Brothers in Blood is a great way to do so. Mike van Graan has written a play that introduces us to five characters from different backgrounds and faiths. We get to know them through short staccato scenes, which build a richness and complexity and which force us to regard them beyond the stereotypes of religion and culture, to the humanity that touches us all (and had me in tears a few times). The short scenes are introduced by an unsettling drumming that adds to the drama and gives us an intimation of the building climax as the connections between the characters become ever closer.

Each character powerfully played

The casting is excellent and each character is powerfully played. David Dennis, Aimee Valentine, Conrad Kemp, Kurt Egelhof and Harrison Makubalo all give excellent performances. Greg Homann, the director, has drawn performances that do justice to Mike van Graan's motivation of showing the "other" as "fully rounded, complex human beings". The performances are further enhanced by the stark set, which consists of high fencing covered with newspaper.

I feel that Blood Brothers is the best play that Mike van Graan has written yet and one that touched me in its humanity, while still being highly relevant to the issues that South Africans face today.

Brothers in Blood is running att the Artscape Arena on the following dates:
Tuesdays 3 and 10 April at 19:30 at R65 per person
Performances on 12, 13, 14 April at 18:00 and all other 20:15 performances at R85 per person.
Pensioners and students with proof of ID R50 at all performances.
Book now at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421 7695.