Explosive Cock & Bull
10 Nov 2014
The battle is on at the Galloway Theatre with Cock & Bull Story, where two men are forced to confront their masculinity, sexuality, and violent actions in the confines of a locker room in this knockout hit play that is on from November 11 to 15 at 8pm.
This is theatre for anyone seeking drama that is powerful and takes you on an emotional journey into the hearts and souls of two men whose differences separate their mutual desire for intimacy.
Although the play was first staged in the mid-1980s in London by Richard Zajdlic and Richard Crowe, it's an intriguing story that is relevant and timeless, and will live on through each re-staging; this staging has been reworked to suit a South African context and will most definitely resonate with anyone who has ever battled his inner self.
Two emotional desires
Intimacy and friendship are two emotional desires that form the heartbeat of humanity and, with Cock & Bull Story, the issues surrounding its potency are dealt with head on.
Featuring Rowan Studti as Ralph Travis (Trav), an amateur boxer on the verge of the big time, and Dylan Skews as Jack Foster (Jackie), his coach and best friend, Cock and Bull Story is directed by Michael Kirch, 2012 Fleur du Cap nominee as Best New Director for Bench by Brent Palmer.
In Cock & Bull Story, Trav, an up-and-coming boxer on the verge of the big time, prepares for battle in the fight that could make his lifelong dreams a reality. Jackie, his friend and coach, psyches him into fitness with grand illusions of a world of endless bodily pleasures and material spoils.
Trav's zealous drive for power and glory leads to questionable conduct in the boxing ring. Although Jackie has little regard for the rules of the game, and is only concerned with winning, he is faced with a serious blow to his conscience: How far is too far?
Sexual arousal in the ring
As they prepare for the big fight that could entirely change their reality, it comes out that Trav experiences sexual arousal in the ring, a fact that seriously disturbs the homophobic Jackie. The boundary of their friendship is tested and a battle of wits ensues.
The story delves into the themes of male friendship, masculinity, dreams and ambitions, the fight for survival and keeping the male ego in check.
It is gritty and fierce, and the characters are challenged psychologically and physically, culminating in an explosive and emotional journey of discovery.
Make sure to book at www.waterfronttheatreschool.co.za or call Sharon on +27 (0)82 772 8867.
For more live theatre, go to www.writingstudio.co.za
About Daniel Dercksen
Daniel Dercksen has been a contributor for Lifestyle since 2012. As the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio and a published film and theatre journalist of 40 years, teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting and screenwriting throughout South Africa and internationally the past 22 years. Visit www.writingstudio.co.za
