Preview: An Audience with Miss Hobhouse at RATA, Dec 2020

Preview: An Audience with Miss Hobhouse at RATA (Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre) on the grounds of The Royal Hotel, Riebeek Kasteel, December 2020

Lynita Crofford is reprising her Fleur du Cap Award-nominated performance in An Audience with Miss Hobhouse, at RATA, Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre, on December 4 (Fri) and December (Sat) 5, 2020. RATA is the Royal Arts Town Amphitheatre which is on the grounds of The Royal Hotel, Riebeek Kasteel. Its summer season 2020/1 is running until end of April 2021.

An Audience with Miss Hobhouse, written by Tony Jackman, pivots around Emily Hobhouse, ardent British campaigner against atrocities in Boer War concentration camps. Hobhouse was feminist and pacifist who spoke up about against complicity. Crofford steps into the skin of Hobhouse  and Tant Alie, a Boer woman in the concentration camps. The production, directed by Chris Weare, won a Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival, July 2013 and has been staged in Cape Town [Alexander Bar] and other venues, Johannesburg and at Clover Aardklop in Potchefstroom.

In the year of Covid, Crofford picked up a Naledi Theatre Award 2020 at the online awards ceremony. She won best lead performance in a play (female) with Shirley Johnston for Gertrude Stein And A Companion, also directed by Chris Weare, written by Win Wells. They were joint winners. Crofford is a compelling performer and she holds attention in Jackman’s impeccably researched and crafted An Audience with Miss Hobhouse.

RATA’s 2020/21 season kicked off with the new play, Covid Moons, by Clare Stopford. Covid Moons – a superb new drama – sold out. Hopefully it will return to RATA and tour to festivals in 2021.

Bookings advised for An Audience with Miss Hobhouse. Note: There are only two performances- Friday December 4 and 5. With Covid infection rates on the rise at the moment, outdoor theatre is ideal. The amphitheatre is on the grounds of The Royal Hotel. Walk through the lobby of the hotel and then you are at the venue. Seating is on cushions –‘bums on seats cushion project’ – facilitated by a community group in the town or on chairs [some chairs available – get there early]. Seats are placed well apart and there is a demarcation of spaces by installations- rock circles- made by artists in the town, as part of The Stone Circle Project, mentored by conceptual artist Emma Willemse

Stay the night n Riebeek Kasteel. Check online or go via Shawn at Riebeek Valley Tours on 082 528 6785 or e-mail goodintentconnections@gmail.com We stayed at the beautifully appointed Vineyard Views Country house –in the main street – a few minutes from RATA. I have also stayed at The Royal Hotel – which is a charming heritage hotel, with lovely rooms (check out the newish suites) and a fabulous bar, famous for its range of gins.

The weekend of Friday December 4, is First Fridays in Riebeek Kasteel – with late night shopping, music and events. It is going to be a jol.

After An Audience with Miss Hobhouse, the next show at RATA is Oom Schalk From The Heart, featuring David Muller, December 18 – 19, 2020.  RATA will shut down for the festive season and will open again on January 8, 2021 with Roger Lucey – the legendary South African musician, journalist, film maker, actor, activist. He is the quintessential African Renaissance Creative. Check back with TheCapeRobyn, for updates for the 2021 season, which is being programmed by RATA’s artistic director Mark Graham-Wilson.

Related coverage on RATA 2020/21: