| What: Premiere of two new solo shows at the Baxter Masambe July 8-12, 2025: Blood & Silver, starring David Muller and directed by Fred Abrahamse. It is based on the memoir by environmental lawyer Jan Glazewski. The stage adaption is by Abrahamse and Muller July 15-19, 2025: Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman, starring Bizo Maxegwana and directed by David Muller Bookings: Webtickets |
Wonderful news is the premiere of two solo shows at the Baxter, in the Masambe Theatre. Blood & Silver is on July 8-12, 2025, starring David Muller and directed by Fred Abrahamse. It is based on the memoir by environmental lawyer Jan Glazewski. The stage adaption is by Abrahamse and Muller. Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman is on July 15-19, 2025. This adaption of Diary of a Madman, stars Bizo Maxegwana and is directed by David Muller. See both and support independent theatre. Read on for more. Info as supplied:
Premiere of two stellar new one-man shows at The Baxter Masambe Theatre this July 2025
Two compelling new South African theatre productions have their world premiere at The Baxter Masambe Theatre this July, both adaptations of fascinating stories.
Blood & Silver is a gripping one-man play based on the memoir of environmental lawyer Jan Glazewski,who embarked on a perilous journey in search of the long-lost family treasure buried 80 years ago in Poland – armed with only his father’s hand-drawn map.
Jan’s epic search for these heirlooms becomes a deeper journey of survival, legacy, and love.
Directed by internationally acclaimed, multi award-winning director Fred Abrahamse (Julius Caesar; Hamlet), the production stars seasoned actor David Muller (Oom Schalk; Imagining Einstein ) in the role of Glazewski. The book has been adapted for the stage by Abrahamse and Muller.
The play will be presented from July 8-12, 2025 in The Baxter Masambe Theatre.
David Muller also collaborates with award-winning actor Bizo Maxegwana to present another one-man show, Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman which will run from July 15-19, 2025.
In the powerful production of Blood & Silver, Muller brings to life Glazewski’s extraordinary journey, beginning with a tragic childhood marked by haemophilia, an HIV/AIDS diagnosis from a blood transfusion, and the overwhelming odds he faced growing up.
Says Director Fred Abrahamse, “The play delves deeper into Glazewski’s quest to fulfil his late father’s final wish: to recover the family’s heirlooms, buried in a forest before the invasion of Poland during World War II. As the Germans in collaboration with the Russians turned his homeland into a warzone, the treasure remained hidden, and the journey to reclaim it forms the heart of Blood & Silver.”
“Blood & Silver is a memorable and deeply moving theatrical experience that captures the remarkable true story of survival, loss, and determination. It is vital that historic stories like Jan’s, that are highly personal but speak to a universal humanity, find new ways to be shared for a greater audience,” says Abrahamse.
Jan Glazewski was born in South Africa in 1953 and is the son of Polish refugee parents who left eastern Poland (now western Ukraine) at the outbreak of World War II. “When I wrote Blood & Silver, I thought that if it could inspire just one person, the story would be worth sharing. I am overwhelmed by the incredible response it has received and seeing it on stage will add a whole new dimension,” says Jan Glazewski.
“I feel privileged to be entrusted with representing the delicate fabric of Jan Glazewski’s extraordinary life,” says David Muller. “It’s also been a double delight for me this winter, collaborating with Bizo Maxegwana to present another new one man show with the Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman.”
BLOOD & SILVER will be performed from July 8-12, 2025
Performances:
Tues – Sat at 19h30
Tues at 10am
Thurs & Sat 15h00
Tickets cost R140 – R180 with concessions available.
Bookings can be made at Webtickets
Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman will be performedfrom July 15-19, 2025 in The Baxter Masambe Theatre.
Diary of a Madman was originally written by Nikolai Gogol in 1835 as part of his collection of short stories, Arabesques. It has since been adapted into various different versions created in theatres around the world.
This fresh new production is directed by David Muller and features rising star Bizo Maxegwana (Best Actor Award 2024 48-Hour Film Project) as Thabo Kani, a secretary in parliament.
In thinking he is the next leader of South Africa, Thabo, at times comically, creates events which he believes are true. Thabo’s frustration is amplified by the destruction of the government and the brokenness of the system. As he becomes enemy number one to the state, he becomes an enemy to his own sanity.
“Gogol’s brilliant literary style, with the complexity of his central character and the profound commentary the story offers on mental health and societal oppression, ensures these remain relevant themes to the present and beyond,” says Maxegwana.
“It has been a delightfully stimulating process to explore ways of adapting this universal story to a South African stage.”
Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman is adapted for the stage by David Muller and Bizo Maxegwana. Direction, Costume, Set and Lighting Design is by David Muller.
Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman will run at The Baxter Masambe Theatre from July 15 to 19
Performances:
Tues – Sat 19h30
Thurs & Sat 15h00
Tickets cost R140-R180
Bookings can be made at Webtickets
Jan Glazewski (Author: Blood & Silver)
Jan Glazewski was born in South Africa in 1953 and is the son of Polish refugee parents who left Poland at the outbreak of World War II. Jan was born with haemophilia and in 1985 was diagnosed HIV+ as a result of receiving contaminated blood products. He was employed in the Institute of Marine and Environmental Law at the University of Cape Town where he specialised in environmental law. In October 2019 he ventured to Ukraine, former eastern Poland where he unearthed family silver 80 years after it was hastily buried by his father in a forest on the former family estate. He has retired to McGregor where he lives with his wife, Louise, dogs and four chickens.
Fred Abrahamse (Director: Blood & Silver)
Fred Abrahamse graduated from University of Cape Town Drama School. He started his career at the legendry People’s Space Theatre, was a founding member of Troupe Theatre Company and served for five years as Artistic Director of the Baxter Theatre. In 2010 he teamed up with Marcel Meyer to form the independent theatre company – Abrahamse and Meyer Productions.
As a well-respected director, producer and designer Fred’s theatre involvement spans some 42 years and over 150 productions including dramas, operas, musicals, young people’s theatre, cabaret and several community theatre projects. Of his productions at least 40 have involved bringing new South African works to the stage. Theatre credits include:
Shakespeare’s Richard III (National Arts Festival, Artscape Theatre Centre, The Market Theatre and the International Shakespeare Festival in Romania), Romeo and Juliet (Maynardville), Much Ado About Nothing (Maynardville Theatre), A Midsummer Night’s Dream(Maynardville) and The Handspring Puppet Company’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Baxter, National Arts Festival and Market Theatre), Othello (Maynardville), Hamlet (National Arts Festival, Artscape Theatre, Theatre On The Bay, Montecasino Theatre, Tennessee Williams Theatre Festival USA and the International Shakespeare Festival in Romania), Macbeth (Theatre On The Bay, Montecasino Theatre and the International Shakespeare Festival in Romania).
Steven Berkoff’s Decadence(South African premiere), Greek and The Secret Love Life of Ophelia(South African premiere)
The South African premiere of Joe Calarco’s Shakespeare’s R&J (National Arts Festival/ Fugard Theatre), The South African premiere of Stephen Sondheim’s Assassins, Noël Coward’s Private Lives, David Hare’s The Vertical Hour and Yukio Mishima’s The Lady Aoi.
Tennessee Williams’ productions include A Streetcar Named Desire, The Glass Menagerie, Kingdom of Earth, The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore, Night of the Iguana (USA), One Arm, Green Eyes, Talk to Me Like The Rain, Perfect Analysis Given By A Parrot, The Remarkable Rooming-House of Mme. Le Mondeand Stairs to the Roof (St. Louis USA – for which he received a Theatre Circle Awards nomination as Best Director)
Eugene O’Neil’s Desire Under The Elms ((National Arts Festival, Baxter Theatre, Tennessee Williams Theatre Festival USA, Triad Stage North Carolina USA, Drexel Theatre Philadelphia USA)
District Six – The Musical (World premiere), Angels in America (South African Premiere), The Normal Heart, Bouncers, Grease, Shirley Valentine, Steel Magnolias (South African premiere), Juno and the Paycock, Beautiful Thing (South African premiere), Return to the Forbidden Planet (South African premiere), Shopping and F**king, Charl Johan Lingenfelder’s Follies 3:16, ABBA(Toir) and DISCOvery.
With Marcel Meyer, Fred has co-written and directed the acclaimed musicals In Briefs and Bangbroek Mountain as well as eight original Children’s musicals.
Opera credits include the World Premiere of Roelof Temmingh’s safari opera Sacred Bones, Mozart’s Requiem, King Harlald’s Saga, A Letter from Sullivan Balloo and Erwartung for Cape Town Opera.
Fred has also been nominated for and won numerous theatre awards for his direction and design.
2023 productions included a new production of Hamlet, Oklahoma! Alice In Wonderland, Cinderella the Opera, Les Blanc and Tennessee Williams’ The Knightly Quest, The Pronoun I and The Vengeance of Nitocris.
In 2023 Fred together with Marcel Meyer won OSCAR WILDE AWARD for New Writing at the International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival.
In 2023 Fred was also awarded the 2023 Molteno Gold Medal awarded by The Cape Tercentenary Foundation (or Cape 300 Foundation) to award the contribution of individuals and organizations whose work furthers the aims and objectives of the
Foundation: the cultural development of Cape Town and concern for the natural environment, he also won the Fleur Du Cao award for Best Director
2024 Saw Fred touring his productions to Ireland, USA, St Peterburg and Romania.
David Muller (Actor: Blood & Silver; Director: Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman)
David Muller’s journey into professional theatre began in 1981, when he had the incredible fortune of being directed by Leonard Schach of the legendary Company of Four. He made his debut at the Baxter’s Concert Hall that December, sharing the stage with the late Keith Grenville, Vivienne Drummond, and a young Lynn Maree — a momentous experience that earned him a glowing review and from that point on, there was no turning back.
He quickly became a fixture in South African theatre, starring in Glynn Day’s Israel O Israel and Shakespeare’s Othello, directed by Roy Sergeant. David joined Colin Law’s Whirligig Theatre, where he honed his craft performing for children across the country.
After touring extensively, he joined the renowned Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre Company under Themi Venturas and Professor Pieter Scholz.
Returning to Cape Town, David joined the pioneering Reading Team, bringing literature to life in primary schools by dramatizing scenes from novels and poetry anthologies. His work lit such a spark in young minds that librarians scrambled to stock the books he performed.
Later, back in Durban with the support of Professor Elizabeth Sneddon, he reignited the Reading Team, which evolved into the beloved Hooked on Books. “We got children hooked on reading through theatre,” David says. The program — still going strong 50 years later — has inspired countless young readers and performers alike.
In 2012, David stepped into the shoes of Patrick Mynhardt to perform the works of Herman Charles Bosman, under the direction of Celia Musikanth. Since then, he’s been the star attraction at nearly every Bosman Weekend in Groot Marico each October, bringing Bosman’s words to life with humour, soul, and unmistakable magic.
David feels privileged to be entrusted with representing the delicate fabric of Jan Glazewski’s extraordinary and life in Blood & Silver this July at The Baxter Masambe Theatre.
Bizo Maxegwana (Actor: Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman)
Bizo Maxegwana is an actor, writer, director and producer.
He holds a BA in Motion Picture from AFDA, Cape Town, and recently wonthe 2024 Best Actor Award at the 48-Hour Film Project for his portrayal of Danny Botha in the student film Beneath the Surface, a psychological thriller produced by CPUT’s Team 2.
Bizo has performed in and directed various short films including Hit Man, The Beast, The Film’s The Thing and Smile for Me. He also wrote the films Isiko, Badman’s World and Usapho.
In 2021/2022, Bizo took part in an internship at The Masque in Muizenberg. He has enjoyed the process of adapting Diary of a Madman to a South African setting and can’t wait to bring it to life on stage at The Baxter Masambe Theatre.
❇ Featured image: Bizo Maxegwana performs in Adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s Diary of a Madman. Photo: Fiona MacPherson. Supplied.
