The Dirt Road
From its successful debut in Paris, France to its South African debut at the 2014 National Arts’ Festival Fringe in Grahamstown, ‘The Dirt Road’ will now be showcasing in London, UK at the Etcetera Theatre in Camden as part of the SA-UK Seasons 2014 & 2015.
This original South African stage play is written by up-and-coming theatre maker, actress and writer Kim Sanssoucie. The 2-hander has Sanssoucie as Kate Ndlela, a gentle school teacher and her husband, a prolific artist; Simphiwe Ndlela who will be portrayed by accomplished stage and television actor Batsile Ramasodi.
Set in contemporary Johannesburg, this quirky but inherently tragic love story follows the relationship between a Xhosa man and a Coloured woman. Their youthful romantic love is challenged by cultural disparity and common marital trials. An external incident causes them to harshly re-examine their own truths and expectations. ‘The Dirt Road’ is an honest portrayal of a tumultuous relationship enveloped by an authentic adoration between two lovers.
‘The Dirt Road’ was part of French Seasons 2013; produced by Johannesburg based live performance production company Slice Bean Machine in association with the National Arts Council of South Africa. It showcased at the American University of Paris as well as the Lavoir Moderne Parisien Theatre to wonderful reviews.
Andrew Davidson, Head of Comparative Literature at the American University of Paris and a New York Best Selling Author and Critic said of watching ‘The Dirt Road’.
“The audience felt as if they were intruding upon a real couple in the most private moments of their relationship. The feeling of honesty was so intense that at times it felt uncomfortable, in the best possible way”
