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Theater Mogul and Daphne Kuhn present
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN
starring
CRAIG JACKSON
Directed by AURELIE STRATTON
Lighting design by LOREN NEL
The production would like to acknowledge and thank
the ladies and gentlemen of the press and media;
Oskar and Torfi for their wisdom, support and faith;
Dean Pitman and Vusi Msane for their set magic;
Angela Grootes for saving the day and enhancing our space;
and Vanessa Frost for the laughs, support, rehearsal space and for being our Cavewoman;
CRAIG JACKSON (The Caveman) is a Vita Award Winner, SAFTA and Naledi nominated actor. He has been an active player on the South African stage, starring in numerous award-winning productions around South Africa.
His most recent performance was in the sold-out West End and Broadway Hit,The Play That Goes Wrong. He has also appeared in numerous local and international TV series including Mr. Featherstone in Starz – Black Sails, Cliff in SYFY’s – Blood Drive and Ed in Youtube Originals – Origin. Other film credits include District 9, Stander, Seriously Single, Valedictory, DSTV’s Inconceivable and NETFLIX’s Silverton Siege. Soon you will see him playing, Hanley in Apple TV’s Invasion Season 2. Theatre on the Square welcome him back after past productions of Funny When You’re Dead, Norman Curry Show, Pressure From The Rear, The Cheap Show & The Ex-Files.
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AURELIE STRATTON is an actress, writer, director and producer. She was born in Johannesburg, to an Italian father and a Greek mother. Growing up in a multilingual household gave her a passion for languages and an excellent ear for accents. She then co-founded production company You Kicked My Dog Productions with Emmanuel Castis and they produced the acclaimed Short Film Sides of a Horn which qualified for the 2020 Oscars.
She soon realised a passion for creating content and discovered she was just as comfortable behind the camera as she was in front of it. Along with creative producing for YKMD she has a passion for writing and directing and would love to see more women in these roles. During Lockdown in 2020 Aurelie wrote and directed a micro short called I’ll Call You Later for the Ladima Foundation Film Festival highlighting women during Covid. Her short was one of the 10 winning shorts across Africa and one of two selected from South Africa. Aurelie is also a member of SWIFT (Sisters Working in Television) and SAGA (South African Guild of Actors).
She is currently producing a BFI (British Film Institute) funded short animation called The Smell of Chicken. Last year she played Ana Marie Steenkamp in the much-anticipated Netflix Series Kings of Joburg which was released earlier this year.
DEFENDING THE CAVEMAN has brought her back to her first love – Theatre!
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DAPHNE KUHN is a well-known South African theatre producer, artistic director, and owner of the THEATRE ON THE SQUARE in Sandton. She began her career in the arts as an actress, working in both film, TV and theatre. Daphne Kuhn, holds an MA Degree in Drama from Pretoria University, and her special skills range from acting to directing, PR to producing.
In 1994, Kuhn founded Theatre on the Square, first in Rosebank, then in Sandton in 1997. This 200-seater theatre is one of Johannesburg’s most popular venues for both local and international productions. Over the years, the theatre has showcased a diverse range of plays, from classic dramas and musicals to contemporary works, experimental productions, comedies and youth theatre. Kuhn has been instrumental in bringing many important international plays to South African audiences, including the South African premieres of plays like HANSARD, SOME GIRLS, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, ROSE, HARD LOVE and ROMANCE. Over the last 28 years, Theatre on the Square has produced and presented more than 3000 plays, concerts and corporate events. Daphne has also nurtured the talents of many South African artists, providing a platform for emerging writers, directors, and performers to showcase their work while generating thousands of work opportunities for those in the industry. In addition to her work at Theatre on the Square, Kuhn has also produced several successful productions that have toured to other venues around South Africa, including the Baxter Theatre, the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and to festivals abroad. For her contributions to South African theatre, Kuhn has received numerous accolades, including the Naledi Theatre Award for Executive Producer for her contribution to South African theatre. She continues to be a driving force in the South African theatre scene, and her work has helped to shape and elevate the country’s cultural landscape.
For THEATRE ON THE SQUARE
Owner / Producer / Artistic Director: DAPHNE KUHN
Resident Stage Manager: REGINA DUBE
Publicity: BRONWEN HIRSHOWITZ
Online & Design: MIKA STEFANO
Assistant Stage Manager: MELIDAH THAKADU
Technical Manager: LOFTUS MOHALE
Assistant Technical Manager: REGGIE MATHEBE
FOH Manager: BONI SEKELEKO
Photos: PHILIP KUHN
Theatre Assistants: MAGDALENE GRACE & PATRICIA RAMOTATHA
To see our Theatre Calendar of up-and-coming shows, click here!
Share your experience online and tag us on Instagram at @TheatreOnTheSquare or on Facebook at Theatre on the Square, Sandton
Don’t forget to switch your phone to silent during the show!
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