EVENT:
‘CRUISE’ IS HEADING TO SOUTH AFRICA
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The Olivier Award-nominated play, Cruise, written and performed by Jack Holden, is heading to South Africa – the first staging outside of the United Kingdom – for six shows only at Theatre Linden in Johannesburg from Tuesday 6th – Sunday 11th December 2022. Presented by HIV@40 and starring Daniel Geddes, Cruise is “an emotional roller-coaster without ever once losing its hold on your attention” – Evening Standard.
“I’m super excited and honoured to be sinking my teeth into this incredible role. This Olivier nominated play is so important, and I can’t wait for South African audiences to see Jack’s amazing work for the first time this December.” – Daniel Geddes, Actor
Cruise is the true story of what should have been Michael Spencer’s last night on earth. When diagnosed with HIV in 1984, Michael is told he will have four years left to live. So, with the clock ticking, he and his partner Dave decide to sell their house, flog the car and spend everything and party like it is the last days of the world.
This play is an emotional rollercoaster at times and at others, a hilarious ode to gay culture in the 80s and how AIDS changed the community forever. Its staging in South Africa is very appropriate, as 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the arrival of the HIV /AIDS pandemic on the African continent.
Cruise opened in the West End of London in the thick of the Covid-19 Pandemic and was the first play to surface out of the pandemic. It ran for a month at The Duchess Theatre and due to popular demand and rave reviews, transferred to the Apollo Theatre in the West End, closing in September 2022.
This South African production of Cruise is directed by Josh Lindberg, with original music by Roelof Colyn, set design by Wilhelm Disbergen, lighting by Jane Gosnell and produced by Colin Law with funding grants from the NAC, Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, PESP and AfroAsia Philanthropy (Thailand).
“I was immediately attracted to Cruise as a powerful story of acceptance of otherness. This play sits perfectly relevant here in South Africa, within our current time. Now more than ever (somewhat sadly) our world still has so much further to travel in terms of acceptance of all. To ‘live every day like it is your last, in the present -This story can be related to individual stories and can find home with each of us.” – Josh Lindberg, Director
Performances from Tuesday – Saturday at 19h30, and Sunday at 14h30. The production runs for 90 minutes with no intervals. No under 16s.
Tickets are R200 and bookings are via Quicket, a 10% discount is available for Pensioners and Students.
“Simply Electric… Immense and influential” – Broadway World
“Joyful, painful and wholeheartedly life-grabbing, Cruise is an ode to the gay men who lived, loved and were lost during the Aids crisis” – The Guardian, UK
