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Contemporary drama at the Adam Small Theatre Complex
Start: 03/05/2019, 20:00
End: 11/05/2019, 20:00
Contact:Mareli Pretorius - 021 8083089
Location: The Lab, Adam Small Theatre Complex

Senior students of the Stellenbosch University Drama Department will soon be presenting Bryony Lavery's Frozen, a stimulating and thought-provoking contemporary British drama.  Lavery is a renowned and award-winning playwright, and last year saw revivals of the play in London and other cities.

Frozen explores the disappearance over 15 years of Rhona, a 9-year old girl, and the devastating effects of this trauma on her mother Nancy and her family. At the same time, we follow the journey of Ralph, a paedophile serial killer, who is eventually caught and convicted of Rhona's murder. The play offers a nuanced and sensitive view of both the mother's and the perpetrator's perspective. A third character, Agnetha, is an American psychiatrist and academic who specializes in researching the backgrounds of violent, serial murderers. She is asked to conduct psychological examinations on Ralph. Her evaluation of him reveals that he suffered severe physical and emotional abuse as a very young child, with far-reaching damage as a result.

The play is staged in an intimate setting in a non-traditional way and explores how these three characters' lives intersect. Also present is a mysterious guard(ian), a fourth character, who guides us to consider the role of justice in our society. Uncomfortable questions are raised, such as who is to blame for violent, criminal behaviour of this kind? Is it possible in our society, where there are ever-increasing levels of abuse and murder of children, to forgive a person such as Ralph? Are we not all to blame to some extent if we cannot ensure that our children are raised safely and with love?

The production is directed by Sukki Hofmeyr and runs on 3,4 and 6,7,9,10,11 May 2019 at 20.00 in the Lab Studio, in the Adam Small Theatre Complex (formerly HB Thom).

Tickets can be bought online from Quicket or at the door. Please note that seating is limited. R70 for the public and R60 for students. There is a 14 age restriction for this production. Contact Mareli Pretorius for further enquiries: mareli@sun.ac.za.