Hot off its debut at the 2022 Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK), the one-hander Shadow Boxing comes to the Baxter Masambe theatre this month.
Shadow Boxing stars UCT Drama School graduate Daniel Newton, directed by Mdu Kweyama (Reza de Wet’s Missing; The Goat, or who is Sylvia?). It is a coming of age story, one of dealing with the demons of the past and discovering one’s identity.
Flynn (played by Newton) is a young boxer, the son of a professional boxer who’s career never really took off. Unlike his father, Flynn is determined to become a successful, professional boxer. In doing so, he has to fight off his inherited perceptions of masculinity as he discovers his own identity. He thrusts himself into a gruelling training regime to avoid his internal struggle.
Kweyama – currently the artistic director of the Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival – was awarded the Naledi award for Best Actor in a Lead Role and Best Original Choreography for Karoo Moose in 2008. His directing accolades at The Baxter include Most Honest Man, Reza De Wet’s Missing, Woza Albert and Edward Albee’s The Goat, or who is Sylvia?
Newton is a promising actor and musician who, in 2021, completed his BA Hons in Drama and Acting at UCT. While he started acting for film in 2016, Shadow Boxing is his first professional performance.
Shadow Boxing opens tomorrow (Wednesday 6 May) and runs to Saturday 21 May at the Baxter Masambe theatre at 19:00 nightly with matinee performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12:30. Ticket prices range from R50 for group bookings to R120 and are available through Webtickets online at www.webtickets.co.za or at any Pick n Pay store.
