Artist-in-residence Alex McCarthy Presents THE WHITE MAN'S GUIDE TO SACRIFICE at the Baxter in October

Alex McCarthy, one of the Baxter Theatre's 2015 artists-in-residence, will showcase his play THE WHITE MAN'S GUIDE TO SACRIFICE at the Baxter's Golden Arrow Theatre next month. Written and directed by McCarthy, who is also responsible for the set design, the prodction follows the recent University of Cape Town (UCT) graduate's work on HIM, HER AND IT, PYRO PROTRAM, FOG DUCKING and RAINSHARK. McCarthy, who was awarded the Mavis Taylor Award for Theatre-making upon his graduation from the UCT Drama Department and whose focus is on writing and directing for the stage, shared the the Best Writing award for UHM at the National Arts Festival Student Festival last year with co-writer Callum Tilbury. The production was later performed at Artscape and at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival.

Quirky and hilarious, THE WHITE MAN'S GUIDE TO SACRIFICE centres around two young men, Fork and Scholtz, who have just been accepted into the Lamborghini Club. This has been their dream for as long as they can remember. With the club's connections, they will be fast-tracked up the corporate ladder and welcomed into the arms of luxury. In three days important club members are coming over for the party of a lifetime, and these two wannabees have no choice but to impress. However, there is a problem. The two young, white South African men discover a living, breathing, defecating cow in their new and expensive apartment. But just how exactly did the cow get there? After all, this is something that only happens to taxi and bus people, not to Lambourgini people - so the club cannot not find out about this unusual situation. As ancestors, business card-wielding entrepreneurs and powerful personal assistants become involved, the two friends are presented with a choice: sacrifice their place in the Lambourgini Club, or seal their position in the blood of an innocent animal.

THE WHITE MAN'S GUIDE TO SACRIFICE features Nathan Lynn (RAIDERS THE MUSICAL, THE OPEN COUPLE, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE), Cameron Robertson (CRY HAVOC, RAIDERS THE MUSICAL, PRIDE AND PREJUDICE), Sive Gubangxa (HEART OF REDNESS, AFTER DARK IN THE GROOT MARICO, UHM) and Jazzara Jaslyn (EVERY BEAUTIFUL THING, MEPHISTO, A LIE OF THE MIND).

This season of THE WHITE MAN'S GUIDE TO SACRIFICE has been made possible through the support of the Rolf-Stephan Nussbaum Foundation and the Arts and Culture Trust. It has afforded young theatre-makers, like McCarthy, the opportunity to incubate and develop their work, and comes as a culmination of the artist-in-residence process at the Baxter. Earlier this year, McCarthy and fellow artist-in-residence Mdu Kweyama collaborated with dancers Grant van Ster and Shaun Oelf to present MOST HONEST MAN.

THE WHITE MAN'S GUIDE TO SACRIFICE, which carries an age restriction of 15 years, previews on 31 September and 1 October, opens on 2 October and runs until 10 October at 7pm nightly. Booking is through Computicket (online, on 0861 915 8000 or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet). Tickets cost R100 each, with a R60 concession price for "early bird bookings" made before 28 September for the first four performances only. For discounted corporate, schools or block-bookings, charities or fundraisers, contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993.