Cape Town Fringe to Host South African Premiere of THE GRUFFALO

The National Arts Festival announced this week that it is producing the hit Tall Stories musical adaptation of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's award-winning picture book, THE GRUFFALO. Originating in the United Kingdom, this enchanting theatre production combining songs, laughter and storytelling will premiere in South Africa as part of the Cape Town Fringe in September with an all-Grahamstown cast.

Set to a wonderfully catchy score with original music and lyrics, the South African production will be directed by Tara Notcutt and will feature all the characters, songs and storyline from the smash hit West End production, with a uniquely local feel. Notcutt comments:

The next stage of the production's life will be an isiXhosa version in early 2017. Meanwhile we're casting the production, building the sets and making the costumes entirely in Grahamstown as part of the Festival's 'Creative City' partnership. We're hoping that THE GRUFFALO will propel some great new talent onto the national stage - while introducing audiences to the magic and fun of one of Britain's best-loved characters.

Bringing the story to the stage will be an ensemble cast comprising Nombasa Ngoqo, Ayanda Nondlwana and Sisonke Yafele. The cast have all been part of the European Union-funded Makana Arts Academy, and have worked on a number of award-winning productions at the Festival and Cape Town Fringe, including WATERLINE and FALLING OF THE HORN.

While the South Africa production will remain true to the West End storyline, production, script and characters, it is expected that large doses of charisma, energy and flair from the cast will make the South African version unique, and heighten its appeal to local audiences. Says Notcutt:

THE GRUFFLO has universal appeal as a story and the stage version is a proven success worldwide. We're taking that framework and making the characters instantly recognisable to young South Africans, putting them in a familiar context and taking ownership of the story.

The original picture book, published in 1999, is a worldwide phenomenon, having sold over 13 million copies in 75 editions worldwide. It has been translated into dozens of languages, including Portuguese, Dutch, Italian, Russian, Turkish and Afrikaans. An isiXhosa version of the book is in the pipeline as part of the Festival project. Festival CEO, Tony Lankester, says:

This collaboration with Tall Stories theatre-company has been over a year in the making and we couldn't be happier that we are bringing this show from the West End to the South African stage - in English this year and isiXhosa in 2017. And by involving Grahamstown artists in a long-term touring production such as this we're giving them an unrivalled opportunity to develop their national profiles and careers in the arts.

Olivia Jacobs, Joint Artistic Director of Tall Stories and original director of the production, comments:

We're thrilled to be working alongside the National Arts Festival to create Tall Stories production of THE GRAFFALO in South Africa. We're looking forward to seeing how the show develops with a local company and wish the Grahamstown team all the best of luck!

When the Cape Town Fringe programme is available, all details of performance dates and bookings will be on the Cape Town Fringe website.

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