Page to Stage Productions Presents SWEET PHOEBE at the Alexander Upstairs This Month

In an exciting Cape Town premiere, Page to Stage Productions will present the award-winning SWEET PHOEBE at the Alexander Bar and Café's Upstairs Theatre this month.

Helen and Frazer have it sussed. They have the perfect job, the perfect house, the perfect marriage. Everything is in fact perfect. And then in walks Phoebe.

Written by acclaimed Australian playwright Michael Gow (AWAY, TOY SYMPHONY), SWEET PHOEBE is a superb dark comedy in which sensible priorities are forgotten, marriage is laid bare and a well adjusted suburban lifestyle lurches out of control. SWEET PHOEBE is also famous as the play that launched the international career of Oscar-winning actress, Cate Blanchett.

SWEET PHOEBE is directed by Paul Griffiths, whose extensive experience started in musical theatre productions such as HAIR, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EVITA, PETER PAN, CAMELOT, MAME and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and in a Maynardville production of THE TAMING OF THE SHREW. He then moved to London where he spent the next eight years, completing a Master of Arts in Theatre Directing from Middlesex University with Distinction, a course which included modules at The GITIS Conservatory in Moscow, RESAD Drama School in Madrid and master classes from The Berliner Ensemble. He served as Education Associate for The Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond where he directed the theatre's Shakespeare-in-Schools Programme and was then appointed as Associate Director and was Acting Artistic Director of The Bridewell Theatre. In 2006, Paul was appointed Head of Drama and Musical Theatre at the Waterfront Theatre School, where he has directed many productions, and his company, Big Leaf Productions, is producing numerous plays and musicals around the country. His freelance directing credits in recent years include COCK, EDGES and I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. Griffiths comments on the subject matter of the play:

We all have relationships, or maybe marriages, that we engage in with our own set of rules. It's interesting to explore the dynamic that happens between two people when those rules are thrown into disarray. SWEET PHOEBE is a darkly witty, but poignant, exploration of this, which might make us feel better about our own lives!

SWEET PHOEBE features Genna Galloway (DRAGGING 30, THE SOUND OF MUSIC) alongside Matt Newman (COCK, THE TREATMENT). Meet the cast in a special BroadwayWorld South Africa feature on Galloway and Newman.

SWEET PHOEBE will be performed from 23 - 28 November at 7pm nightly. The show carries an advisory for strong language. Tickets cost R80 - R90 and can be booked online at the Alexander Bar website or purchased at the bar during its regular opening hours. For telephone bookings and enquiries, call 021 300 1652. Alexander Bar & Café is situated at 76 Strand Street in the Cape Town city centre and can be followed on Facebook and Twitter.