Play Club Celebrates Second Anniversary with Adaptation of Harper Lee Classic, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

Play Club, "where scripts go to unwind," will celebrate its second birthday and third year of monthly readings in Cape Town. For this anniversary, Play Club will dive into Harper Lee's immortal classic novel, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, as adapted by Christopher Sergel, which recently played to rave reviews in a sold-out Regent Park production and subsequent UK tour.

"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." Such was a lawyer's advice to his children as he defends the real mockingbird of this theatrical adaptation - a black man charged with taking advantage of a white girl. Seen through the eyes of young Scout, the play explores the irrationality of adult attitudes toward race and class in the Deep South of the 1930s.

This informal reading features many Play Club alumni, acclaimed actors from stage and screen and, in a rare move, is cast colour and gender blind, finding equality in all its characters and focusing on the heart of the story.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD stars Aidan Whytock as Atticus Finch and Jess Sutton as "Scout" and features Megan Young as Miss Maudie, Rowan Studti as Tom Robinson, Candice van Litsenborgh as Mrs. Dubose/Heck Tate, Tamryn Spiers as Stephanie Crawford/Mr. Gilmer, Laura Bosman as Calpurnia, Shannyn Fourie as Arthur "Boo" Radley, Steve Howard-Tripp as Jem, Bryony Bosman as Dill, Callum Tilbury as Bob Ewell, Tarryn Saunders as Reverend Sykes, Kelly Stephenson as Mayella Ewell, Jacqui Wigg as the Court Clerk, Mark Wijsman as Judge Taylor, Richard Wright-Firth as Walter Cunningham, with stage directions read by Drew Rienstra. The cast doubles as panel, which is to also include theatre critic and dramaturge, David Fick.

Play Club is a monthly initiative aiming to build a community among theatre lovers. This brings a well-established New York theatre platform, where the simplicity of a script reading becomes an intimate forum to discover plays, debut new talent and allow for engaged discussions. Play Club has played host to some of South Africa's top and up-and-coming actors, directors, educators, filmmakers, producers, playwrights, composers and critics, all mixed with theatregoers who share their passion for the theatre. It began November 2012 with 13 industry professionals upstairs in the Alexander Bar Café with THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHED, and has quickly grown and played host to a wealth of South African premieres.

Next up, Play Club brings in the holidays on 14 December with American humourist David Sedaris's bitingly hilarious stint working in Macy's Department Store over Christmas with his cynical stage adaptation of THE SANTALAND DIARIES, starring Daniel Barnett as Crumpet the Elf.

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD will take place on Sunday, 23 November at 3:00pm. The event is currently on a waiting list. Should you wish to join our cancellation list, please email join@playclub.co.za.

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