AMES Comes to Alexander Upstairs

'AMES' takes place in a post-cyberpunk Cape Town, where humankind has been reduced to a few surviving individuals in small groups, scattered across the desolated landscape. In a storeroom of a laboratory, sheltered from the elements, Amy and Roald try to survive, come to terms with what has happened, and to figure out the answer to the most pertinent question of all: how do they keep their succulents alive?

AMES is the creation of emerging theatre-maker Andi Colombo (PAN., Like Hamlet), and stars Kathleen Stephens (Shakespeare in Love, Like Hamlet) and Russell Crous (Outlander, The Widow, The Escape Room).

Andi Colombo completed her degree (honours equivalent) in Theatre Making at the University of Cape Town in 2017.

Andi considers herself fortunate to have been involved in technically operating, lighting designing and stage-managing many productions over the last few years. Andi's 2017 Theatre Making final piece, PAN. was included in the New Voices Festival on UCT's Hiddingh Campus in December 2017, and was presented as part of the Zabalaza festival at the Baxter Theatre in March 2018, where it won the categories for Best Script and Best Supporting Actor, and was nominated for Best Direction, Best Actress and Best Production. Most recently, she performed in a body-focused exploration called Fill, and wrote and performed in Like Hamlet, a play directed by Kanya Viljoen.

Kathleen Stephens debuted her acting career in the production of People Beneath Our Feet in 2016 directed by Blythe Linger and Katya Mendleson. Since then she has gone on to star in Wessel Pretorius' I Love You Sally Field, Dara Beth's Nasty Womxn, and Jon Keevy's Single Minded and The Underground Library, which was the first recipient Fleur du Cap award for Best Children's Theatre Production. This year Kathleen has been seen on the Maynardville stage as Lucentio in the first all-female South African production of Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew directed by Tara Nottcutt. She performed in Pretorius' Fotostaatmasjien which debuted at Woordfees Festival and KKNK. She worked on Like Hamlet directed by Kanya Viljoen and recently finished performing in Fugard's return season of Shakespeare in Love.

Russell Crous is an actor based in Cape Town, South Africa.

With a degree in the arts, Russell has put it to good use in international film and television; appearing as Second Mate Baxley in Starz' Outlander Season 3, and as Charlie in Danger Room (2019, Columbia Pictures). He is also set to appear in The Widow, which features Kate Beckinsale, Charles Dance and Alex Kingston.

Russell studied at AFDA, in Cape Town, and graduated with his degree in Live Performance. While there, he had the opportunity to hone his screen-craft in a number of student films, as well as learn a little theatre, featuring in "Lovborg's Women" created and directed by Chris Weare, as well as "Rainshark" written by Neil McCarthy and directed by Alex McCarthy. This actor can also be seen in National Geographic's "No Man Left Behind" and "Origins: The Journey of Humankind". He has done two episodes of American Monster and can be seen in adverts for Lays, Tony Card and LG.

Book securely online with a credit card for any show at Alexander Upstairs by visiting shows.alexanderbar.co.za or reserve your ticket without paying (but miss out on the discount). The direct booking page for this particular show is alexanderbar.co.za/show/ames. You can also purchase tickets in person at the bar anytime during our regular opening hours (Mon - Sat 11am to 1am, Sun 3pm - midnight). For telephone inquiries: 021.300.1652.