UCT Drama Stages Howard Barker's WOUNDS TO THE FACE, Now thru 7 Oct

The University of Cape Town's Drama Department will present a production of Howard Barker's WOUNDS TO THE FACE, directed by Geoffrey Hyland, who recently directed a highly acclaimed production of the same playwright's SLOWLY.

In a series of comic and tragic narratives that are both poetic and provocative, WOUNDS TO THE FACE examines the many faces we present to each other. It explores the pain and humour we experience in discovering that these features can be changed, obliterated or simply accepted as indelibly our own. It challenges our understanding of what beauty is, how we see others, and ourselves, and the elusive quality we call identity.

"I think it would be very difficult to argue that the face isn't central to who we are," says Hyland. "In Barker's intense, highly theatrical style, he explores why we enhance our faces with makeup or plastic surgery; how faces of great heroes, villains and celebrities are burned into the public consciousness; and what it means to 'lose face' - both literally and metaphorically."

WOUNDS TO THE FACE will take place at The Bindery on UCT's Hiddingh Campus at 37 Orange Street, Gardens. The production opens today, 2 October and runs until 7 October at 7pm nightly, with no performance on Sunday. Bookings can be made through www.webtickets.co.za, with tickets costing R60 for general admission and R45 for students and pensioners.