Harold Pinter’s 1979 Olivier Award-winning play is well-received

By Samantha Allen

Published: October 21, 2022 | 3:51 PM GMT

Harold Pinter’s highly regarded play, winner of the 1979 Olivier Award, was a big success and received critical praise.

The play saw a spectacular revival in 2019, both on Broadway and in the West End, and it won several international theater prizes in 2020 and 2021.

The Pinter estate has only ever licensed the rights once before, solely for Cape Town, for a short run in October.

Reverse chronology was a particularly avant-garde technique used by Pinter at the time. With Emma played by Marlisa Doubell (Blueberry Toast, Thirst, The Vagina Monologues, Hello & Goodbye), Robert played by Matt Newman (Gruesome Playground, Sweet Phoebe, Cock, The Treatment), and Robert’s “close friend” Jerry played by Pierre Malherbe, the play incorporates various permutations of betrayal relating to a seven-year affair involving a married couple (Apple Face, Shakespeare in Love, The Kingmakers & The Eulogists).

Jerry and Emma had an illicit relationship for five years without Robert’s awareness until Emma finally comes clean about her romance with Robert without informing Jerry. The play incorporates Pinter’s recognizable sparse speech, the characters’ concealed goals, face-saving, dishonesty, and (self-)deceptions, as well as their intense competitive one-upmanship.

Award-winning director Professor Chris Weare, who was presented with a Fleur du Cap Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012 for his contributions to the South African performing arts sector, is in charge of directing this timeless masterpiece. Chris previously directed Mamet’s Sexual Perversity in Chicago in 2013 and Fugard’s Hello & Goodbye in 2014 for 2Sugars Productions.

Chris Weare is the director.

Cast: Marlisa Doubell, Matt Newman, and Pierre Malherbe

Location: Cape Town’s Artscape Arena

R200 for tickets at Computicket (Early Bird Special R150) Priority: R100

Dates: October 21–29, 2022

6 p.m. and 2 p.m.

Matinees: Saturday, October 22 and 29, 2 p.m.

90 minute runtime

There is wheelchair accessibility. PG12.

Please be aware that latecomers won’t be admitted.

About Samantha Allen

Samantha Allen is a seasoned journalist and senior correspondent at TDPel Media, specializing in the intersection of maternal health, clinical wellness, and public policy. With a background in investigative reporting and a passion for data-driven storytelling, Samantha has become a trusted voice for expectant mothers and healthcare advocates worldwide. Her work focuses on translating complex medical research into actionable insights, covering everything from prenatal fitness and neonatal care to the socioeconomic impacts of healthcare legislation. At TDPel Media, Samantha leads the agency's health analytics desk, ensuring that every report is grounded in accuracy, empathy, and scientific integrity. When she isn't in the newsroom, she is an advocate for community-led wellness initiatives and an avid explorer of California’s coastal trails.