A Cut Above The Rest
The Gospel According to Jan Coetzee
The Gospel According to Jan Coetzee is a reworking of the Afrikaans play Al Julle Volke, which debuted in 2015 at the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival. It is a deconstructed Passion Play that tells the story of a rural Afrikaans boy who believes he’s been called upon by God to lead the Afrikaner to salvation. Three performers unravel Jan Coetzee’s story through a series of testimonies and flashbacks. We get to know some
of his so-called disciples, including the woman he fell in love with. The Gospel is a portrait of lost faith, changing times and a search for new identities.
Pretorius returns to NAF for the first time since winning the Golden Ovation Award for Undone in 2014/2015. David Viviers, who has performed in several of Pretorius’s productions, including Klara Maas se Hart is Gebreek, ensomeer: Die Vloeistof Trilogie (KKNK, Aardklop, Woordfees) and Renaissance (Alexander Bar Upstairs). Viviers and Emma Kotze also share the stage again for the first time since their festival hit Salt (written and directed Wynne Bredenkamp).
A Little More
Wessel Pretorius is an Afrikaans theatre-maker, writer and actor who graduated with an Honours degree in Acting from the University of Stellenbosch in 2009. He is returning to NAF for the first time since performing his solo-piece Undone in 2014/2015, winning the Golden Ovation Award. The production reunites him with David Viviers, who has performed in several of Pretorius’ productions, including Klara Maas se Hart is Gebreek, ensomeer: Die Vloeistof Trilogie (KKNK, Aardklop, Woordfees) and Renaissance (Alexander Bar Upstairs). Viviers and Emma Kotze also share the stage again for the first time since their festival hit Salt (written and directed Wynne Bredenkamp).