Boykie and Girlie have been together for several years; they live in a comfortable but unfashionable flat somewhere in Johannesburg. They are no longer in the first flush of their lives, experience has roughened their edges. On this particular evening, Girlie returns home and once again finds Boykie in a foul mood. The past and the present collide and what ensues exposes their many different faces: values, ambitions, sexual needs and ability to love.
"The actors simply sing in relation to one another, and as they
breathe life into this beautiful script, replete as it is with cutting
and barbarous insult and acrimony that comes of familiarity, the
combination of performers, words and context are simply delicious to
watch unfold. They’re backed by a fabulous set which casts a nod in the
direction of Ariel Dorfman’s ‘Delirium’, staged in South Africa a few
years ago, replete as it is with an ostensibly functional toilet
onstage."
- Robyn Sassen
Boykie and Girlie premiered on 29 July 2014 at the Wits Downstairs Theatre in Johannesburg as part of the SA Season of “Theatre and Politics” organized by Drama for Life.
Allan Kokski Horwitz (AKH) grew up in Cape Town. Between 1974 and 1985 he lived in the Middle East, Europe and North America, returning to live in Johannesburg in 1986. Since then he has worked in the trade union and social housing movements and continues to be a writer of various genres as well as being an educator, editor and activist. He is a member of the Botsotso Jesters poetry performance group and of the Botsotso Publishing editorial board.
His books of poetry are entitled Saving Water and There Are Two Birds at My Window; his short fiction is contained in three collections – Un/common Ground, Out of the Wreckage and Meditations of a Non-White White. He has also written a children’s parable entitled Blue Wings .
AKH has written five plays: The Pump Room, Comrade Babble, Jerico, Book Marks and Boykie and Girlie .
Khutjo Green
Director, Performer, Writer, Physical Theatre Artist and Activist Born in Polokwane, Khutjo Green was moulded by a curious liminal space that traces between Johannesburg and Pietersburg. A nomadic spirited being by virtue of her travels back and forth, to and from, here and there, created a curiosity for exploration. She became a seeker and this would inform the way she forged her inquisition in life. A pilot at heart, Khutjo Green knew for certain that she had to occupy spaces that would compliment her thirst for adventure and possibilities to embrace non-routine. She had her first taste of performance in THE CAGE BIRDS directed by Janet Jobson. She studied at the University of Witwatersrand where she attained her Honours Degree in Bachelor of Dramatic Arts. She majored in Physical Theatre, Writing and Performance.
Her professional theatre accomplishments include: Olive Tree dir. Ntshieng Mokgoro, which toured numerous theatres and NAF. BROKEN DREAMS dir. Pusetso Thibedi, ITYALA LOMHLAWULO dir. Jefferson Tshabalala, BRER RABBIT dir. Gina Shmukler, ECLIPSED dir. Warona Seane, UHAMI AJI dir. Thabo Rapoo, STORIES FOR THE FUTURE devised by DFL Lab. Her television appearances include: presenter for AFRICA WITHIN and DUMISA and she can be seen in SKEEM SAAM as Detective Ledwaba. Khutjo Green was awarded with a Naledi Theatre award for Best Performance by Actress in a Lead Role (THE LINE) in 2013.
Craig Morris Bio:
Craig Morris is a versatile performing artist and educator who includes Physical Theatre, Mime, Contemporary Dance and Clowning in his repertoire of theatre and film performance, directing, teaching and choreographic skills. Craig is continuously involved in numerous educational, commercial and corporate productions as a physical performer, movement training specialist, Classical and Contemporary Mime artist, script writer and Director. Craig continues to premier new, original theatre work, which educates and provokes critical thinking and innovation.
Audience Responses
Great acting and lovely direction. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks.
Very glad you help promote contemopary local writers and new innovative theatre - keep it up! Johan E
The acting was wonderful and totally credible
A bit too gruelling. I used to like theatre like that but now have had enough. Not a reflection on the production really, but the script / subject matter.
It was a great performance. Would love to recommend to my friends to watch it if they do it again here in Cape Town or Joburg.
Well done!
Acting was enjoyable to watch
I found the story line was somewhat all over the place and too up and down
Hello, Alex Friends,
The acting of the duo in Boykie and Girlie is amazing – but as a play I am a bit underwhelmed as its bleakness (despite some flashes of humour) leaves one wondering “what message is it trying to convey?” Still, it’s worthwhile theatre and I’m glad I saw it.
See you soon.
Best,
Beverley
I have to say that Boykie and Girlie amply illustrates the defining ethos of what, in my mind, the Alexander Bar is all about.
Pushing the boundaries of theatre across as many defining fields as possible
I have to be blunt and say that the individual lengthy diatribes of the characters made me think of a writer who loved the sound of his own voice.
The changes of character, play acted by Boykie and the emotionally charged expressions from Girlie, we're not without merit.
Although about 60 minutes in duration, I felt that after 30 minutes I had seen it all and knew what the message was.
I look forward to being more enchanted by Astonish!!!!!
Stephen
acting great, but play terrible
