Hand To God
The uproarious and provocative Hand To God centers on shy, inquisitive student Jason, who finds an outlet for his burgeoning creativity at the Christian Puppet Ministry in the devoutly religious, relatively quiet small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason\'s complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door and - most especially - his mother, are thrown into further upheaval when Jason\'s hand puppet, Tyrone, takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all its own. Hand To God explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality and the ties that bind us.
Kim Kerfoot is a South African theatre-maker who has worked with Magnet Theatre, ZANews and FTH:K and is co-founder of the Instant Arts Collective. Kim presented three original site-specific works as part of the Out The Box Festival in 2008, 2010 and 2011, creating and performing in Left Inside, and creating and directing Lynchpin and Guillotine. He has been involved in two Infecting the City Festivals, participating in Quiet Emergency in 2010 and in The Uncommercial Traveller and Flown in 2013. In 2011 Kim received the Emerging Theatre Director’s Bursary and used it to stage Athol Fugard’s Statements After An Arrest Under The Immorality Act for which he won the Rosalie van der Gucht Prize for Best New Director at the Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards in 2013. Kim directed Jason Potgieter’s The Things You Left Behind, which won one of only six Standard Bank Silver Ovation Awards at the National Arts Festival 2013. His production of Jon Keevy’s Get Kraken! also won a Standard Bank Ovation Award at NAF 2013 and was commended for innovation in physical theatre. In 2014 Kim took part in the Director’s Lab at the Lincoln Center in New York, and he begins his Masters in Directing at Columbia University in New York City in the Fall.
Andrew Hart Adler is an internationally known artist who has exhibited his works on four continents. But theater is in his genes. Son of the Broadway composer, Richard Adler, he grew up surrounded by the theater. Starting in high school and then at University, he acted, winning some awards along the way. But he decided he would rather work by himself, although he did enjoy collaborating, periodically, doing some sets for both ballet notably (Jennifer Muller at City Center) and theater (Herman Van Veen at the National Shauspiel Theatre, Hamburg) as well as some smaller productions in Paris, where he also directed several pieces. He was the U.S. Producer for Statements after an Arrest under the Immorality Act, by Athol Fugard, which after having organized the tour, was aborted. Upon arriving in Cape Town in September, 2012, he established a Center for Performing Arts, Atelier AHA in his Woodstock studio, promoting South African performing artists in all disciplines. While in New York last year, he saw Hand to God, off Broadway. (It has since moved to Broadway where it garnered 5 Tony nominations.) He realized that this had to be done in Cape Town where he knew he had the perfect cast and crew. He is producing the reading which he hopes will develop into the full blown production.
Jason Potgieter is a writer, director and performer for the stage. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, he has performed and lectured all over the world, most recently with Handspring Puppet Company. Jason also likes to play with The Mechanicals, Puppetry South Africa, ZA News, Hearts and Eyes Collective and various other interesting folk. His most recent directorial endeavour was I Love You When You’re Breathing, featured on the National Arts Festival main programme in 2012. Jason was Artist in Residence 2012, Teacher in Residence 2014 and Puppetry Director in Residence 2014 at West Michigan University. He has also created performative installations for Performativity (Frank Caller) and Infecting the City (Flown). His play The Things You Left Behind was awarded one of only six Standard Bank Silver Ovation Awards at the National Arts Festival 2013. He is fond of the avocado.
Claire Berlein In a career spanning thirty years, Claire has worked as an actress both nationally and internationally in theatre, film and television. She is the recipient of three Fleur de cap Awards, eight Fleur de Cap Nominations, an Evening Post Award, a Vita Award and two Vita Nominations. Her theatre work has encompassed a wide range of roles and genres, highlights of which include: Anatomie Titus (directed by Martinus Basson); French Grey, Miss Margerida’s Way, The Open Couple, Women Beware Women, and The Yellow Wallpaper (Goeff Hyland); Wit and The Beuatiful Feast (Peter Hayes); The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Brocken Glass (Janice Honeyman).Claire last appeared on stage with Nicholas Ellenbogen in Live with Ivy, a play which he wrote and directed. Amonst others, Claire’s work on screen includesCharlie Jade (director Erik Canuel), Goodbye Bafana (Bille August); The Bird Can’t Fly (Threes Anna); To Be First (Patrick Reams); Silent Witness (Paul Wilmshurst); and The Runaway (Divid Richards). Her most recent appearance was in Homeland (Season 4, Charlotte Sieling) As a dialect coach, Claire has had the privilege of tutoring actors such as John Malkovich, William Hurt,Dianne Kruger, Joseph Fiennes, Barbara Hershey,Mark Strong, Rupert Graves, Dennis Hopper,Michael Mendl, Alice Krige, and James Faulkner. She is also a fine artist whose work has been exhibited and sold locally as well as abroad.
Meganne Young After attending a multi-media college in Cape Town, Meganne completed her Honors with Guilford School of Acting, University of Surrey, receiving a Second Class Pass, Upper Division. She has been involved in several theatre productions in Cape Town including THIS IS A CHAIR (dir Caroline Calburn), A TALE OF HORRIBLENESS (dir. Merryn Carver) and LENNY AND THE WASTELAND (dir. Beren Belknap). Aside from acting she has also dabbled in stage-managing, working on various shows, and has even directed and designed her own original production titled HEART (National Arts Festival, 2013) for which she was nominated for the Rosalie Van Der Gucht Prize for Best New Director at the 2014 Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards. This was the first and only play she has directed… so far. Her film credits include THE CHALLENGER DISASTER playing Michelle Fynman opposite William Hurt and Joanne Whalley (dir. James Hawes, 2013), THE GIVER (dir. Phillip Noyce, 2014), EYE IN THE SKY opposite Helen Mirren (dir. Gavin Hood, 2015), BLUESTONE 42 (BBC Three, S3, 2014) and BLACK SAILS opposite Toby Stephens and Hannah New (Starz Entertainment, S2, 2015). She is currently filming on SAINTS AND STRANGERS (National Geographic & Sony Television). Meganne currently splits her time between Cape Town and Los Angeles. She also loves chocolate and long walks on the promenade.
Pierre Malherbe Pierre Malherbe is an actor who studied drama at the UCT and has worked in theatre, film and television since graduating in 1994. He has acted in many plays, amongst others: Beautiful Thing (1995) The Judas Kiss (2000); The Graduate (2001); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2002). Under the Oaks (2003); Noises Off (2005); Maybe Sunshine Up Ahead (2006); The Tent (2009); The Quiet Violence Of Dreams (2010); King Lear (2012) , the award winning Champ ( 2013), Sexual Perversity In Chicago ( 2013), Urban Death( 2013) and the award winning The Kingmakers ( 2014) He has dabbled in stand-up comedy and has written and performed three one-man comedy stage shows, the most recent being Another Friggin’ Tribute Show (2011,2012). On television, he has appeared in Dominion (2015) Black Sails (2013), Crusoe (2008) as well as numerous South African sitcoms. He currently appears in police drama series Traffic. He also starred in the mini-series and feature film Land of Thirst (2008). Pierre’s many other acting film credits include: Second Skin (2000), Styx (2000), Charlie(2002) Global Effect ( 2002), Out On A Limb( 2003), To Be First (2007), Death Race 2 (2010) , Chronicle (2011) and the award winning comedy short film, Armed Response.( 2012). He also starred in the short film Snap! as part of the 2014 Cape town 24 hour film project, for which he received a best actor nomination.
Gideon Lombard since graduating as a Theatre Maker from the University of Cape Town’s Drama Department in 2011 (cum laude), Gideon has been involved in various multi award-winning productions, which have toured extensively nationally and abroad. He works in a wide range of fields, including acting and directing in theatre, designing lights, set and sound for theatre and art/sound installations, film, opera, dance and fine art. Recent highlights include co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimed …miskien, which has toured nationally and internationally, garnering numerous awards. In 2012 he was nominated in both major categories at the Fleur du Cap awards: his role inThe View earned him a nomination for “Best Actor” and his role as Markus in Special Thanks to Guests From Afar earned him another nomination for “Best Supporting Actor”. For the past two years Gideon has been touring with Cape Town Opera\'s production of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, of which he is currently the Assistant Director, as well as being in the show. In 2014 the production travelled to Bordeaux and Barcelona, and it recently completed a tour to Madrid. Gideon has just returned from Vryfees in Bloemfontein, where he performed in André P. Brink's Bidsprinkaan, directed by Janice Honeyman. He will be returning to the Fugard Theatre later this year for the second season of David Kramer's Orpheus in Africa. His favourite artist is Miles Davis.
Andrew Hart Adler is an internationally known artist who has exhibited his works on four continents. But theater is in his genes. Son of the Broadway composer, Richard Adler, he grew up surrounded by the theater. Starting in high school and then at University, he acted, winning some awards along the way. But he decided he would rather work by himself, although he did enjoy collaborating, periodically, doing some sets for both ballet notably (Jennifer Muller at City Center) and theater (Herman Van Veen at the National Shauspiel Theatre, Hamburg) as well as some smaller productions in Paris, where he also directed several pieces. He was the U.S. Producer for Statements after an Arrest under the Immorality Act, by Athol Fugard, which after having organized the tour, was aborted. Upon arriving in Cape Town in September, 2012, he established a Center for Performing Arts, Atelier AHA in his Woodstock studio, promoting South African performing artists in all disciplines. While in New York last year, he saw Hand to God, off Broadway. (It has since moved to Broadway where it garnered 5 Tony nominations.) He realized that this had to be done in Cape Town where he knew he had the perfect cast and crew. He is producing the reading which he hopes will develop into the full blown production.
Jason Potgieter is a writer, director and performer for the stage. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, he has performed and lectured all over the world, most recently with Handspring Puppet Company. Jason also likes to play with The Mechanicals, Puppetry South Africa, ZA News, Hearts and Eyes Collective and various other interesting folk. His most recent directorial endeavour was I Love You When You’re Breathing, featured on the National Arts Festival main programme in 2012. Jason was Artist in Residence 2012, Teacher in Residence 2014 and Puppetry Director in Residence 2014 at West Michigan University. He has also created performative installations for Performativity (Frank Caller) and Infecting the City (Flown). His play The Things You Left Behind was awarded one of only six Standard Bank Silver Ovation Awards at the National Arts Festival 2013. He is fond of the avocado.
Claire Berlein In a career spanning thirty years, Claire has worked as an actress both nationally and internationally in theatre, film and television. She is the recipient of three Fleur de cap Awards, eight Fleur de Cap Nominations, an Evening Post Award, a Vita Award and two Vita Nominations. Her theatre work has encompassed a wide range of roles and genres, highlights of which include: Anatomie Titus (directed by Martinus Basson); French Grey, Miss Margerida’s Way, The Open Couple, Women Beware Women, and The Yellow Wallpaper (Goeff Hyland); Wit and The Beuatiful Feast (Peter Hayes); The Beauty Queen of Leenane and Brocken Glass (Janice Honeyman).Claire last appeared on stage with Nicholas Ellenbogen in Live with Ivy, a play which he wrote and directed. Amonst others, Claire’s work on screen includesCharlie Jade (director Erik Canuel), Goodbye Bafana (Bille August); The Bird Can’t Fly (Threes Anna); To Be First (Patrick Reams); Silent Witness (Paul Wilmshurst); and The Runaway (Divid Richards). Her most recent appearance was in Homeland (Season 4, Charlotte Sieling) As a dialect coach, Claire has had the privilege of tutoring actors such as John Malkovich, William Hurt,Dianne Kruger, Joseph Fiennes, Barbara Hershey,Mark Strong, Rupert Graves, Dennis Hopper,Michael Mendl, Alice Krige, and James Faulkner. She is also a fine artist whose work has been exhibited and sold locally as well as abroad.
Meganne Young After attending a multi-media college in Cape Town, Meganne completed her Honors with Guilford School of Acting, University of Surrey, receiving a Second Class Pass, Upper Division. She has been involved in several theatre productions in Cape Town including THIS IS A CHAIR (dir Caroline Calburn), A TALE OF HORRIBLENESS (dir. Merryn Carver) and LENNY AND THE WASTELAND (dir. Beren Belknap). Aside from acting she has also dabbled in stage-managing, working on various shows, and has even directed and designed her own original production titled HEART (National Arts Festival, 2013) for which she was nominated for the Rosalie Van Der Gucht Prize for Best New Director at the 2014 Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards. This was the first and only play she has directed… so far. Her film credits include THE CHALLENGER DISASTER playing Michelle Fynman opposite William Hurt and Joanne Whalley (dir. James Hawes, 2013), THE GIVER (dir. Phillip Noyce, 2014), EYE IN THE SKY opposite Helen Mirren (dir. Gavin Hood, 2015), BLUESTONE 42 (BBC Three, S3, 2014) and BLACK SAILS opposite Toby Stephens and Hannah New (Starz Entertainment, S2, 2015). She is currently filming on SAINTS AND STRANGERS (National Geographic & Sony Television). Meganne currently splits her time between Cape Town and Los Angeles. She also loves chocolate and long walks on the promenade.
Pierre Malherbe Pierre Malherbe is an actor who studied drama at the UCT and has worked in theatre, film and television since graduating in 1994. He has acted in many plays, amongst others: Beautiful Thing (1995) The Judas Kiss (2000); The Graduate (2001); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2002). Under the Oaks (2003); Noises Off (2005); Maybe Sunshine Up Ahead (2006); The Tent (2009); The Quiet Violence Of Dreams (2010); King Lear (2012) , the award winning Champ ( 2013), Sexual Perversity In Chicago ( 2013), Urban Death( 2013) and the award winning The Kingmakers ( 2014) He has dabbled in stand-up comedy and has written and performed three one-man comedy stage shows, the most recent being Another Friggin’ Tribute Show (2011,2012). On television, he has appeared in Dominion (2015) Black Sails (2013), Crusoe (2008) as well as numerous South African sitcoms. He currently appears in police drama series Traffic. He also starred in the mini-series and feature film Land of Thirst (2008). Pierre’s many other acting film credits include: Second Skin (2000), Styx (2000), Charlie(2002) Global Effect ( 2002), Out On A Limb( 2003), To Be First (2007), Death Race 2 (2010) , Chronicle (2011) and the award winning comedy short film, Armed Response.( 2012). He also starred in the short film Snap! as part of the 2014 Cape town 24 hour film project, for which he received a best actor nomination.
Gideon Lombard since graduating as a Theatre Maker from the University of Cape Town’s Drama Department in 2011 (cum laude), Gideon has been involved in various multi award-winning productions, which have toured extensively nationally and abroad. He works in a wide range of fields, including acting and directing in theatre, designing lights, set and sound for theatre and art/sound installations, film, opera, dance and fine art. Recent highlights include co-writing and starring in the critically acclaimed …miskien, which has toured nationally and internationally, garnering numerous awards. In 2012 he was nominated in both major categories at the Fleur du Cap awards: his role inThe View earned him a nomination for “Best Actor” and his role as Markus in Special Thanks to Guests From Afar earned him another nomination for “Best Supporting Actor”. For the past two years Gideon has been touring with Cape Town Opera\'s production of George Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, of which he is currently the Assistant Director, as well as being in the show. In 2014 the production travelled to Bordeaux and Barcelona, and it recently completed a tour to Madrid. Gideon has just returned from Vryfees in Bloemfontein, where he performed in André P. Brink's Bidsprinkaan, directed by Janice Honeyman. He will be returning to the Fugard Theatre later this year for the second season of David Kramer's Orpheus in Africa. His favourite artist is Miles Davis.