Jane is not well. Rest, a rigid daily schedule and freedom from all care and work is prescribed. Secluded in a country estate, the yellow wallpaper occupies her mind. The yellow wallpaper disturbs her rest. And a forbidden series of journal entries is the only means of expression she has. A chilling, satirical, gothic horror story, The Yellow Wallpaper is full of secrets. You have three nights to uncover what you can. 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.  

Claire is a dedicated actress, singer and teacher. She has made numerous appearances in theatrical productions over the last 20 years. mentionable roles include Lady MacBeth, Sonja in Chekhov's Uncle Vanya and a Fleur du Cap Award for her role as 'Feste' in Twelfth Night. "Kissed by Brel", performed in Cape Town, Gauteng and London, was a popular show for which she and her co-star Godfrey Johnson were awarded a joint Fleur du Cap.  Claire mostly dedicates her time to teaching voice, singing and acting at her studio in Observatory, CPUT and UCT.

Media & Reviews

Interview with Claire Watling by Jason Potgieter on Some Assembly Required

Audience Responses

Six years on, and Claire Watling is back. I, for one, am delighted to see her on stage, where she belongs. Watling takes on "The Yellow Wallpaper" by American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman, directed by Kim Kerfoot at The Alexander Bar, Café and Theatre Upstairs. It is the story of a young woman's descent into madness and, as she shapeshifts and disintegrates, Watling really packs a wallop - she is simply outstanding. Go see it.

Claire Watling is an intelligent and insightful actress. Really got to the core of the character of this play and mastered the required pace of this piece. It was intense and gripping and held one's attention faultlessly for a full hour. I am her Mum and I don't know how she does it. Our friends thought she was great and enjoyed the play. We are in our sixties and seventies and would love to know what the young ones thought about this play.

An accomplished performer!

Brilliant production. Beautiful acting! The artist owned the character - it was as if they were possessed. I was engaged for 1hr+ and could be engaged for another 1hr+ without tiring. The director, writers did a great job as well in helping interpreting this work. I wish it was there longer as I wanted to recommend friends to attend - please advise when it will come back again. I also believe it could have a carried in a slightly bigger theatre - although the intimacy was good. When a production, movie is memorable & lingers on in one's mind (excuse the pun here:)) long after the fact - then its a really good production.

While a sad topic it was so well acted by Claire Watling that I really enjoyed the show.

It was our first visit to the Alexander Bar venue and we thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of it. Friendly and attentive waitrons and barmen - good value drinks (the gluehwein was warming) - deliciously fresh food. Welcome and organisation for the show was excellent (and loud). The performance of Claire Watling is as superb as it gets. She is magnificent as the complex, confused and depressed woman in the yellow wall-papered room. It is a masterclass in performance. She held her audience captive in that awful room. Thank you for a wonderful night out!

Outstanding performance. Highly recommended.

Chilling performance

Absolutely fabulous! Thank you for a rewarding evening

I'm biased as the mother of the director but our guests thought it world class. Superb performance by Claire Watling.

Phenomenal play, exceptional acting. One of the best ones I have seen in a while!

intense, good stuff

A high quality performance by Claire. Great to see her back on stage. She is one of the best.