The Dead Wait
Powerful theatre finds friendship + moments of hope in harrowing subject matter
Playwright Paul Herzberg served in the Angolan war and, drawing on that experience, he paints a crisp and dark picture of loyalty and humanity. Set against the backdrop of South Africa in 1989, athlete Josh Gilmore is on the brink of becoming the first white athlete to break the record for the 100 metres, much to the hopes of the racist regime. When war breaks out instead, Josh finds himself torn between a friendship with the enemy and the loyalty demanded of him by the army. Top tier seating. Running time is approximately 2 hours (including interval)."Joe Harmston's production unfolds with parable-like starkness... Eloquent and uncompromising."