Theatre: Red

Johannesburg

Of the many great artists who inhabit the pantheon of abstract expressionism, none is as compelling and elusive as Mark Rothko, the American painter whose works exude a dark, desultory power.

Venue:

Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton

Price:

Booking: strictlytickets.com. Ask about group bookings and dinner-show packages.

Date & Time:

July 18 to August 11

Contact Details:

Tel: 0118838606. Website: theatreonthesquare.co.za.

Most recognisable in his oeuvre are the impenetrable monoliths of black and red, of which Rothko, who took his own life in 1970, once observed to his assistant: “There is only one thing I fear in life … one day the black will swallow the red.” Highly regarded playwright John Logan (screenwriter for such films as Gladiator, The Aviator, Rango and Hugo) explores Rothko’s fascinating creative process and inner turmoil in his acclaimed stage work Red, which enjoys a fresh reworking by the award-winning KickstArt Company. Red stars veteran Michael Richard as Rothko and Jeremy Richard as his vigilant assistant, Ken. The play is directed by Steven Stead and designed by Greg King.