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CAP UCLA Presents Peter Brook's 'The Suit'

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Media Alert Monday March 10, 2014 Contact: Jessica Wolf 310.825.7789 [email protected] CAP UCLA Presents Peter Brook’s ‘The Suit’ April 9-19 Eight performances at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA presents “The Suit,” a simmering tale of betrayal and resentment set in the politically charged sphere of apartheid-era South Africa, performed by Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord, with direction, adaptation and musical direction by Peter Brook, Marie-Hélène Estienne and Franck Krawczyk. Performances run April 9-19, 2014 and tickets ($30-$65) are available cap.ucla.edu , Ticketmaster or the UCLA Central Ticket Office (310.825.2101). The story of “The Suit” centers on Philomen, a middle-class lawyer and his wife, Matilda. The suit of the title belongs to Matilda’s lover and is left behind when Philomen catches the illicit couple together. As punishment, Philomen makes Matilda treat the suit as an honored guest as a constant reminder of her adultery. The setting of Sophiatown, a teeming township that was erased shortly after Can Themba wrote his novel, is as much a character in the play as the unfortunate couple, and this production lends it life and energy with a minimal cast. Themba was a South African writer during apartheid. His short novel, “The Suit” was supposed to change the writer’s life, but the cruel restrictions in his native country led him to exile, his works banned in his home country. He died an alcoholic before his most famous work was adapted for the stage by Mothobi Mutloatse and Barney Simon at Johannesburg’s Market Theatre in the newly liberated South Africa of the 1990s. Renowned director Peter Brook previously adapted that stage version and took it on tour in a French- language production. He returned to the source language of English working with his longtime collaborator Marie-Hélène Estienne and composer Franck Krawczyk. They have adapted the play and have set it to music from sources as diverse as Franz Schubert and Miriam Makeba. TICKET INFORMATION General tickets ($30-$65) are available at cap.ucla.edu, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 310.825.2101 or in person at the UCLA Central Ticket Office located in the southwest corner of the James West Alumni Center. Student rush tickets, subject to availability, are offered at $15 one hour before show time to all students with valid ID. PERFORMANCES Wed, Apr 9, 2014 at 8:00 PM Thu, Apr 10, 2014 at 8:00 PM Fri, Apr 11, 2014 at 8:00 PM Sat, Apr 12, 2014 at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM Sun, Apr 13, 2014 at 2:00 PM Thu, Apr 17, 2014 at 8:00 PM Fri, Apr 18, 2014 at 8:00 PM Sat, Apr 19, 2014 at 8:00 PM UCLA Freud Playhouse is located in Macgowan Hall. 245 Charles E. Young Drive East. Los Angeles, CA 90095 . PRESS REVIEW TICKETS/PHOTO PASSES/INTERVIEW REQUESTS Contact Jessica Wolf at [email protected]/ IMAGES Available for download at cap.ucla.edu/press-images . Register for access. ABOUT CAP UCLA Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA (CAP UCLA) is dedicated to the advancement of contemporary performing arts in all disciplines — dance, music, spoken word and theater, as well the emerging digital, collaborative and cross-art platforms inspired by today's leading artists and creators. CAP supports the creation, presentation and critical dialogues vital to the ongoing innovation and expressive potential of artists whose work, whether vibrantly emerging or internationally acclaimed, forms the dynamic and evolving heritage of contemporary performance. Based in UCLA's iconic Royce Hall, CAP UCLA is the university's public center for the presentation of the performing arts and contributes to the cultural life of the campus and greater Los Angeles, promoting civic dialogue and creative inquiry. Through an annual season of performing arts programs and extensive community- engagement events — including artist fellows and residency programs, K–12 arts education (Design for Sharing), student mentorship (Student Committee for the Arts), and art-making and experiential activities (Art in Action) — CAP UCLA advances the importance of art in society by celebrating and deepening the connection between artist and audience. ### .
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