The Market Theatre and the Roodepoort Theatre in association with Theatrerocket presents Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nell from 27 January to 14 February 2021. South African theatre legend Sandra Prinsloo comes home after hiatus to perform this challenging and electrifying role at the Market Theatre.
Based on a true story, Susan was faced with an unspeakable ordeal during the Anglo- Boer War in the Winburg concentration camp. Directed by international award-winning Lara Foot who started her exceptional career at the Market Theatre.
The drama is based on the best-selling and debut novel Kamphoer by Francois Smit and the non-fiction publication The Boer Whore by Nico Moolman, and has been adapted for the stage by Cecilia du Toit, in collaboration with Sandra Prinsloo and Lara Foot. This powerful solo-production tells a story of a family dealt with devasting loss that is followed by devasting ordeal that will haunt them forever. Following Susan father’s death during the war, she and her mother end up in a concentration camp where she is brutally raped and left for dead by two British officers and joiner.
Season Dates: 27 Jan – 14 Feb
New Show Slot: Tues to Sat: 18:00 & Sundays 15:00
She survives the traumatic experience and qualifies as a psychiatric nurse in the Netherlands. Sixteen years later, she travels to England during the First World War and while serving at a military hospital for shell-shocked soldiers, she recognises a patient as one of her rapists. With this unfortunate reunion, Susan has to relieve the rape trauma once again and is confronted with the pain that comes with the humiliation of her past.
The play premiered as the flagship product of the 2019 Free State Arts Festival in Bloemfontein. It was awarded Best National Theatre Debut at the festival’s Blinker Awards. Sandra won the national 2020 kykNET Fiësta Theatre Award for Best performance in a Solo Production, while the production also received a nomination nod for Best adaption of an Existing Work.
It was further nominated for Best performance in a Solo production at the 2020 Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards and nominated for four awards (Best Actress, Best Director, Best performance in a solo production and Best Overall Production) in 2019 Aardklop National Arts Festival.
It also enjoyed rave reviews at both the Artscape Women’s Festival and the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town. The novel Kamphoer was nominated for the Jan Rabie Rapport Award, an ATKV Award and was shortlisted for the 2018 Sunday Times Literary Awards.
This gut-wrenching production Kamphoer – die verhaal van Susan Nell will transfer to the Roodepoort Theatre for a limited season 16 – 28 February 2021.