Twenty-five years since the first post-apartheid democratic elections, two men from contrasting walks of life are thrust together to reflect on a quarter century of change.
South Africa, 2019. Twenty-five years since the first post-apartheid democratic elections, two men from contrasting walks of life are thrust together to reflect on a quarter century of change. Jack Morris is a celebrated classical actor who’s just been given both a career-defining role and a life-changing diagnosis. Besides his age, Jack has seemingly little in common with his at-home nurse Lunga Kunene, but the two men soon discover their shared passion for Shakespeare, which ignites this ‘rich, raw and shattering head-to-head’ (The Times).
Written by South African actor, activist and playwright John Kani, this refreshingly funny and vital new play premiered in the Swan Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon in 2019, before transferring to the Ambassadors Theatre in London. A co-production with the Fugard Theatre, it was directed by Janice Honeyman with moving performances from Antony Sher and John Kani.
Cast
John Kani - Lunga Kunene
Antony Sher - Jack Morris
Creatives
Director Janice Honeyman | Designer Birrie Le Roux | Lighting Mannie Manim | Music Neo Muyanga | Sound Jonathan Ruddick | Live Music and Vocals Lungiswa Plaatjies (Stratford) / Anna Mudeka (London)
See the full list of cast and creatives for the Stratford-upon-Avon production
SYNOPSIS
Director Janice Honeyman gives a short synopsis of the story of Kunene and the King.
"The play is set in South Africa. Jack Morris (played by Antony Sher) is a white South African classical actor who is well known for performing in Shakespeare roles. He’s been offered the title role in King Lear. He accepts it, and then discovers that he has liver cancer. He refuses to stay in the hospital and so discharges himself, and Lunga Kunene, a black South African (played by John Kani) becomes his at-home carer.
"These two old men reflect on the politics of the country they live in, but in different ways, in their different cultures.
"The play also deals with Shakespeare, and interestingly, it’s in the Shakespeare scenes in which the two men get closest. The contrast and conflicts continue all the way through to the end of the play."
