A Quiet Masterpiece: A local reimagining of Pulitzer-nominated American playwright Rajiv Joseph’s Letters of Suresh is one of the highlights at the inaugural Red Mango Arts Festival, to be held at Sastri College in Durban from October 8 to 11.

Letters of Suresh is billed as a poetic exploration of identity. It is a moody, gentle, four-hander drama in which intimate mysteries are revealed through a series of letters between strangers, friends, daughters, and lovers, many with little in common but a hunger for human connection and a shared history.

“It is a collection of monologues that link a disparate group of people — Melody (Shika Budoo) a 40-something-year-old teacher; Father Hashimoto (Ralph Lawson) her late uncle, a Roman Catholic Priest; Suresh (Sahil Samlal) to whom Father Hashimoto corresponded, and Amelia (Shika Maharaj), a middle-aged, married museum director who had an affair with Suresh,” the organisers shared.

Also read: Local filmmaker celebrated at international festival for inclusive storytelling

“Letters of Suresh is a companion piece written 13 years after Rajiv Joseph’s beautifully constructed Animals Out of Paper – honouring the art of origami. Letters is a celebration of the lost art of letter writing set in Japan, India and USA, directed by Rajesh Gopie. This lyrical and intimate play explores how people shape and reshape each other through memory, myth and imagination.”

The Red Mango Arts Festival is a homegrown celebration of South African heritage, using the transformative power of performance to reflect on the past, inspire the present, and shape a more inclusive future. The programme comprises stories which honour the heritage of South African Indians, being performed alongside a major musical, two productions for young audiences, a magic show, and a comedy and cultural concert.

The full programme and tickets are available via Webtickets.

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