Frans Swart’s Die Rypmaakkamer
DIE Rypmaakkamer is Frans Swart’s adaptation of David Ian Lee’s The Curing Room. This bold, daring thriller, inspired by true events, is powerful and thought-provoking with moments of dark humour.
In the spring of 1944 the Nazi’s capture seven Soviet soldiers. Stripped naked, abandoned and locked in the empty cellar of a monastery in southern Poland the soldiers are deprived of all ties to their world.
The prisoners must then redefine their concepts of order and human nature. To survive the men must resort to murder, suicide and cannibalism.
It is an incredibly captivating show, capturing the psychological challenges that these seven soldiers find themselves in.
With no hope of being found they each need to find a way to survive and stick together, yet ultimately some turn on others out of an unadulterated need to survive.
Die Rypmaakkamer features David Konrad, Mauritz Badenhorst, Dirk Joubert, Anele Situlweni, Gregg Pettigrew, Nathan Hammond and Zack Mtombeni.
Acting is incredible. Each of these actors show tremendous talent and to perform in a play such as this, night after night, is truly awe-inspiring.
While some viewers may be sensitive to nudity and violence it is an astounding portrayal pulling each member of the audience into the absolute horrific situation these seven men found themselves in.
Thought-provoking indeed as some turn to violence and suicide, and ultimately the thought that if ever one is to survive something as horrid as this, how will one ever be the same again?
It is a true insight into war-zones and the unacceptable, yet very real cruelty that soldiers and their families have to face, live and die with.
Truly eye-opening, touching and though-provoking, this is an incredibly well directed and written performance.
“After seeing The Curing Room at the Edinburgh Arts Festival, I wondered, “Why didn’t the Nazis just execute these men in front of a firing squad, as was usually done at the time?
“Why lock them naked and starving in the basement, to die a slow death? How cruel and barbaric can humans be?
“We cannot allow those in power to abuse it, and that is the reason why I decided to stage the play in South Africa,” said Swart, the director of Die Rypmaakkamer.
WARNING: Die Rypmaakkamer features nudity, language and violence and carries an age restriction of 18 years. It is presented in association with The Market Theatre and the proud support of RSG, Sounds Good, Hollywood Costumes, Van Loveren Wines and Stuttaford Van Lines.
The show runs until Sunday, June 30 at the Market Theatre, John Kani Venue, 56 Margaret Mcingana Street, Newton, Johannesburg. Tickers are selling from R120 to R190 per person and are available on Webtickets.
