Blood Knot tells the story of two brothers trapped in the madness of apartheid South Africa. One is light-skinned enough to pass for white, the other is unmistakably black. Living together in a tumbledown shack, they wrestle with the terms of their fates and dreams—and long-simmering tensions explode over a woman. A.C.T.'s new production of Fugard's revolutionary breakthrough play, which first opened in 1961, holds a mirror up to the soul-searing effects of racism while exploring the inextricable bond between brothers.
"Gripping and provocative. . . . intensely realized performances"
San Francisco Chronicle
"Absolutely outstanding performances . . . A dramatic triumph."
Jerry Friedman, KGO Radio
"A rare and disturbingly affecting revival"
San Jose Mercury News
"Blood Knot creates a captivating racial dialog, with the sort of frank talk that tends to be homogenized in racial conversations in America. . . . it’s remarkable."
Contra Costa Times
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Koret Prologue*
February 12, 5:30 p.m.
Get inside the artistic process—come early for a preperformance discussion the director and other members of the artistic staff.
Theater on the Couch*
February 15, 8 p.m.
Join members of the San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis for an exciting postperformance discussion that explores the psychological aspects of Blood Knot and addresses audience questions.
Koret Audience Exchanges*
February 19, 7 p.m.
February 24, 2 p.m.
March 5, 2 p.m.
After the show, stick around for a Q&A session with the actors of Blood Knot, moderated by a member of the A.C.T. artistic staff.
OUT with A.C.T.
February 20, 8 p.m.
LGBT night after a performance of Blood Knot features a catered afterparty and a cast meet and greet. Visit www.act-sf.org/out for more information about how to subscribe to OUT nights.
*Discussions immediately follow the designated performance and are free for ticket holders. Please note that performance times vary.
Insight into the Play, the Playwright, and the Production
Each entertaining and informative issue of Words on Plays, A.C.T.'s in-depth performance guide series, contains a synopsis, advance program notes, study questions, and additional background information about the historical and cultural context of the play.
Words on Plays is available for purchase in the lobby of the theater during performances or online ($12 each + postage and handling). To subscribe to the full season ($70), call 415.749.2250.
Words on Plays Prepared by
Elizabeth Brodersen, Publications Editor
Michael Paller, Resident Dramaturg
Margot Melcon, Publications & Literary Associate
Ariel Franklin-Hudson, Publications & Literary Intern
Table of Contents
Words on Plays is made possible in part by The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
Adobe Reader is required to view A.C.T. publications.
Video
KQED's Spark recently went behind the scenes to capture exclusive rehearsal footage and inteviews with Charles Randolph-Wright, Tracy Chapman, and the cast of Blood Knot.
Steam video of the entire Spark feature online (Real Player is required), and check out upcoming air dates.
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On the Blog
Read more about the creative process behind this production of Blood Knot on the blog.
Excerpts from the Blood Knot blog by actor Steven Anthony Jones:
"In Belville South we met another of Songs' friends, Rodney Adonis. He gave us insight into the life of a Colored man in the 1960s, the time of our play. We talked about the state of mind and psyche under Apartheid. We discussed the different ways that horrid system impacted the lives of the people it oppressed, both Black and Colored. We saw so much, felt so much, learned so much. It is very hard to put it all into words, so I'll stop trying. I'll try to put it all into my work on stage. It's a daunting task, but that makes it all the more exciting."
Read more about the trip, learn about the play, and view images and video clips about Blood Knot
at bloodknot-act.blogspot.com
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