An Observatory couple are taking the Magnet Theatre’s longest running production to the Baxter this week for a limited time only.
Professor Mark Fleishman directs and his wife, Jennie Reznek, stars in Every Year, Every Day, I Am Walking,, which was created in 2006 as a Magnet Theatre production.
Professor Fleishman and Reznek are founding members of the Magnet Theatre.
Every Year, Every Day, I Am Walking traces the story of a young refugee women in Africa who loses her family and home, brutally and irrevocably and is forced to journey to a new place through many dangers and uncertainties.
Reznek, 59, works closely with co-star, Faniswa Yisa, 43, of Khayelitsha on this play.
“I play multiple characters, amongst them is that of Ernestine, the older sister as well as their mother,” she says.
Reznek has enjoyed a good working chemistry in this two-hander with Yisa, her former student at UCT drama school.
They have worked together previously on Voices Made Night, Cargo and Autopsy under Professor Fleishman’s direction.
“We would not be able to do the play unless we had amazing chemistry, trust, the ability to listen and to respond to each other while working,” says Reznek.
Professor Fleishman says the play has had many runs in South Africa and more than 20 international tours.
“The production has been performed in eight African countries and on five different continents,” he says.
The play continues to resonate with the refugees and migrants crises in the world today, says Reznek.
“Given the world-wide crises today on the migration and refugees in Africa, America, Syria and so many other countries, this play predates the current scourge and not only stood the test of time, it also proved how relevant and vital it continues to be.”
Professor Fleishman is also the head of the Centre for Theatre Dance and Performance Studies at UCT. He says it can be hard balancing his full-time job with the Magnet Theatre productions.
“It is a difficult balancing act and takes a lot of detailed planning. However, I can often find ways to combine my research obligations as an academic with my practice as a theatre-maker/director and that makes it possible to devote time to new projects.”
Professor Fleishman and Reznek have worked on almost every production that Magnet has ever done.
“It has become second nature to us. It would be more remarkable now not to be working together than to be working together,” he says.
“Mark and I work well together with very clearly defined roles. He doesn’t perform, and I don’t direct. We try not to take work home,” says Reznek.
Every Year, Every Day, I Am Walking is on at the Baxter Flipside until Saturday April 13, at 7.30 pm. There are matinees on Thursdays April 4 and April 11, at 11am, and on Saturdays April 6 and April 13, at 3pm.
There is an age restriction of 10 years.
Ticket prices range from R50 for pupils or students and matinee block-bookings of 10 or more, R70 for block-bookings of 10 or more for evening performances to R150. Booking is now open at Webtickets on 086 111 0005 or online at www.webtickets.co.za or from selected Pick * Pay stores.
For discounted school or group block bookings, fund-raisers or charities, contact Sharon Ward at 021 680 3962 or sharon.ward@uct.ac.za or Carmen Kearns at 021 680 3993 or carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za.
