Andrew Buckland's Feedback at The Baxter: A Comedy on Food Politics

South African theatre legend, Andrew Buckland, returns as writer and director with his comedy about the politics of food, Feedback, running at the Baxter Studio from Thursday, August 7 to Saturday, August 30. 

Performances take place at 8pm, with Saturday matinees at 2.30pm.

Feedback is a farcical murder mystery that explores the politics of food through satire and physical theatre. Under Buckland’s direction, the play examines themes of food security, globalisation, greed, and generosity — all told through a narrative involving two brothers, a pair of detectives, the villainous Grave brothers, and a series of flying cheeses.

The production is supported by award-winning assistant director Roshina Ratnam, and features the Baxter’s resident ensemble, the Fires Burning Company: Carlo Daniels, Awethu Hleli, Nolufefe Ntshuntshe, and Lyle October. All four actors were recently seen in La Ronde, Neighbourhood, Metamorphoses, and Othello.

Speaking about the origins of the play, Buckland said: “One day I overheard two packers in a supermarket having a conversation and the one asked the other, ‘How are the cheeses doing’, to which his colleague replied, ‘they are flying off the shelf’. This got me thinking about the sociology and governance of food – how, while some people are feasting, others are dying of starvation. Unpacking those few words led to the genesis of Feedback.”

Buckland, one of South Africa’s most recognised theatre-makers, has received more than 20 local and international awards, including three Fringe First Awards at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. His work includes Life & Times of Michael K, The Inconvenience of Wings, Firefly, and Endgame. He is also Professor Emeritus at Rhodes University.

Ratnam describes the production as “a wild collision of satire and surrealism, taking us into a chaotic world where food fights back, power corrupts and survival is both absurd and deeply human”. She said: “It’s a sharp, funny and unsettling ride that leaves you questioning who’s feeding whom. In short, it is surreal, thought-provoking and wildly entertaining.”

Ratnam is a director, writer, performer, and puppeteer. Her previous work includes Surge, Glimmer, Ka-Boom! and Filled, which received multiple theatre award nominations and Ovation Awards. She also toured internationally with Life & Times of Michael K and recently worked as assistant director on Patmos with Jaco Bouwer.

Tickets are available via Webtickets . The Baxter Monday Special is available at R220 and includes a light meal at La Cuccina and the performance.

Schools’ matinee performances take place on Wednesdays at 11am.

For block bookings of ten or more or school group discounts, contact Mark Dobson on 021 680 3972 or email mark.dobson@uct.ac.za, or contact Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za