Marty Kintu on stage in one of his shows.
Image: Supplied
An off-the-leash comedy exploring the bond between humans and their pets is coming to the stage at The Drama Factory.
Pet-Friendly, written by acclaimed South African playwright Mike van Graan and performed by Marty Kintu, blends stand-up comedy with social commentary in a 60-minute production that reflects on contemporary issues through the lens of people’s relationships with their “best friends,” particularly dogs (and, as the script acknowledges, cats on their own terms).
The production runs at 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 25, and Thursday, February 26.
The show uses humour to examine how pets have become deeply embedded in modern family life, while also using them as springboards for broader social observations.
Mr Kintu, a University of Cape Town-trained actor, has performed in numerous stage productions directed by prominent theatre-makers, including Janice Honeyman, Clare Stopford and Mdu Kweyama.
He recently appeared in The Life and Times of Michael K, directed by Lara Foot, and has previously performed in two of Mr van Graan’s plays, The New Abnormal and the trilogy When Swallows Cry. In addition to theatre, he has appeared in film and television productions and is also an experienced puppeteer.
Mr van Graan is widely regarded as one of South Africa’s leading contemporary playwrights. His work often engages both personal and political themes. In 2018, he received the Swedish Hiroshima Prize for Peace and Culture and was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Pretoria for his contributions as a playwright and cultural activist.
"I’m delighted to be working with Marty on Pet-Friendly. Audiences will be taken by his charm, his easy style and the playful way in which he brings different parts of this script to life," he said.
Tickets cost R180 on the website of The Drama Factory.
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