Experience Mike van Graan’s To Life, With Love at Societas Theatre

A production titled To Life, With Love, written by renowned playwright Mike van Graan and performed by radio host and actor John Maytham, returns for a three-week run at the Societas Theatre in Kloof Street, from Tuesday, August 12 to Saturday, August 30.

Directed by Josh Lindberg, the one-man play premiered at Artscape earlier this year and has since sold out venues including The Drama Factory, the Franschhoek Literary Festival, and several stops along the Garden Route. It has received high praise from both critics and audiences.

To Life, With Love follows the story of Thomas Michael Faulkner, a man in his sixties, confronted with a serious illness. Though recovery is likely, the diagnosis compels him to reflect deeply on life, loss, love, and how he chooses to live moving forward. The script draws inspiration from Atul Gawande’s Being Mortal and Helena Dolny’s Before Ever After.

Mr Maytham originally commissioned Mr Van Graan to write a solo performance piece, giving him free rein on the theme.

The Societas Theatre is a pop-up venue located in the hall of the NGK Church, 55 Kloof Street, Gardens.

The use of the venue is part of a broader aim to create alternative performance spaces. Riaan de Villiers, minister at Groote Kerk, where the theatre is hosted, has long wished to use the church hall as a cultural venue.

He connected with Mr Van Graan after a reading of Abraham’s Promises, and the collaboration has already seen My Fellow South Africans staged there.

“Few independent theatre-makers have access to enough venues,” said Mr Van Graan. “Using existing spaces like churches and schools can help build a circuit for theatre while reaching new audiences.”

Twenty percent of the box office income will support Groote Kerk’s work with orphanages across the province.

Over the three-week run, To Life, With Love will show from Tuesdays to Saturdays at 7.15pm. On Saturdays, there will be matinees at 4pm. 

Tickets are available at Quicket. 

For more information about fundraising or education, contact Mike van Graan at 082 900 3349 or email art27m@iafrica.com.

More information is available at www.mikevangraan.co.za.