Selwyn & Gabriel
Cape Town Production
“Gem of a theatrical production.” — Beverley Brommert, Cape Argus.
Selwyn & Gabriel is a two-character contemporary drama blending magical realism, humour and mystery. After an electrical fire plunges his apartment into darkness, a depressed young man is visited by a mysterious assessor whose true purpose transforms a single night into a strange and unexpected journey of self-discovery.
From Cape Town to the National Arts Festival
Kai Luke Brummer and Mbulelo Grootboom
Selwyn & Gabriel was originally staged at the Alexander Bar & Theatre in Cape Town, directed by Tara Notcutt and starring Kai Luke Brummer and Mbulelo Grootboom.
The production returned for a second season following sold-out performances and was later presented at the National Arts Festival.
It was subsequently presented at several South African arts festivals and adapted for Afrikaans television by Red Pepper Pictures with Armand Aucamp as Selwyn and Carlo McFarlane as Gabriel.
Cast & Creative Team
Cast
Creative Team
Mbulelo Grootboom as Gabriel
Production Highlights
- Premiered at the Alexander Bar & Theatre, Cape Town
- Western Cape Schools Festival, Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
- National Arts Festival, The Edge, Princess Alice Hall, Makhanda
- South African Schools Festival, Guy Butler Theatre, Makhanda
- Hilton Arts Festival, Pietermaritzburg
- Adapted for Afrikaans television by Red Pepper Pictures, 2021
- Audience Rating: ★★★★½ (4.58/5 from 96 audience ratings)
Critical Acclaim
“Coming to terms with one’s sexual orientation is an experience that has inspired many a drama, but few plays deal with it so imaginatively — and vividly — as this sharp two-hander.”
Beverley Brommert, The Argus
“The joy of watching is the way Kaplan plays with language, imagery, religious and cultural references.”
Robyn Cohen, The Cape Times
“The rapid-fire and precision-constructed dialogue is masterfully handled. But what is unspoken is equally telling.”
Brett Adkins, Spotlight, The Herald
Audience Responses
“I thought Selwyn and Gabriel was fabulous! Just the right mix between humour and melancholy. And I thought the acting was superb.”
Julie
“Skilful writing and excellent performances. Gripping — the 60 minutes vanished far too quickly.”
Caroline
“Wonderful. Exactly the right amount of humour and gravitas, brilliantly executed moments of subtle surprise and warmth.”
Molly
“Absolutely phenomenal, the storyline was so intriguing and I never saw the ending coming. Great use of different genres and excellent acting skills.”
Jake
For High School Audiences
Original season poster, Alexander Bar & Theatre.
Selwyn & Gabriel is designed for intimate performance spaces and requires a simple, flexible set.
The play combines realism with theatrical imagination through music, humour, poetic language and moments of heightened theatricality.
Although it addresses mental health and suicide, the play is fundamentally hopeful. Its themes of identity, belonging, emotional wellbeing and human connection make it particularly well suited to older teenage audiences and post-performance discussion in schools.
Selwyn & Gabriel has been performed successfully at the Western Cape Schools Festival and the South African National Schools Festival, where it was seen by high school audiences, and has also been presented to young audiences at the South African National Arts Festival.
While the protagonist is twenty-six, his emotional journey reflects many of the challenges faced by older teenagers and young adults as they navigate identity, authenticity, mental health and the transition to adulthood.