Feedback

Originally a one-man show by Andrew Buckland (1994) and later a two-hander with Lionel Newton.

Subject
Labeled "an epic tale of the struggle of foodstuff against the oppressive regime of Serius D'Erath. the Frown Prince of Gravity", it was an energetic combination of dialogue, song, onomatopoeia, mime and dazzlingly executed physical theatre, that sounded a warning about corruption and greed through a skilfully developed comic allegory of food, food suppliers and monopolies. Described as "a hilarious satire about foodstuffs in revolt against corporate exploitation as a means of commenting on South Africa’s democratic transition. It includes a Wild West chase of the potently wicked chillies and uppity dairy products on the gravy train...” (Sunday Times, 3 September 1995)

Performance history
Premièred on the Fringe at the Grahamstown Festival in 1994 as a one-man show directed by Janet Buckland. This was followed by a season at the Market Theatre.

In November 1994 Lionel Newton joined Andrew Buckland and, directed by Janet Buckland, they staged a two-hander version of Feedback (sometimes Feedback!) as a fund-raiser for the fire-gutted 1820 Settlers National Monument, home of the Grahamstown Festival.

In 1995 it was performed on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and for four nights in London as part of the Africa ’95 Festival.

The two-hander version was revived in January/February 1997 at the Civic Theatre, directed by Janet Buckland, with Andrew Buckland and Lionel Newton. The same production was staged in The Studio at the Baxter Theatre in January 1998 and at the Grahamstown Festival in 2002.

Awards
Feedback won Andrew Buckland the FNB Vita National Theatre Award for Best Playwright 1994-1995 and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe First Award at the 1995 Edinburgh Festival.

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