Kuldip Sondhi’s Award winning play BEACH ACCESS, was declared the best winning play in 1997 of the BBC Playwriting Competition and subsequently recorded on location in Mombasa and transmitted to over forty million people worldwide. A year later Beach Access was put on stage for the first time Featuring Fiona Sax Ledger the BBC Producer who had produced the radio version.
Synopsis
Beach Access is a hard hitting commentary on corruption, poverty and land grabbing.
The story centers on Helga, (Stephanie Maseki) a retired Germany tourist who falls in love with Hamisi (Muscat Sayye) a beach boy vendor. While looking for an alternative route, the boat capsizes as the boatman (Edward Wangama) tries to find an alternative route as the usual beach access had been grabbed by the area chief (Anthony Mbithi) in collaboration with Mr. Seth ( Ashik Yusuf), a private Developer.
Kulola Mlaghui plays Lawyer Hassan, who is trying to unravel the mystery behind Helga’s death and the saga behind the closing of the beach access road. To cement their heinous relationship, Ndirangu the Area chief wants his daughter Cynthia (Sylviah Namussasi) to link up with Seth’s son Prem (Awwab Mohammed).
Cast & production
The cast list includes the who’s who of Mombasa theatre circles. Rumar Amar who appears as the chief’s secretary. Silvanus Omondi and Dianna Mwende feature as Beach boys.
Beach Access is directed by Keith Pearson, the Theatre Company Managing Director, and it is produced by Hillary Namanjia, the Theatre Company’s Coast Manager.
Beach Access has been published as a book by Awaaz Magazine and the official launch is scheduled for Friday 7thMarch at the Reef Hotel 6.30 p.m, Saturday 8th March at The Little Theatre Club at 7 p.m. and 22nd March at the Reef Hotel at 6.30 p.m. The launch will coincide with a performance of the play by The Theatre Company featuring Mombasa-based, top notch theatre artists.
The entrance fee of kshs 1,500/- at the Reef Hotel will include a cocktail party. The performance at the Little Theatre Club will cost kshs 500/-. An autographed copy of the book will retail at kshs 500/-.
Proceeds will go towards Coast Hospice, a palliative care clinic that takes care of and supports patients with life limiting conditions such as Cancer, HIV Aids , and chronic Heart, Liver and Kidney conditions.
Tickets can be purchased at the following
LITTLE THEATRE CLUB: +254720731164/+254724812297
COAST HOSPICE office: +2542035026/+254707239603
KANTI STATIONERY: +254726012747
REEF HOTEL MSA: 041-4471771/5 or 0722205918/0736474005
M – PESA PAY BILL NR. 82386
The show at the Reef Hotel on 7th March 1500/- inclusive of cocktail
The show at the Little Theatre Club 500/-
