Contractions (South African Premiere)

The South African premiere of Mike Bartlett’s razor-sharp corporate satire Contractions debuted at Alexander Bar on 25 January 2016, bringing London’s Royal Court Theatre hit to Cape Town audiences for the first time. Directed by Greg Karvellas, known for his work on Bad Jews and Champ, this darkly comic and unsettling two-hander dissects power, control, and the extreme boundaries of corporate culture.

Starring Janna Ramos-Violante (Constellations, Venus in Fur) and Emily Child (The Pervert Laura, Born in the RSA), Contractions takes a thrilling dive into the dehumanizing policies of modern corporate structures. With Bartlett’s signature wit and precision, the play explores how far we are willing to go for our jobs—and what we are willing to sacrifice in the name of corporate loyalty.

First performed at The Royal Court Theatre, London, in 2008, Contractions remains more relevant than ever, offering a chilling yet darkly funny reflection on corporate ethics, workplace surveillance, and the erosion of personal boundaries. Under Karvellas’ sharp direction, this production delivered potent, high-stakes theatre, leaving audiences questioning the limits of power in the workplace.