How Now Brown Cow Proudly Presents
The South African Premiere Production of
My Name Is Lucy Barton
SEASONS
The Hilton Arts Festival, Hilton KZN
2 to 4 August 2024
The Baxter Studio Theatre, Cape Town
19 September to 5 October 2024
Theatre on the Square, Sandton
9 to 26 October 2024
WoordFees 2025
11, 12 and 13 October 2025
How Now Brown Cow is proud to present the multiple award-winning My Name Is Lucy Barton.
Written by Elizabeth Strout and adapted by Rona Munro, My Name Is Lucy Barton is the story of a writer reckoning with the legacy of a scarred family life who is coming to terms with the cost of her childhood and the rewards of her art.
The production was presented at the Hilton Arts Festival in August 2024, followed by a season at the Baxter Studio in Cape Town in September 2024. Finally, the production played in Johannesburg at Theatre On The Square until 26 October 2024.
Longlisted for the MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2016, the BAILEYS WOMENS PRIZE FOR FICTION 2016 and a #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout shows the most tender relationship of all – the one between a mother and daughter.
Lucy Barton wakes after an operation to discover – much to her surprise – her estranged mother at the foot of her bed. Over the course of her mother’s visit, she and Lucy seem to reconnect, but just below the surface lies the tension and longing that have informed every aspect of Lucy’s life.
Lucy’s encounter with her mother brings into sharp focus her troubled childhood in rural Illinois and her current life in New York City. Knitting these powerful memories together, Lucy begins to come to terms with her past and her future as a writer.
My Name is Lucy Barton is a story for anyone who has questioned how family defines oneself. It is a powerful narrative of hope and triumph about a woman who finds her truth and reclaims her story.
The production starred multiple award-nominated actor Julie-Anne McDowell (The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Revlon Girl) and was directed by multiple-award winning Charmaine Weir-Smith (The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Train Driver). Designs were by Kieran McGregor (Expelled).
My Name Is Lucy Barton was adapted for the stage as a one woman show by acclaimed TV, Film and Theatre writer Rona Munro (winner of the Evening Standard Award, NOOK Award and the Writers' Guild of Great Britain Award). It opened at The Bridge Theatre in London in 2018 starring Laura Linney who reprised her role on Broadway in 2020.
Written by Elizabeth Strout
Adapted for Stage by Rona Munro
My Name is Lucy Barton is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals on behalf of Samuel French, Inc. www.concordtheatricals.com
My Name is Lucy Barton was originally produced on Broadway by the Manhattan Theatre Club, Lynne Meadow, Artistic Director, Barry Grove, Executive Producer, The London Theatre Company, Nicholas Hytner, Nick Starr, in association with Penguin Random House Audio on January 15, 2020.
My Name is Lucy Barton was originally produced by Nicholas Hytner and Nick Starr for the London Theatre Company at the Bridge Theatre in June 2018.
Production Credits:
CAST
Lucy | Julie-Anne McDowell
PRODUCTION TEAM:
Director | Charmaine Weir-Smith
Production & Lighting Designer | Kieran McGregor
Stage Manager | Loren Nel
Social Media Management | Alyssa van der Schyff
My Name Is Lucy Barton received a
2024 Naledi Nomination in the category of
Best Solo Performance | Julie-Anne McDowell
Press and Audience Reviews
‘McDowell delivers a consummate performing,… Kudos to Charmaine Weir-Smith’s direction in keeping the pace revved up at a clip… compelling theatre… My Name is Lucy Barton, the play, South Africa 2024, is a very special piece of theatre.’
Robyn Cohen, The Cape Robyn
‘As How Now Brown Cow presents us with their new piece of theatre, we are reminded of their commitment to excellence in everything that they do. The SA premier of MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON, starring Julie-Anne McDowell, is such a piece…..the frail bond of the two main characters as McDowell moves effortlessly between mother and daughter. McDowell had the audience spellbound’
Broadway World https://www.broadwayworld.com/south-africa/article/Review-MY-NAME-IS-LUCY-BARTON-from-How-Now-Brown-Cow-is-on-at-the-Baxter-20240922
