The Collaboration is a paint-by-numbers sort of a play. Simple yet satisfying. The show is set up as a boxing match between two of the greatest artists of the 20th Century, Andy Warhol (Paul Bettany) and Jean-Michel Basquiat (Jeremy Pope):
- Warhol and Basquiat’s art-dealer, Bruno Bischofberger (Alec Newman), sees an opportunity to make a lot of money by getting them to work together.
- Warhol, the cynic who is all about money, is reluctantly convinced to work with Basquiat.
- Basquiat, the new kid on the block, unsure of what to do with all their money, is reluctantly convinced to work with Warhol.
- Warhol is intimidated by Basquiat’s freedom.
- Basquiat is frustrated by Warhol’s lack of soul.
- Basquiat softens Warhol.
- Warhol falls for Basquiat.
- They end up making art together and living happily ever after.
Courtesy of Marc Brenner.
Announced during the height of the pandemic, Theatre503’s International Playwriting Award winner Pravin Wilkins would have been due to have had his pertinent play Moreno staged shortly after. However, due to the unpredictability of what was happening globally at the time, would have to wait for this to finally happen. Nearly two years post the announcement, Moreno receives its much deserved debut – a piece following American footballer Luis Moreno’s struggle to overcome injury whilst battling whether to use his platform to take a stand post Civil Rights Activist Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 monumental decision to do so on the world’s stage. Ahead of the production, which will be staged from 1st March at Theatre503, Pravin tells us more about how it feels to have won the playwriting award, his inspirations for the play and his hopes for the future!
