Debbie welcomes me warmly to her beautiful, chaotic living room and starts by introducing me to her cats. Although she stage-managed for fellow Honours student Dana Bosch last year at Fringe, Debbie has never performed or put on a piece at the Festival before. But she's learnt as much as she could by attending as many festival performances as possible during the past three years.
"As a director, if you're not watching other theatre pieces, you're not doing your job," says Debbie.
"Festival has given me an idea of the wonderful variety it holds."
Debbie welcomes me warmly to her beautiful, chaotic living room and starts by introducing me to her cats. Although she stage-managed for fellow Honours student Dana Bosch last year at Fringe, Debbie has never performed or put on a piece at the Festival before. But she's learnt as much as she could by attending as many festival performances as possible during the past three years.
"As a director, if you're not watching other theatre pieces, you're not doing your job," says Debbie.
"Festival has given me an idea of the wonderful variety it holds."
Taste is a piece she is workshopping with her cast and which has been brewing in her head since last year.
Debbie explains: "A secluded weekend away for a gathering of people leads to some dark and intriguing discoveries. As a stranger is brought into the fold, what began as fun and frivolous starts to simmer into something increasingly malignant. Like any stylish fine dining, the main course is far more succulent than the starter.
"And for dessert? You never know what might be cooking."
How does a person come up with an idea like that? Debbie tells me she's always been fascinated by the comic-thriller genre, telling me what a great combination dark and funny make.
"Here's the quote…," she says, bouncing up to her computer and, after some fiddling, reading carefully: "Without light, how can we possibly create shadow?"
They are the words of playwright Alan Ayckbourn. Debbie also gets her inspiration from literary and theatrical icons such Peter Greenaway, Steven Berkoff and Roald Dahl.
"I want to avoid the run-of-the-mill scary vibe. It is going to be theatrically interesting and highly entertaining at the same time,"Debbie says.
"I am going to work a lot with on-the-floor improvisation and create, with my cast, a clear narrative and great characters."
Debbie explains the difference between workshopped and scripted pieces. "I guess there is no right or wrong way to workshop a piece, which is what makes it so challenging for the cast and director."
Because of its being a workshopped piece, Debbie had to choose a cast that were exceptionally creative.
"I think gaining experience in workshop theatre is important in South African today. I think you gain a lot from it, becoming closer with your cast mates and director, because you're collaborating, not just listening and directing."
Debbie draws her inspiration for workshopping from theatre-makers such as Anne Bogart and Dymphna Callery.
She's a little overwhelmed by being in charge of a piece on the Festival's Main programme so early in her career.
"It's a huge deal! If I weren't a student at Rhodes, I would definitely not have been given this opportunity. The exposure you get on the main festival is every student director's dream. I'm really very lucky."
And if that weren't enough, Debbie is also getting the chance to be mentored by South African performer, Lindiwe Matshikiza, renowned for her brilliant and versatile performances in Mike van Graan's Bafana Republic.
"I am really excited to see how a professional director works and gain as much insight as I can from her," Debbie says.
Full of praise for Rhodes drama department, Debbie says getting to work with and be mentored by people such as Andrew and Janet Buckland is one of the greatest opportunities any budding performer, director or choreographer could hope for.
"They are all so keen to pass on their knowledge – and I'm thirsty for this knowledge. I still don't think I know enough, after five years."
Does the concept behind Taste, quirky and darkly comic, reflect her own personality? "It will obviously relate to my own sense of humour which is dark and comic," Debbie says. "An Agatha Christie, Martin Sherman type of vibe. Audiences should be intrigued, highly entertained and very surprised. "I think, I hope…"
Taste – the players
Debbie Robertson has been at Rhodes since 2007 and graduated last weekend with a BDram Honours. Her honours subjects included Directing, Theatre Studies, Drama Literature, Acting and Writing. This year brings Debbie to the beginning of her two-year Masters degree and her first showcasing at the National Arts Festival. Cast members: Elisha Mudly, Dumisa Lengwati, Zano Mthembu, Edward Pepperell, Megan Wright, Bianca Binneman, Bryce Woodiwiss.
