DURBAN creatives Kajal Maharaj and Naresh Veeran prepare for their play A Woman Apart which debuts at the Seabrooke Theatre on 24 April.
Image: Shelley Kjonstad
MIX AI, social media, and the raw emotional power of theatre and you have A Woman Apart. This new Durban production, starring award-winning actress Kajal Maharaj and produced by local creative Naresh Veeran, explores women’s choices, happiness, and personal freedom like never before.
The one-woman show sees Maharaj play a married, thirty-something lawyer navigating a moral, ethical, and health-related crisis. Over 70 minutes, as she waits for a lift, her life begins to unravel, revealing the pressures, ambitions, and vulnerabilities faced by modern women. The play examines the idea that true happiness comes from within rather than from the expectations, validation, or dreams of others.
“Women are often expected to juggle so much and put themselves last,” says Veeran. “This story challenges that narrative. It shows that owning your choices and reflecting honestly on your life can lead to freedom and happiness, even from the idea of seeking them.”
The play which opens at the Seabrooke Theatre on 24 April.
Image: Supplied.
While rooted in traditional theatre, the production incorporates cutting-edge elements such as AI, social media, and virtual film, creating a ‘live screenplay’; a performance within a performance. This innovative approach gives audiences a fresh, intimate look into the character’s inner world.
Maharaj, known for her roles on Imbewu and in My Cousin’s Big Fat Durban Wedding, describes the experience as “immersive and unlike anything I’ve worked on. The story tackles existential and societal questions in a way that feels immediate, intimate, and deeply relatable. It’s theatre for the modern audience.”
Veeran and Maharaj’s collaboration began nine months ago on a voice-over audiobook project, which led to this creative venture.
For Veeran, best known for commercially successful productions like 31 Million Reasons and For Better For Worse, this one-woman show is a departure; a deliberate focus on issues that most people can relate to. A Woman Apart promises to be a fresh, moving theatre experience that tackles women’s issues, personal freedom, and the everyday choices that shapes lives.
The play runs from Friday 24 April to Sunday 26 April at Seabrooke Theatre, DHS Campus, St Thomas Road, Musgrave. The Saturday performance is a fundraiser for the SA Women Lawyers Association. Tickets cost R150, and bookings can be made via WhatsApp on 069 433 9728 or Instagram @NareshVeeranLive.