KZN Theatre, Arts and Events DiaryPublicity Matters10/03/2009 11:26:17 
KZN Theatre, Arts and Events Diary The final weekend of Celebrate Durban culminates in a Guinness Book of Records attempt on Sunday to gather the most guitarists together to play “Smoke on the Water”. The fifth annual Durban International Blues and Jazz Festival will again take place on Wilson’s Wharf and Festival Island, hosting an array of top musicians, including guests from Durban’s sister cities. On Sunday afternoon - 4 October - an attempt will be made to break the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest number of guitars playing together in a group. The aim is to have 2010 guitarists en mass to perform Deep Purple Smoke on the Water. Info: Catalina Theatre 031 305 6889. Theatre: Birth Of The Blues Catalina Theatre: until 25 Oct Devised and directed by Themi Venturas and with the assistance of Charon Williams- Ross, The Birth of the Blues is a must-see show Staged to run concurrently and as part of the Durban International Blues Festival week which ends on Sunday 4 October, this show has a life of its own and will run until 25 October. Discover the origins of the ‘blues’ and their influence on world music. Discover why the rock musicians of the 60’s and 70’3 were so influenced by Leadbelly, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson, Ma Rainey and the many others. Discover how Louis Armstrong found his groove, and how the ‘torchsong’ singers like Billie Holiday and soul singers like Ray Charles were influenced and inspired by the Blues. Under the musical direction of Melvin Peters the show features an all star band with Rob Warren on guitar and vocals, Bruce Baker on drums, Brian Thusi on trumpet, Jerry Kunene on sax accompanying the velvet-voiced Tammy Saville who will share with Thulile Zama Bandile Hlophe who recently wowed everyone with his performance of the slave, Jim, in Big River. If you enjoy interesting and humorous anecdotes and a superb rocking band then this is the show for you. Tickets are R74 and are available at the Catalina Theatre on 031 305 7612 or online booking through Strictlytickets on www.ticket.co.za The Wheel Children’s theatre for the Michaelmas holidays Catalina Theatre: until 4 Oct During the September school holidays from 24 September until 4 October, the Catalina Theatre will offer day-time shows of a charming theatre piece for young children, The Wheel, by Brian Way – the world-renowned playwright of children’s theatre. The Wheel reminds us of the importance of make-believe, working together, kindness and having good fun! Ned Wheelwright makes wheels for a living. His wheels were always perfectly-made except one day a wheel was made with one spoke missing. A note appeared on this faulty wheel one night stating clearly that Ned was not to sell this wheel for one whole year! Much to the chagrin of his grumpy wife and the village trouble-maker, Ned put the wheel aside and refused to fix it or sell it. The missing spoke, was, of course, magical! She came to the village and charmed Ned, his wife, the other villagers… even the trouble-maker. The magical spoke reminded the village to take time to tell stories to the children, to play, dress up and have fun… and to always be kind and help each other. A lively cast of talented actors have been assembled especially for the season. Directed by Catalina intern, Marcia Mzindle, the cast features Chloe Perling, Thobani Mbhele, Shona Johnson and Philile Ntimbane. The Wheel is produced by TheatreBIZ and is at the Catalina Theatre daily from 24 Sept – 4 Oct. Full price tickets are R45 including a boat ride around the harbour. Show only tickets are R30. No concessions. Performances are daily at 11am. To book call 031 305 6889 or e-mail tsibisi@mweb.co.za. Catalina Theatre Tickets are now available online at www.ticket.co.za or on our website at www.catalinatheatre.co.za or at www.goingplacesSA.co.za / www.goingplacesSA.com. The Catalina Theatre is still functioning thanks to the incredible generosity and support from Rainbow Chicken, National Arts Council and Ethekwini Municipality. Flirting With Coward Godfrey Johnson performs a show in the spirit of Noel Coward Rhumbelow Theatre, Umbilo: 2, 3, 4 and 9, 10, 11 Oct Fleur de Cap winner, Godfrey Johnson brings to life the spirit of Noel Coward in the one-person cabaret, Flirting with Coward which comes to the Rhumbelow Theatre in Umbilo for two consecutive weekends – 2, 3, 4 Oct and 9, 10, 11 October. The genius wit of this writer and composer of the 20th century is showcased by one of Cape Town’s most moving musical performers. “Coward carried himself with style and sophistication in a time when the standards were higher. Witty and debonair, he was the centre of attention, charming his friends with his musical genius and satirical wit. He was the very image of the elegant gentleman in a smoking jacket with a cigarette holder,” reminisces Johnson. Join Godfrey Johnson to discover the spirit of this iconic performer, who can hold audiences in the palm of his hand with his illuminating wit and irresistible musical charm. After having worked for many years as a musician, director, composer and having accompanied Pieter-Dirk Uys, Godfrey Johnson won the 2007 Fleur du Cap award for Best Performance in a Cabaret for his work in Kissed by Brel. He now brings his signature style of music to reinterpret the songs of one of the last century’s most satirical and visionary entertainers. Noel Coward, known for being the musical and witty host, comes alive between the notes, chords, and words sung by this Cape Town performer. Johnson will perform his own versions of such Coward classics as Mad Dogs and Englishmen, 20th Century Blues, Mad about the Boy, and If Love were All. More than a tribute, this show honours the spirit of Coward in the 21st century. Saturday 03 Oct 2009 Show starts 20.00 Sunday 04 Oct 2009 Show starts 18.30 Friday 09 Oct 2009 Show starts 20.00 Saturday 10 Oct 2009 Show starts 20.00 Sunday 11 Oct 2009 Show starts 13.30 Sunday 11 Oct 2009 Show starts 18.30 Venue opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner or braais. R80 a ticket; limited secure parking available; Booking is essential. Bar Available - no alcohol be brought on to the premises. Book at Computicket or phone or e-mail Roland for bookings. H 031 205 7602 / Cell 082 499 8636 / e-mail roland@stansell.za.net / www.rhumbelow.za.net Native Blues Playhouse Drama from 7 to 10 October The entertaining accapella musical comedy Native Blues can be seen in the Playhouse Drama from 7 to 10 October, as part of The Playhouse Company’s New Stages Festival. This engaging retrospective of the musical sounds emanating of Durban’s legendary Umkhumbani dating back to the 1950’s is written and directed by Faca Kulu. The production stars Faca Kulu and Siyabonga Zuma, who head a vibrant cast that includes Thabani Mhlangu, Sifiso Mngadi, Mandla Manzi and Bonga Zulu There was a time in Umkhumbane when young men, fired up with the prospect of a glance from a beautiful woman, would spend hours perfecting their Accapella singing. They would meet on street corners or in some backroom and rehearse their close harmony singing until their heads resonated with the ‘buzz’ that only perfect close-harmony can bring. And if they could make a crust from the music it would be an added bonus. Native Blues tells the heart-warming story of one such men’s singing group, as seen through the eyes of its two surviving members. Through their music the men relive their memories of life and hope in an era which marked the early dark days of apartheid. As their story unfolds it is interspersed with close harmony singing that envelops them and captivates their audience. Native Blues saw its first performances at the Catalina Theatre in 2008. The Playhouse Company presentation in its upcoming New Stages Festival sees a more developed script, set and staging allowing the production the necessary ‘next step’ that it needs. Performances of Native Blues will be on 7 October at 11h00 and 19h30, on 8 October at 19h30, on 9 October at 14h00, and on 10 October at 14h00 and 19h30. Tickets at R45 can be booked through Computicket on 083 915 8000 or 031 369 9540 / 031 369 9596. Celebrate Durban: Final Weekend Durban Young Designers Fashion Extravaganza 2 Oct: City Hall Info: Dark Child Brandz / 031 301 4304 / darkchildbrandz@gmail.com We are branding Durban as a centre of young, vibey, funky fashion blended with hip-hop flavours and Afrocentric jewelry. The fashion element focuses on smart young designs that are perfect for everyday street-wear and the choreography resurrects shades of Michael Jacksons "Beat it" and "Bad" videos with a standoff between two designers represented by their models who meet mid-stage; lots of attitude and energy and very entertaining with constant commentary throughout. The jewellery element showcases the "After-Dark Collection". This is a new range of beadwork designed to be worn with evening wear. We will have four models in evening gowns and sixteen bare-breasted maidens in traditional Zulu style on the ramp; very risqué, but very nice! Entry: Ticketed event SATMA Awards 2008 3 Oct: Durban ICC Info: Zola Key 082 515 2014 / satma@satmaawards.co.za The programme features a cultural parade from the City Hall with traditional groups and drum majorettes, a workshop, exhibition and the awards ceremony. Entry: Award Ceremony / workshop by invitation only. Cultural parade is free and all are welcome KZNPO Spring Season 10 Sept to 12 Nov: Durban City Hall Info: KZNPO offices on telephone number 031 369 9438 The KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Spring Season sees a season of orchestral music with international and acclaimed soloists and conductors from 10 September to 12 November, every Thursday evening. Entry: Tickets at Computicket KZN Heritage Arts Festival @ Kizo All Sept: Kizo Gallery and Gateway Theatre of Shopping Info: Nathi Gumede / Sharon Crampton: tel: 031 566 4324 / nathig@kizo.co.za or visit www.kizo.co.za. The Gateway Theatre of Shopping and Kizo Art Gallery’s annual Heritage Arts Festival is once again an ambitious multi-layered, forward-thinking festival of 20+ art themed events which will be held throughout Heritage Month Entry: Entry free and all welcome. Shared Histories: Indian Experience in SA Aug to Oct: venues in and around Durban Info: Nameshni Govender / 031 332 4221 / icc1@cgidbn.com The Consulate General of India in Durban presents a comprehensive, extensive mix of events to examine the complex shared experiences between India and South Africa. Entry: varied Separate is Not Equal KwaMuhle Museum: from late Sep Info: KwaMuhle Museum tel 03 1 311 2237 / www.durban-history.co.za . A brief history of segregation in the USA and SA - with particular focus on the schooling systems in both countries. It was brought to South Africa and re-edited for SA audiences by the Apartheid Museum with financial support from the United States Government. The Durban installation includes various new local components and is presented by the Local History Museums at the historic KwaMuhle Museum. Entry: Entrance is free and all are welcome Movable Arts Feast – the Arts Bus! Info: Domy Cortes 031 208 9430 / 073 719 0444 / domy@saol.com / book online at www.pubmat.co.za Saturdays: Participating Galleries The Arts Bus - a free hop-on, hop-off city bus service which allows arts lovers to visit eight of the city’s premier galleries in one Saturday - is being hosted again as part of the Celebrate Durban season over Heritage month and October. The Celebrate Durban season bus schedule will cover eight weekends - Sat 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 Oct leaving from the KZNSA Gallery at 9am and returning to the gallery mid afternoon. There is safe parking at the KZNSA Gallery. REGRET - ARTS BUS CURRENT SEASON BOOKED TO CAPACITY! Galleries: End Conscription Campaign – 25 years on. Out of Step Exhibition Durban Art Gallery: Tues 29 Sept – until end Oct The End Conscription Campaign (ECC) is celebrating 25 years since it was founded by hosting a series of events in Durban during late September and October. ECC was a national non-governmental organization (NGO) - with a strong international support network and representing conscientious objectors - which tirelessly campaigned for an end to conscription into an apartheid army. One of the major events to be held in Durban is an exhibition of the organisation’s history, some of the personalities involved and reminding us of the social-political context of the time. The exhibition called Out of Step echoes ECC’s non-cooperation with conscription as well as white cultural expectations regarding racism and sexism. As the exhibition will strongly focus on some of the creative approaches to their campaigns featuring posters, photographs, literature and T-shirts, it is being hosted by the ever-proactive Durban Art Gallery as part of the city’s annual Celebrate Durban season during heritage month, opening on Tuesday 29 September at 6pm. The vision for the exhibition is both to remind us of the war resistance movement in South Africa, the role it played in the country’s transformation, as well as to educate the new generation of South Africans who were too young to remember the ECC and what it stood for. It is also important for us all to be reminded of the myriad valuable social, political, spiritual and human-rights issues learned through this process. For more information contact Dr Richard Steele on 031 201 6508 / rsteele@vodamail.co.za or Illa Thompson on 031 201 1638 / illa@pubmat.co.za or join the Google ECC group – go to http://groups.google.com/group/ecc-list?hl=en. (If you do not already have a Google account you will need to create one first.) A Known Heritage 2009 Heritage Arts Festival Kizo exhibition Now open: Kizo Art Gallery A Known Heritage which celebrates the rich cultural heritage of KwaZulu Natal is the art exhibition which forms the backbone of The Heritage Arts Festival held throughout September at the Kizo Art Gallery. The exhibition, curated by Nathi Gumede, features participating artists Sifiso Ka-Mkame, Zamani Makhanya,Thami Jali and Lindelani Ngwenya who are all important assets to the province and have contributed extensively to our arts industry. They all share the same sentiments about their commitment to the province; work in the same studio and have been friends, colleagues and mentors for many years. The exhibition launches on 1 September 2009 and runs until 30 September. The launch will also be the official opening of the 2009 Heritage Arts Festival in which the exhibition plays an integral part. The exhibition has been supported by Nedbank Private suite who will be hosting a special preview for their clients. For more information contact Nathi on 031 566 4322 or nathig@kizo.co.za or see www.kizo.co.za Rivers of the World Informative Outdoor Art Exhibition Durban Botanic Gardens: now on The ever proactive British Council is bringing its outdoor touring exhibition, Rivers of the World, to the Durban Botanic Gardens for a few months. In 2007/8 learners from various schools and educational centres in London (UK); Shanghai (China); Kolkata (India); Cairo (Egypt); Sao Paulo and Recife (Brazil); the State of Veracruz (Mexico) and Cape Town worked with artists to create a series of magnificent large-format artworks inspired by their city’s river. The artwork, and accompanying narrative, is being displayed in this innovative touring exhibition. The exhibition is travelling to each of the riverside locations in each of the participating cities. Based on the astonishing response to their former British Council environmental-themed exhibition, the hugely successful Zero Carbon City exhibition, the British Council is including Durban in the international tour of Rivers of the World. The exhibition, curated in South Africa by Cape Town photographer / curator Paul Grendon, is being hosted in Durban in conjunction with the ever proactive Durban Botanic Gardens. The gardens’ education officer, Martin Clement, is encouraging school groups to visit the exhibition and learn about the world’s major rivers, some of the issues affecting them, and the people who engage with them. There are special educational kits for school groups who visit the exhibition. The gardens are open seven days a week. Entry to the gardens is free and all are welcome. School groups are encouraged to contact Martin Clement on Tel: 031 202 5819 / Fax : 031 201 9045 / www.durbanbotanicgardens.org.za. For more information, visit the exhibition website: http://rivers.thamesfestival.org. Anton Benzon @ the Crouse Art Gallery Durban: 254 Lillian Ngoyi / Windermere Rd Morningside - Alongside Sutton Park – Durban The Anton Benzon @ Crouse Art Gallery is a spacious and airy gallery situated at 254 Lillian Ngoyi / Windermere Rd Morningside, Durban – a stone’s throw away from Windermere Centre. It showcases excellent works of art by inspirational South African artists and deals exclusively in original South African fine art. The gallery now stocks dramatic large format works by well-known sculptor Owen Llewellyn Davies. For the past few years his focus has been on major commissions which have kept him extremely busy. His subject matter is extremely varied and includes life sized equestrian work, birdlife, polo pieces, children, wildlife and animals. He is also well known for his international once-off commissions and limited edition pieces. Course also stocks a selection of quaint and quirky Pod People created by artist / sculptor Audrey Rudnick. Crouse Artdealers specialises in original SA art. They offer art of our country’s best artists like Anton Benzon, Diane Erasmus, Errol Boyley, Kobus Kotze and the Kotze family, Este Mostert, Lienkie Lombard, Marie Vermeulen Breedt, Bea, Luther Marais, Father Frans Claerhout, Cornelius Bosch, Andre De Beer, Christian Nice, Johan Smit, Chris Tugwell, Portchie, Ina van Schalkwyk and many more. It is owned by Michelle Dodds (who also runs the gallery) and Chris and Suzette Crouse. For more information to phone Michelle on 083 385 0654 while at Hilton or visit their website – www.crouseartkzn.co.za They offer various payment arrangements, and will gladly give professional advice. Spar Soccer SPAR / Aquelle Soccer Tournament 2009 Howard College Grounds: 3 and 4 October Celebrating its ninth year, the SPAR / aQuellé Soccer Tournament promises to showcase some of the finest soccer talent in the province once again at Howard College Sports Grounds – Gate 10 - UKZN on 3 and 4 October, 2009. With the aim of developing amateur soccer in KwaZulu-Natal, SPAR and aQuellé teamed up in 2001 to create what has now become a very exciting annual event in KZN soccer, thereby creating an opportunity for regional SAFA representatives to identify emerging talent amongst local amateur soccer players. Soccer teams, selected from throughout the four SAFA designated regions of Eastern, Northern and Southern KZN, and the Midlands are sponsored by SPAR stores in their respective communities to take part in a regional final and the eight best teams come through to Durban to contest the finals. Entrance to the grounds is free on both days and spectators are encouraged to come along and lend their support to the teams. The local community will also be treated to the Gagasi Radio and SPAR KZN teams in action in a curtain raiser exhibition match at 8am on Sunday before the start of the finals match at about 11am. There will be loads of give-aways and lucky draws for spectators on both days. Musical theatre: Sing it Sista uShaka Marine World: until Oct 17 A nostalgic tribute to top female artists and all-girl groups is the next musical offering from the popular Upper Deck supper theatre at uShaka Marine World. Featuring the sizzling hot talent of Pume Zondi, Londiwe Dhlomo, Samantha Landers and Lauren Laing, Sing it Sista promises audiences a sleek and festive night out from August 13 to October 17. The show covers most genres of music ranging from the cutesy vocals of the 1920s Brox Sisters and swinging wartime favourites The Andrew Sisters through to the disco beats of The Three Degrees and the contemporary sounds of Destiny’s Child. Backing is by the top-notch five-piece uShaka Marine World band with costumes designed and styled for each decade by Bradley Marshall. The show is produced by Events and Entertainment Manager Wayne R. Scott and is directed by Charon Williams Ros. Sing it Sista, on the revamped Phantom Ship’s Upper Deck will be staged Thursday to Saturday nights at 8pm (dinner starts at 7pm). Tickets at R150 per person include the show and a three-course gastronomic feast. The Upper Deck also has a new wine and cocktail menu in the bar which now sports its very own mini aquarium tanks. Come and dine with the very best that Durban has to offer. Booking is at Computicket or 031 328 8068. Regulars: Essenwood Craft Market Essenwood park: Every Sat: 9am – 2pm The region’s foremost craft, art, treasures and collectables market takes place every Saturday morning under the trees a stone’s throw away from Musgrave Centre. In-between shopping, there is a comprehensive tea garden with an array of brunch and tea time delights, as well as children’s activities and a playground. Ends For reviews on many of the above shows and events – visit www.artSMart.co.za Many of the show tickets are now available online at www.ticket.co.za or at www.goingplacessa.co.za / www.goingplacessa.com. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE ON REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT PUBLICITY MATTERS or visit www.pubmat.co.za Publicity Matters has received this information from the eventors / producers in good faith and cannot be held responsible for circulating incorrect information which is inaccurate, unconfirmed or outdated. Illa Thompson Publicity Matters – arts, culture, festival and events publicists tel / fax 031 201 1638 mobile 083 326 3234 illa@pubmat.co.za www.pubmat.co.za |
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