Seussical Jr scoops prestigious Naledi Award

The National Children’s Theatre smash hit of 2009, Seussical Jr, won the prestigious Naledi Award for Best Production of a Play or Musical for Children at a glittering ceremony in Pretoria on 7 March.

“This was a very special honour for us,” says Joyce Levinsohn, Artistic Director of the NCT, and director of the winning production. “The award for Children’s Theatre was reintroduced this year after a gap of some years. Dawn Lindberg, of the Naledi Awards told us that the standard of children’s theatre being done by us, the Market, and other venues has reached such heights that it’s no longer possible to let the work we do go unacknowledged. So to be the first winner of what’s virtually a new award is very gratifying indeed.” … Continued

Standard Bank Fine Brandy Festival at the Sandton Sun in May

Borne from the vine, distilled to perfection and crowned by the world, South African brandy has no equal. Celebrating South Africa’s iconic elixir, the Standard Bank Fine Brandy Festival is a unique, all-brandy event taking place from 5 to 7 May 2010 at the Sandton Sun.  Now in its third year, the Standard Bank Fine Brandy Festival is an initiative by the South African Brandy Foundation in sponsorship with Standard Bank, providing a sophisticated showcase where visitors can experience the triumphs of the country’s distillers. Continued

“Heidi” – Back at last after all these years (at the National Children’s Theatre)

Playing March 15 – April 17: An atmosphere of great excitement will soon be gripping the National Children’s Theatre as preparations for Joyce Levinsohn’s Easter holiday production of Heidi get under way. Heidi is one of the most-loved children’s stories of all time. Johanna Spyri’s stories have been translated into 40 languages, and more than 80,000,000 copies of her books have been sold … Continued

2010 Host City, Pretoria

2010 Host City, Pretoria

Known as the Jacaranda City for all the purple blossom-bedecked trees, which line its thoroughfares, 2010 Host City Pretoria is a lovely, quiet city. It has a long, involved and fascinating history. Here you will find significant old buildings and fascinating museums. The Transvaal Museum has natural history displays and is the home of Mrs Ples, the australopithecine fossil found at Sterkfontein in the Cradle of Humankind. Also worth visiting are the Cultural History Museum and Smuts Museum in Irene, outside Pretoria.

Sedate, leafy Pretoria tends to endure a Cinderella complex when compared with the neighbouring city of Johannesburg. When it comes to world class cities, Johannesburg is one of the most ‘happening’ cities on the African continent and the city gleams with the glamour of money … Continued

I ♥ Roodepoort because …

Walter Sisulu Gardens

Hi, I’m Muzi Mohale from Roodepoort in Gauteng. I am responsible for www.Travelwires.com. Through my love for travelling and the internet I blog about the travel and tourism industry in South Africa

ROODEPOORT IS BEST KNOWN FOR the discovery of Gold in 1884.
GET YOUR PICTURE TAKEN AT Walter Sisulu Botanical Garden.
THE BEST golf PICTURES CAN BE TAKEN at Ruimsig Country Club.
OTHER HAPPY SNAPS AT Poortview.

WHEN THE WEATHER’S GOOD, I LIKE TO visit Hillfox Flea Market.
WHEN THE WEATHER’S BAD, I LIKE TO shop at Clearwater Mall.
I THINK THE BEST TIME OF YEAR TO VISIT IS Summer because Continued

Johannesburg Mozart Festival Programme

Mozart Festival

Lovers of classical music will be glad to know that the programme line up for the Johannesburg International Mozart Festival has been announced. So here is just a little taste of what you can expect from 23 January to 9 February 2010.

Originally organised in 2006 in celebration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s 250th birthday anniversary this year’s festival will see almost 20 performances in various venues around Johannesburg … Continued

Sisters with Blisters taking place 28 November

We’ve all had them, that extremely painful blister after a fun night out wearing your favourite pair of stilettos. But this doesn’t really give us a sense of achievement or make much difference to anyone but ourselves. So why not get a blister on 28 November 2009 that will actually mean something?

Sisters with Blisters in an annual event that has been taking place for the past 3 years. Jacaranda 94.2 and First for Women have joined forces to raise awareness on the abuse suffered by many women and children Continued

Pinocchio Pantomime in Johannesburg from 4 November

Adventures of Pinocchio

We have all heard of the story of the little wooden boy who was carved from a piece of pine by the woodcarver Geppetto and who was created as a puppet but dreamt of becoming a “real boy” named Pinocchio. This fictional character has been around since 1883 and has become a well loved tale and was certainly a firm favourite of mine whilst I was growing up.

And if you are in Johannesburg or its surrounding areas you will be happy to know that Pinocchio will be the biggest pantomime ever this year with 60 artists taking part. If you already au fait with pantomimes you probably call them panto’s and already have your tickets booked. However, if you do not fall into this category let me give you a little refresher in what the pantomime is … Continued

CSIR International Convention Centre brings happy smiles to abandoned children

The CSIR International Convention Centre (ICC) has donated chair covers, notepads, pens, 1 000m2 of carpets (with underfelt), shirts, jackets, bags and more than 200 tablecloths to the Mohau Children’s Home in Atteridgeville.

“The children have been very cold lately as a result of cable theft, and the carpets could not have come at a better time,” says centre manager Ester Jaca. According to Jaca, the facility has also been in need of tablecloths for some time as their dining tables were bare. “Our dining room and boardroom will look very bright and welcoming with these smart new tablecloths,” she smiles … Continued

Upcoming Festivals in Soweto

Soweto Festivals

South Western Township or Soweto as it is more commonly known is a melting pot of South African cultures as well as a popular tourist destination. Orlando West in Soweto is the only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace Prize winners, both Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu have houses in Vilakazi Street.

The Chris Hani-Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto is the biggest hospital in the world. And if you are not yet convinced you need to pay Soweto a visit let us give you a few more reasons as Soweto will be a hub of activity in September and October 2009 … Continued

Mandela Square

Mandela Square

Situated in the heart of Sandton Central, in Johannesburg, the Nelson Mandela Square is surrounded by world-class hotels and restaurants. The popular Sandton City Shopping Centre is adjacent to the Square and is a shopper’s paradise.

Sandton Square made headlines in 2004 when, as commemorating South Africa’s first decade of democracy, a specially donated six metre bronze statue of Nelson Mandela was unveiled, and the square aptly renamed Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton City. The statue was sculpted by Kobus Hattingh and Jacob Maponyane and weighs over 2.5 tons measuring 2.3 metres from elbow to elbow. The shoulders of the statue are 1.7 metres in width and the shoes are 1 metre in length. Continued

Puss in Boots and Other Tails

Join a troupe of talented actors in a whirlwind journey of comic excitement as they set out on their big adventure in Puss in Boots and Other Tails at the National Children’s Theatre (NCT), 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown from Monday 7 September to Saturday 17 October 2009 … Continued

Out of Africa at the Brightwater Commons

For our Gauteng readers and anyone who finds themselves near Randburg this coming weekend, head over to Brightwater Commons for their “Out of Africa” Festival for an impressive line up of entertainment including African Jazz, African Tribal Show and graffiti and break-dancing demonstration … Continued