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

New Fugard Theatre in District 6 set to take Cape Town by storm

Fugard Theatre

It isn’t often that theatre stops you in your tracks, particularly when it’s something like Magic Flute, which admittedly I’ve seen performed umpteen times in various guises but never to quite the aplomb with which it was being performed at the new Fugard Theatre in Cape Town (the last performance is on Saturday 6 March!)

And if you haven’t heard about the Fugard Theatre, named in honour of Athol Fugard, one of our country’s most iconic theatre influences, it’s because it has only just opened on the corner of Caledon and Harrington Streets in District Six, with its entrance off Buitenkant Street – in the gorgeous restored Sacks Futeran building with a roof terrace that has to-die-for views over Cape Town’s city (you should see the rehearsal rooms on the second floor – anyone who has performed in theatre would drool) … Continued

Grease Musical in South Africa in March and April

Grease Musical

“Sumer loving had me a blast
Summer loving happened so fast
Met a girl crazy for me
Met a boy cute as can be
Summer days drifting away, to uh-oh those summer nights
Uh well-a-well-a-well-a huh
Tell me more, tell me more …” 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

Ingcwaba lendoda lise cankwe ndlela at Artscape from 10 to 21 February 2010

Ingcwaba lendoda lise ...

Ingcwaba lendoda lise cankwe ndlela – 10 to 21 February 2010 (The grave of the man is next to the road). Ingcwaba lendoda lise cankwe ndlela, a moving and powerful play by the Magnet Theatre, directed by GIPCA project awardee Mandla Mbothwe, will be at Artscape Cape Town from 10 to 21 February 2010. Told in isiXhosa with English subtitles this professional production explores economic migration and its impact, using traditional story-telling, rituals, song, physical theatre and multi-media.

With the N2 highway as a constant backdrop, stories are woven together in rituals of departure and arrival and the spaces in between. It explores the physical, emotional, spiritual and intellectual movement of black South Africans, specifically those whose origins lie in the Eastern Cape. The performers include award-winning actress Faniswa Yisa and the Magnet Theatre Educational Trust trainees … Continued

Last few days to see My Fair Lady at The Playhouse Theatre in Durban

My Fair Lady

The Playhouse Company’s star-studded 2009 staging of the classic musical My Fair Lady, presented in partnership with East Coast Radio is one of the hottest theatre tickets in Durban this Festive Season.

One of the world’s all-time box office hit shows, the much-loved musical returns to The Playhouse Opera in a sumptuous staging directed by and starring multi-award-winning Ralph Lawson, one of South Africa’s leading theatre luminaries. This classic rags-to-riches tale stars Gina Shmukler (Chess, Unforgettable, Show Boat) and Lisa Bobbert (Abbamaniacs, My Fair Lady, Little Shop of Horrors), alternating in the lead role as Eliza Doolittle, the Cockney flower-seller who is transformed into a high society lady … Continued

Plan ahead – Suidooster Festival 2010

Suidooster Festival 2010

Next year sees the 7th Suidooster Festival. The organisers are so proud of the festival’s qualitative and quantitave growth that they are rolling out a comeback festival, filled to the brim with audience favourites: faithful and well-loved Suidoosterfees artists to tickle the fancy of every festival goer.

Look out for Vinette Ebrahim and Theodore Jantjies in Vaselinetjie, David Kramer as director of Krismis van Map Jacobs and in his own Kaapse Breyani – the fullhouse hit of 2009 – Neels van Jaarsveld in Bure oppie Bank, Terence Bridgett in All Soaped Up, Sandra Prinsloo in Die Naaimasjien – another fullhouse hit of 2009 – Emile Minnie in Kaapse Karnaval to set the mood for the upcoming Cape Town Carnival in March … Continued

Cape Town City Ballet celebrates 75 years in Cape Town

Sunday 22 November 2009 is a special day for ballet in Cape Town as Cape Town City Ballet (CTCB) celebrates 75 years on ballet. This is South Africa’s premier ballet company and where better to commemorate this milestone but at the newly refurbished Artscape.

The evening will be commemorated with a once off gala performance from both past and present stars of the ballet. With a most fitting title the Happy Birthday Ballet will take the audience through the CTCB’s history. From the early beginnings at the UCT Ballet Company, through the days of CAPAB Ballet right until the Cape Town City Ballet as it is today. Continued

Cultural Camps Bay

I often complain there’s nothing to do in Cape Town in Winter (or after the sun sets in Summer). If this is a popular refrain in your household, an option you may be overlooking is the Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay. This intimate theatre is home to numerous local and international shows from musicals and cabaret to comedies and drama … Continued

Ag Pleez Deddy

Jeremy Taylor

While I was growing up my sister and I always knew we were in for a special treat when my dad brought out his guitar and songbook. One of our favourite songs and which has become an anthem of sorts in our family was Ag Pleez Deddy.

For those of you who have not heard this ‘ballad of the Southern Suburbs’, here is a snippet of the song that has provided my family with many happy memories … Continued

Bovim Ballet shakes things up

If you, like me, have trouble convincing friends and family to accompany you to the theatre to watch ballet then I have some exciting news. Bovim Ballet presents SwingTime from 7-18 October 2009 at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town.

Why is this different you are asking, will we not just be seeing men in tights? Most definitely not, Sean Bovim, director of Bovim Ballet has shaken things up and made ballet exciting, entertaining and most of all appealing to one and all. Even those who are not interested in ballet will be delighted by this performance … 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