Entertainment
This category includes posts and information about upcoming musicals, theatre, opera, entertainment and special one-off events happening throughout South Africa. (For info on Annual Events see Annual Events & Festivals above). Some posts are by our editors who try to attend as many of these events as possible and from time to time we publish press releases in this section supplied to us be the event organisers, in the interest of providing you with all the best entertainment options available in South Africa.
Stopping for Goat’s Cheese Sarmies at Chane Cheese Farm in Mtubatuba
A herd of grazing goats greets visitors to Chane Cheese Farm which is situated a short drive from the towns of St Lucia and Mtubatuba. After reading about the farm in a magazine and having been told they make a delicious toasted (goats) cheese sandwiches, my father insisted we pop in on the way home after a few days stay in St Lucia.
Delicious meals are served on a spacious wooden deck which has a magical view of timber plantations and sand dunes.
A large number of guests can be seated both on the wooden deck and at smaller tables outside the farm shop while a sparking swimming pool ...
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How to Gumboot Dance like a South African
Wanna learn how to gumboot dance like a South African?
The Isicathulo, or gumboot dance, is a traditional African dance done in Wellington boots known simply, in South Africa, as gumboots.
The dance is a dance of life; a celebration of what it is to be human. At the end of the rhythmic, earth beating and easy to learn dance, you’ll feel like a better person for the experience.
Follow these steps to learn how to gumboot dance, as if you’ve been doing it your whole life:
Here's How to Gumboot Dance, Like a South African
Don a pair of gumboots, preferably black ones, but ye common ...
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10 South African music legends
Chosen for their distinctive South African style of music, here are 10 South African music legends...
Photograph: Lucky Dube taken January 01, 1994 by Leon Morris
Brenda Fassie: 1964 – 2004
You know you're an icon when Time magazine showcases you in a three page spread, as when it headlined Brenda Fassie in December 2001 as the “Madonna of the Townships'. Her extraordinary talent saw her scoop the SAMA for Best Selling Release four years in a row. Some speak of an unnatural craving for limelight, and a personal life in tatters, but she was adored by hundreds of thousands of fans and d...
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KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra World Symphony Series line up
I am so looking forward to Thursday, September 26th because not only is it our wedding anniversary but we are also marking the occasion with a trip to Durban to watch the KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra in concert as part of their 30th anniversary celebrations.
I am constantly bemoaning the fact that not much in the way of international shows ever comes to Durban but after reading about the KwaZulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra World Symphony Series line up taking place at the beautiful City Hall on Thursday evenings through September and October thought that I must make the effort to g...
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Jersey Boys – What a Jol!
I am a self proclaimed musical nut. I love all things theatre, but musicals are my favourite. My dvd and music collection will affirm this should you have any doubt. When I heard that Jersey Boys was coming to Cape Town I was ready and gathered the troops and off we went. To be honest I hadn't a clue what the show would be about - so let me give you a little bit of background. Jersey Boys tells the story of Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons. Who you ask? Well you'll know who I mean once you're at the show because the music is one hit after another.
This rags to riches tale unfolds as fou...
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Zip Zap Circus zests up with added vooma by Adele Blank
I've never been to watch the Zip Zap Circus in Cape Town. I've known of its existence, especially since it moved into its 'tent' just behind Artscape. Who wouldn't. What a great space, all you see from the N1/N2 fly-over above Table Bay Boulevard is the dome to your left, the words Zip Zap emblazoned for all to view. It is a home and enviable advertising space all in one.
And let me tell you there is some serious circus magic at work within the dome's perimeters. On nearing the circus, the children (some of them a little older than the term 'child' will allow, but still young enough to be d...
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Concert in the Park – A review
Established in the early 1870s for the purpose of conserving and propagating rare and endangered indigenous plants, the National Botanical Gardens in Pietermaritzburg is always a great venue for anyone looking to relax and unwind amongst the beauty of nature. Flowers of every description birth forth a kaleidoscope of colours and hues while tall trees shade visitors strolling along the neatly manicured lawns creating a sense of utopia seldom experienced in any city setting.
The ever popular ‘Concert in the Park’ has been staged annually in the Botanical Gardens since 2005 and when my friend ...
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The Flamjangled Tea Party
Set on the Contermanskloof Wine Farm, only 30 minutes from Cape Town, the Flamjangled Tea Party in Durbanville is a unique, colourful weekend long party and celebration of music. With its ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’ theme, festivalgoers need little encouragement to dress up in psychedelic costumes, embracing the opportunity to dust off their zaniest outfits. A magical array of props and festival décor set the scene for one of Cape Town’s most beloved festivals, which attracts a more folksy and artistic crowd than most.
This year’s party promises to deliver, with a stellar line-up of great ...
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The cutest little Indie Coffee Shop in Africa – Wolves
Wolves Café in Illovo, Johannesburg, is the brainchild of three friends and creatives, and is undoubtedly one of the hippest hangouts in the city. One of the talented owners, Angie Batis, is not only the stellar creative force behind a popular blog as well as the Creative Head of a well-known ad agency; she also bakes the coolest cupcakes and delectables for Wolves.
Co-owner and husband, Shane Durrant, is the lead singer of popular local band, ‘Desmond and the Tutus,’ and together with a friend, they create the magic that Wolves is known for.
Furnished eclectically with mismatching v...
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Jou ma se goema
A friend of mine shared a video about goema recently on Facebook. Since I don't have a clue what goema is, my interest was more than a little piqued. Mostly because this particular friend of mine has introduced me to the sounds of Cape Town jazz in her own way.
Her house, up until recently, was a one-stop-shop for Cape Town musicians who used her lounge for jamming sessions, and any occasion that warranted it (and a fair number of those that didn't) would find her home full to busting - singers with microphones, any number of guitars, the piano and even the odd double bass - I tried not to ...
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Gala performance of the Cape Town International Ballet Competition
On Saturday evening I went to the Artscape theatre with my mom and a good friend, we were there to watch the gala performance of the Cape Town International Ballet Competition. After stopping for a quick bite to eat and glass of wine at the News Café onsite restaurant, which was very tasty but quite pricey we settled into our seats in the back row of the theatre. Just a quick note if you’re planning on eating at the restaurant before a show it is advisable to book beforehand and not do as we did and just rock up, they might find it very difficult to find you a table and you might need to sit o...
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Grease the Musical at Artscape in Cape Town
Grease the Musical is currently playing at The Artscape Theatre Centre in Cape Town before moving on to The Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg. The West End production was brought to our shores by Pieter Toerien, Paul Nicholas and David Ian and this production, with its entirely local cast will be the first full stage production of the musical to be staged in South Africa for a decade.
I went to the show a few nights ago and judging by the amount of fun the cast of Grease was having, Rydell High in 1955 was the school to be at! I enjoyed it tremendously - we had excellent seats and not...
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