DURBAN’s award-winning KickStArt Theatre Company has revealed its 2017 line-up and it promises to be a series of theatrical delights.

The company will kick off with a bang and a whole lot of razzle dazzle when Steven Stead directs a new production of Kander and Ebbs iconic musical, Chicago!

Fast paced and sassy, the show is set in 1920s Chicago, where the gin is cold and the piano’s hot. But not as hot as the women! The parties are long, the skirts are short, and everybodys going to hell in a fast car!

Designed by Greg King (sets) and Neil Stuart Harris (costumes), with choreography by Janine Bennewith and lighting by Tina le Roux, this fantastic production features an all-star cast and a nine piece band under masterful musical director, Evan Roberts.

Jessica Sole will play Roxy with Katy Moore as Velma, Jason Ralph (who wowed local audiences as Sweeney Todd) as Billy Flynn, Bryan Hiles as Amos, Charon Williams-Ros as Matron Mama Morton and Anne Marie Clulow as Mary Sunshine.

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College campus. Performances are at 7,30pm Tuesday to Saturday, 2.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm on Sundays.

Tickets range from R210 to R280. Special preview prices are R150 throughout.

Please note: this production is not suitable for those under 10. Chicago runs from April 7 to 30 at the Sneddon Theatre.

In contrast, KickStArt’s July offering, James and the Giant Peach will be perfect for the little ones. The show, based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name, runs at the Sneddon Theatre from July 5 to 23.

Greg King directs and designs this magical re-imagining of the well-loved, deliciously quirky children’s classic about the young orphan, James who has a remarkable adventure involving a giant peach and five eccentric giant insects.

The show stars Bryan Hiles, Clare Mortimer, Peter Court, Belinda Henwood, Nhlakanipho Manqele and Lyle Buxton.

Tickets range from R120 to R180 (adults) and from R100 to R150 (children under 12 and pensioners).

KickStArt will also be heading to Joburg in the July holidays to stage their Durban Theatre Award-winning pantomime, Puss in Boots. The show will be staged at Gold Reef City.

Bryan Hiles and Liesl Coppin join forces to perform in David Lindsay-Abaire’s drama, Rabbit Hole, at Seabrookes Theatre at Durban High School from September 20 to October 1. Performances are at 7.30pm Tuesday to Saturday and 2.30pm and 6pm on Sunday.

This wonderful play is a moving and often surprisingly amusing examination of love and loss within a family.

Says Steven Stead: “It has been three years since KickstArt has produced a drama, (the last was the multi-award-winning Venus in Fur) and we have missed making them as much as our loyal followers have enjoyed watching them. So it is with great delight that we announce the South African premiere of a Pulitzer prize-winning Broadway play, Rabbit Hole.”

Tickets are R160 (R120 pensioners special for 2.30pm performances only).

The year will end with the annual delight that is the KickStArt pantomime. This year’s offering is Sinbad the Sailor, which will run at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from December 1 to January 7.

Performances are at 2.30pm Tuesday to Sunday, and 7pm on Fridays. There will be no performances on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day.

This year’s panto is a riotous romp over the Seven Seas, in the company of the famous sailor, Sinbad, and his madcap crew and family!

With gloriously colourful sets and costumes that evoke the exotic mystery and magic of the Arabian Nights, and exciting music and dance, inspired by Bollywood, this is a unique, unforgettable pantomime experience for the entire family!

The show stars Lyle Buxton as Sinbad, Bryan Hiles as Dame Donna Kebab, Darren King as Long John Slither, Belinda Henwood as Morgiana the Magnificent, and Amanda Kunene as Princess Marina. Also featuring Marion Loudon, Nhlakanipho Manqele and Mothokozisi Zulu.

Tickets are R150 to R230 (R120 to R180 for children under 12 and pensioners). Special preview and schools prices are R130 throughout.

“It’s going to be a full and busy year for us,” said Steven, “but we know that it will be well worth the effort!”

Booking for all these shows is through Computicket. If you wish to make block bookings of 50 or more seats, for charity fundraisers or groups, there are fantastic discounts on offer on selected performances!

Contact Ailsa Windsor of Going Places SA to make block bookings or get further information via email at editor@goingplacessa.com or phone 083 250 2690.