Into the Woods is a wish come true

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The cast of KickStArt Theatre Company’s Into the Woods which is running at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban. Photo: Val Adamson

Review: Into The Woods – Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 

THERE is a saying ‘be careful what you wish for’, but I for one am extremely happy that my wish – that Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods would be staged in Durban one day – came true. Currently running at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, KickStArt Theatre Company has again showed what can be achieved by ambitious dreamers and a dream cast and crew. Continue reading

All the Naledi Theatre Awards winners

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Naledi award-winners Fiona Ramsay and Janna Ramos-Violante in Doubt.

VETERAN actress, Fiona Ramsay, made history on Tuesday, April, when she won the best lead performance in a play (female) for two different plays – Doubt and Miss Dietrich Regrets at the prestigious Naledi Theatre Awards at the Lyric Theatre in Gold Reef City, Johannesburg.

Her co-star in Doubt, Janna Ramos-Violante, won the best supporting actress award. She was one of several actors and companies with links to KwaZulu-Natal who enjoyed a great night at the awards ceremony. Continue reading

Nominations open for the 2016 ImpACT Awards for young artists

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The 2015 ImpACT Awards winners: Lindiwe Maxolo, Jessica Denyschen, POPArt, Laurie van Heerden, Letlhogonolo Nche and Benon Lutaaya at the Maslow Hotel, Sandton. Photograph: John Hogg.

THE Arts & Culture Trust (ACT) is inviting nominations for the eagerly awaited 2016 ImpACT Awards, which are held annually in recognition and celebration of excellence within the arts, culture and creative sectors in South Africa.

Nominations for the 2016 ImpACT Awards for Young Professionals, sponsored by The National Lotteries Commission (NLC) and the Distell Foundation in partnership with Sun International, are now open. This year there will be a total of five ImpACT Awards to honour young professional artists. Continue reading

It’s time to go Into the Woods with KickStArt

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The cast of Into the Woods. Photo: Val Adamson

I remember sending a message to Steven Stead, artistic director of KickStArt Theatre Company, after seeing Disney’s film version of Into the Woods whether he had plans to do a stage version. He just said ‘watch this space’.

This week Durban theatregoers get to see Into the Woods on stage at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on the University of KwaZulu-Natal Howard College campus from April 15 to May 1. I for one cannot wait to see Stephen Sondheim’s classic and I urge all my friends and family in Durban and Maritzburg to go and see it. Continue reading

Royal Court Theatre’s Hangmen to be screened at Cinema Nouveau

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The next production in the National Theatre Live series to be screened at Cinema Nouveau is the acclaimed Royal Court Theatre production of Hangmen.

Written by Olivier and Academy Award-winner Martin McDonagh (In Bruges, Seven Psychopaths, The Cripple of Inishmaan), and with an all-star cast, the big-screen version of this hit new comedy releases on Saturday, April 9 at Cinema Nouveau. Continue reading