Nortasuna directed by 2016 Naledi nominee, Lidija Marelic. Photo: Supplied
THE South African Theatre Season, presented by Drama for Life in partnership with Wits Theatre, Wits School of Arts and Wits Counselling, Careers and Development Unit, is back on home turf this year after a successful 2015 season at the State Theatre in Pretoria. Running from April 6 to 9 the season brings to its audiences the thought provoking theme of Forgotten Futures. Continue reading
Clare Mortimer and Ralph Lawson in A Voice I Cannot Silence at the 2015 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown. The play, directed by Greg Homann, is based on the life, stories and poems of Alan Paton. (Photo: CuePix/Sithasolwazi Kentane)
THE nominees for the Naledi Awards 2016 – which will take place at the Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg on April 19 – have been revealed and according to executive director, Dawn Lindberg, the standard has never been higher.
Several Durbanites are in the running for this year’s awards including KickStArt Theatre Company’s Steven Stead for Sweeney Todd and Little Shop of Horrors, Greg King, Tina le Roux, Neil Stuart Harris, Charon Williams-Ros for Sweeney Todd, Caroline Smart for Hinterland and Clare Mortimer and Menzi Mkhwane for A Voice I Cannot Silence.
Short, Stories, Alive, the Nobulali Productions show, directed by former Durban resident, Neil Coppen, is also nominated; as is former Durban actress Janna Ramos-Violante, who gets a nomination for her work in Doubt. Continue reading
Join KickStart Theatre Company for a trip Into The Woods. Photo: Val Adamson
DURBAN’S KickstArt Theatre Company is presenting an exciting bouquet of productions for 2016. Continue reading
Conrad Koch and Chester Missing.
The prestigious annual Naledi Theatre Awards, which were held in Johannesburg on April 14, will be screened on SABC3 on Saturday, August 22, at 10.30 pm, with a repeat broadcast on Tuesday, August 25 at 10 pm. The 90-minute show highlights the best of the best in South African theatre productions staged in 2014. Continue reading
Animal Farm
ShakeXperience, in association with the Market Theatre, is staging George Orwell’s inspired allegory novel Animal Farm from August 25 to September 6. The sickening reality of the corruption of power and the disintegration of high ideals is brought home in the unique South African adaptation by Neil Coppen’s award-winning adaptation of the timeless novel. Continue reading
Marikana – The Musical, winner of six Naledi Awards, returns to the stage at the South African State Theatre in Pretoria.
Adapted by acclaimed multi-award winning playwright and theatre director, Aubrey Sekhabi from the book We Are Going to kill Each Other Today- The Marikana Story penned by South African writers , Thanduxolo Jika, Felix Dlangamandla, Lucas Ledwaba, Sebabatso Mosamo, Athandwa Saba and Leon Sadiki, the musical looks at the events that led to the loss of 44 lives at the hands of the police and the miners. It goes back to the villages and townships where they came from and give faces and names to the fallen brothers, sons, fathers and uncles.
“Marikana – the Musical has been a humbling experience for us, awards, accolades and public demand it has been a real roller-coaster of emotions for me, the creative team and the cast we hope to continue using art to heal, mourn and most importantly to teach tolerance,” says director, Aubrey Sekhabi.
The 40 strong cast is led by Meshack “Mimi” Mavuso, Aubrey Poo, Emma Mmekwa, and Mpho “Mckenzie” Matome.
At the Naledi Theatre Awards 2014 Marikana – The Musical took home the awards for the best production of a musical (The South African State Theatre), best director (Aubrey Sekhabi), best performance in a musical: female (Emma Mmekwa), best set design (Wilhelm Disbergen), best musical score (Mckenzie Matone, Zakele Mabena and Aubrey Sekhabi), and best original choreography (Thabo Rapoo).
NEED TO KNOW
Marikana – The Musical will be staged in the Drama Theatre at the State Theatre in Pretoria from July 16 to August 16. Go to http://www.statetheatre.co.za/ for more details and to book.
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