Enjoy the women’s arts festival

THE 18th South African Women’s Arts Festival will be at the Durban Playhouse from 22 to 31 August.

On Friday 22 August, there will be sundowner concerts from 5.30pm with Heels over Head and Susan Barry and at 7.30pm. There will be the show Beyond The Big Bangs, a unique play about three women all of whom either live or work in Durban North. The production explores their connections and the challenges of their complex lives through a combination of funny and poignant monologues and conversations.

On Saturday, 23 August at 9am there will be the Test Driving the Arts concert and from 9am to 2pm there will be an open day with the KZN Departments of Health, Agriculture and Arts and Culture.

From 10am there will be a Children’s Theatre Fun Day, Drum Kidz, Playhouse Dance Residency, Clowns and more.

At 2.30pm there will be a book launch of The Essential Finance Handbook by Precious Mvulane and the opening of an visual art exhibition Path Lines by Nolan Dennis.

At 3pm and 7pm, Beyond the Big Bangs will show in the Loft.

On Tuesday, 26 August at 10am, From Then ‘til Now (schools preview) will be shown. This is a dance production to commemorate the two decades of South Africa's historic democracy – a work that honours, celebrates and pays respect to the many people and issues that have helped mould South Africa into the country it is today.

From 3pm to 5pm there will be a workshop by Jude Kelly on leadership. After 30 years of running a wide range of organisations of different scales Jude will to explore through debate and discussion how to find a personal leadership style that is both collegiate and authoritative.

At 5pm there will be poetry, slam and open mic and jazz with Khanyo Maphumulo and Nu Savoys.

On Wednesday 27 August at 2pm, there will be an inter-generational dialogue – Celebrating Women in 20 Years of Freedom.

At 6pm there will be the opening of From Then ‘til Now in the Drama theatre.

At 8pm there will be a gala concert which promises to be a spectacular, not-to-be-missed event that will feature some of the country's finest musical talent such as Mafikizolo, The Soil, Naima Kay, DJ Happy Girl. Directed by Somizi Mhlongo.

On Thursday 28 August at 10am there will be the show From Then ‘Til Now.

At 1pm there will be Jude Kelly’s mentorship workshop.

As a theatre director and producer Jude will offer a workshop to other women in the arts, be it the director, writer, composer, choreographer and help them to find a creative voice.

At 7pm there will be the preview of Shades, which tells the story of Pearl, a young widow who bitterly resents her husband for dying and leaving her with the prospect of a lonely old age and her mother for being unable to provide her with the affection she craved as a child.

At 7.30pm there will be the show From Then Til Now.

On Friday 29 August at 6.30pm, there will be a sundowner concert featuring Natalie Rungan.

At 7.30pm Shades will be in the Loft theatre.

On Saturday, 30 August at 9am there will be an exhibition and art and crafts in the main foyer.

At 3pm and 7.30pm Shades will be performed in the Loft theatre.

On Sunday 31 August at 3pm, Shades will be performed in the main foyer.

Arts and Crafts will be on display and for sale in the main foyers of the Playhouse daily.