Don’t miss all the traditional circus ring entertainment
THE circus is coming to town, bringing a parade of jugglers, stunt horse riders, perky poodles, tightrope walkers, acrobats and clowns to entertain the young and the young at heart.
Boswell’s Circus will be at St Martin de Porres School in Port Shepstone from June 3 to 7. A household name in South Africa, this well-known circus has been entertaining audiences with a lively mix of traditional circus fare for the past 31 years. Expect a ringful of dazzling entertainment and unforgettable acts by awesome animals, hilarious clowns and talented artistes.
Trained horses, camels and ponies will prance into the ring with trainers Jane and Georgina Boswell, while perky poodles will delight the crowds with their energetic antics. Come and meet the camels, cheeky goats and a friendly alpaca called Nuzzle.
Not to be outdone by their furry ‘colleagues’, talented human performers have compiled a programme of jaw-dropping acts.
Acrobatics team, Quantum Leap, will perform aerial acrobatics, including a thrilling blindfolded pirouette high above the circus ring. Miss Tsetseg will do her contortions on the aerial hoop, spinning metres above the sawdust while holding on by her teeth. Mademoiselle Zaya will astound the crowds as she walks the tightrope on ballet points and flies through the air on the single trapeze.
It is all great family entertainment that is not to be missed. Book early to avoid disappointment by contacting 083 6297799 or www.boswell.co.za. All registered charities are invited to contact the Brian Boswell’s Circus Cyber Lions Club to arrange free visits to the circus.
Enjoy a concert in the park
SOUTHBROOM Conservancy and the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) are hosting a picnic and concert in the park at Eyles Park in Southbroom on Sunday July 6.
Local families are invited to join these organisations for a sunny afternoon of music. Pack a picnic lunch or a braai, your braai tongs, refreshments and chair or you can pre-order a picnic box, a prego roll and salad or soup and a roll – and have your chosen meal awaiting you. The organisers will supply the braai fires and and great entertainment.
The programme has not yet been finalised but will include popular ballads and light classical songs by Arina de Witt and a performance by popular saxophonist Vicky de Villiers.
There will be prizes for the best-dressed picnic spots – picnickers can go classic, casual, quirky or even outrageous. Take part in this delightful community event and support the fight against cancer. Tickets are R85 per person and will be available from June 1. Entrance for children is free. Arrive at noon for lunch. The concert starts at 2pm. Please note that this is a tickets-only event so buy your tickets early.
‘Annie’ on stage in Durban
DURBAN theatre production company KickstArt has earned much applause since its production of the much-loved musical, ‘Annie’ opened at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre last week.
It will be staged at this venue until June 15. Booking is open and tickets can be purchased through Computicket.
The musical, which tells the well-known rags to riches story of everybody’s favourite orphan, Annie, features a full star-studded Durban line-up. Lisa Bobbert plays the hilariously villainous Miss Hannigan. KickstArt’s Steven Stead will make a rare appearance on stage as Miss Hannigan’s wicked brother, Daniel ‘Rooster’ Hannigan. Iain Robinson performs as billionaire Daddy Warbucks who opens the school and eventually opens his heart. Jessica Sole plays Grace Farrel, Daddy Warbuck’s secretary who loves Annie from the start and Belinda Henwood stars as Lily St. Regis, Rooster’s girlfriend.
Multi-award winning set designer, Greg King wows the audience with magnificent sets depicting New York City in the 1930s. Neil Stuart Harris has created the gorgeous costumes. The ace production team includes lighting designer, Tina le Roux, Janine Bennewith as choreographer and Shelley McLean and Evan Roberts as musical directors. KickstArt’s production of Annie features memorable songs such as ‘Tomorrow’, ‘Hard Knock Life’, ‘You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile’, ‘Maybe’, ‘Little Girls’ and ‘Easy Street’.
The show wouldn’t be complete without the title role and this year KickstArt introduces two young ladies who have been cast as Annie. Sarah Donkin from Umhlanga and Berea’s Luca Tarboton join forces to play the darling redhead. The duo will alternate over the three-week run.
KickstArt has joined forces with I-Care and Project Rhino for ‘Annie’. There will be a donation box on the box office counter. Donations received will be equally divided between these two charities.
Women sing songs that heal
GCUGCWA Productions, in association with The Playhouse Company, proudly presents the premiere staging of a brave new production titled ‘Women in Singing’. This will be performed in the Playhouse Loft Theatre from June 11 to 15. An upbeat musical, it focuses on women who have been abused spiritually and physically. Instead of bemoaning their unhappy situations, they have decided to come together with a positive attitude.
Following their dream of singing, they form their own group,’Women in Singing’. With luck and perseverance things look up when they are invited to take part in a big event in New York. Boasting a line-up of fresh new songs, ‘Women In Singing’ stars a powerhouse cast of performers, including Sam Hlophe, Angel Dateh Zondo, Sheila Mkhize, Philele Chonco and Mpume Mthombeni. The five-piece backing band comprises musical director Mthobisi Mthalane on keyboards, Mbuso Sokhela on bass, Spha Dlamini on drums, Nokwanda Nkala on saxophone and Stephanie Pais on trumpet. Booking is through Computicket outlets at Shoprite Checkers, by phoning 0861 915 8000 or online at www.computicket.com.
It’s magic
LOCAL audiences are enjoying some mind-blowing illusions, magic, stand-up comedy, audience participation and side-splitting laughter as international entertainers, illusionist Ricki Gray and comedy magician Stephen Cloete, unite to present the hit show, ‘Abra-Viagra’.
It has toured southern Africa and is now being enjoyed by KwaZulu-Natal audiences at Durban and Pietermaritzburg’s Rhumbelow Theatres, until June 1. For details about the show and to book your seat telephone 031 2612012 or 082 4998636.
Celebrities focus on fashion for charity
SPOT your favourite stars in the midst of fashion at the 50 Shades of Black fashion show presented by the Geness Foundation, at the Square Conference Centre, Umhlanga Rocks, on Saturday, May 31, at 5pm.
Celebratory guest appearances include Ashish Gangapersad, Sisa Hewana and Maurice Paige from Isidingo as well as Scandal’s Clint Brink and Indian actress, Varsha Harpal. There will also be live performances from various local artistes including Darrius Pillay and Natalie Rungan during the fashion show.
The Geness Foundation believes in positively changing African lives and the proceeds of this night of glitz, glamour and goodwill will go to the KwaZulu-Natal Blind and Deaf Society. Models will stroll the catwalk to show specially-designed garments from: Kujula Mtambo, Meriska Gareeb, Vijay Shah, Kathryn de Jesus, Yolandie Wessels, Sarojini Moodley, Thembeka Vilakazi, Jenine David and Quinton Naidoo. Garments on show will include men’s and women’s wear, evening wear, swimwear, cocktail wear, jewellery and – one of the most interesting categories – recycled fashions.
Patrons can look forward to a welcome drink upon arrival. They will be able to browse around the pop up shops, enjoy the after party festivities and bid on jewellery during the auction. Tickets are available at www.webtickets.co.za and cost R150 per person. For information telephone Varshan at 082 882 0044.
Soloists share stage with orchestra
KWAZULU-NATAL Philharmonic Orchestra’s symphony concert at the Durban City Hall, tonight (Thursday) at 7pm, showcases a range of successful South African soloists and two of Durban’s leading choirs.
The programme brings together a sensitive combination of lyricism, spirituality and classics in a variety of short pieces. From Mozart to Liszt, across the Atlantic to Copland and back to Schubert’s Mass No 2, the evening will be filled with drama and beauty.
Celebrating his 25th anniversary of performing with the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, renowned pianist Christopher Duigan joins the orchestra with his interpretation of Concert-Rondo in A major by Mozart. On the podium will be Daniel Walshaw, a model 21st century interdisciplinary musician. From performance and production to scholarship and composition, Daniel has had many successes in every aspect of the performing arts. He currently manages artistic production and new music for the orchestra, as well as leading the orchestra library. He is married to the KZN Philharmonic’s concert master, highly talented violinist Joanna Frankel.
The concert closes with an aura of heavenly beauty evoked by Schubert’s Mass No 2 in G major. Members of the Clermont Community Choir and the Durban Symphony Choir, along with three well-loved South African soloists, Nozuko Teto (soprano), Wayne Mkhize (tenor) and Mthunzi Nokubeka (baritone),- will accompany the orchestra as Schubert delicately weaves the Mass text through his deeply poetic musical language.
Folk festival in the pipeline.
IF you are hoping to take part in the South Coast’s fourth annual Folk Music and Song Writers’ Festival, you will be interested to know that auditions are now under way.
The festival takes place at Melville’s Sanctuary of Love on Youth Day, June 16. Auditions for folk singers and acoustic groups will take place at The Rock Bottom Music Bistro in Umzumbe, every Sunday afternoon until the end of May as part of the weekly pull in, plug in ‘n play afternoons, from 2 to 3pm.
This year’s festival will feature the South Coast’s internationally acclaimed Hinds Brothers and the ever-loving legendary folk music group from Pietermaritzburg, ‘The Hairy Legged Lentil Eaters’. Entrance to the festival is by donation, to raise funds for the charity and community work that the Sanctuary of Love does on the South Coast. This year it will support The Rape Crisis Centre.
These annual festivals have become extremely popular family events, with laid-back acoustic music played in the sanctuary’s tranquil gardens. As usual there will be art, craft and food stalls.
