4th Annual Botho Pan African Festival 2017

Wushwini Arts, Culture and Heritage Centre: Sept 28 to Oct 1

Wushwini Pan African Centre will host a four-day arts festival titled  Botho Pan African Festival  from September 28 to October 1, 2017 at Wushwini, overlooking the scenic Inanda Dam in the Valley of 1000 Hills.

A packed weekend programme includes drama productions; conversations and panel discussions; storytelling, craft, exhibitions, dance; music; poetry; culinary; film; sound experimentation, CD launches and workshops.

The festival provides the opportunity to re-launch the much-loved and busy arts centre to include its pan-African context during a ceremony on Thursday 28 September 2017. Both the Centre and the Festival will be launched by the Former African Union Chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. The evening ceremony includes a host of drummers from many nations literally drumming in the new chapter for the arts centre.

“Our work must impact the world!”

Thokozani Mhlambi Heritage Concert Series

Durban: September 27 – 30 ,  2017

Internationally acclaimed KZN-born composer, cellist and academic, Dr Thokozani Mhlambi is presenting a series of special one-off Durban concerts and events for Heritage Month, embracing multiple genres and influences – from Beethoven to Mazizi Kunene – in and around Durban over month-end September.

Dr Thokozani Mhlambi will be using different media and multi-cultural musicians to creatively explore new South African music idioms through new music, electronic soundscapes, spoken word and orchestra works. He has assembled around him an ensemble of like minded music makers from KZN, UK, Italy and Peru.

Mhlambi, who plays a custom-designed, handmade Baroque cello with gut strings, creates innovative new work drawn from the rich heritage of KZN, while still asserting global standards of quality music-making.

Events:

The Alchemy of Words

Seabrook’s Theatre: Friday, Sept 22: 7pm

Alliance Française de Durban brings acclaimed multi-media production, The Alchemy of Words which searches to capture the enigma of French poet, Arthur Rimbaud, to the Seabrookes Thetre at DHS for one public performance only, on Friday 22 September at 7pm.

In The Alchemy of Words, three artists, a puppeteer, a filmmaker and a musician, explore the life and work of French poet, Arthur Rimbaud, and in so doing interrogates what it means to be a pioneer.

Arthur Rimbaud (1854 -1894) was the ‘enfant terrible’ of French poetry. His work has had a profound impact on the poetry of the 20^th Century:  André Breton, Dylan Thomas, Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan, Patti Smith and Jim Morrison are some of the artists and musicians that have been influenced by his writing.

The production asks: Who is this literary pioneer and creative genius who continues to receive letters from fans all over the world even 123 years after his death?  The performance asks us what the limit of our own imagination is theatre, visual arts and music. Through the convergence of the different mediums – the drawn line, the mythical world of the puppet, the immediacy of live music, a milieu is created where different worlds encounter one another in a space that is situated in a utopia of no borders, somewhere between a dreamscape and everyday life.

This collaboration between South African and French artists was made possible by the generous support of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS). For more info, contact 031 312 9582 / culture.afdurban@alliance.org.za.

Curtain Up

Celebrating the life of Themi Venturas

Playhouse Opera Theatre: Tuesday 26 September at 6pm

Curtain Up: There will be a gathering to celebrate the life of well-known theatre all-rounder Themi Venturas who died last week, to take place in the Playhouse Opera on Tuesday 26 September at 6pm.

The celebration will be in the form of a montage of performances, memories and tributes celebrating his life, featuring many of his colleagues and friends.

Please bring a plate of eats to share with friends as we fellowship after the celebration in the Playhouse foyer. The Playhouse bar will be open.

Please also bring a stone or pebble. The idea of communally creating a stone structure or cairn resonates across cultures, beliefs, faiths and folklore. The organisers invite all guests and participants to bring along a single stone or pebble which will be fashioned into a stone memorial to honour Themi at a place of personal significance to him. Guests are welcome to write a message or tribute onto the stone should they wish.

Family and friends want to give gracious and sincere thanks to the Playhouse CEO and staff for hosting the memorial event, and to thank all participants who gave up their time to remember Themi.

Entry is free and all welcome. In lieu of flowers, there will be a donation box to support the work of the Highway Hospice.

Mini World Youth Day: Durban

A Gathering in Durban of young Catholics from Southern Africa

Dbn Exhibition Centre and surrounds: Dec 6 – 10 , 2017

June is the month earmarked on our national calendar to celebrate and consider the young people of our land. To this end, June was chosen as the time to publically announce the   “mini” World Youth Day which will be held in Durban from 6 to 10 December 2017 at the Durban Exhibition Centre and surrounds, to unite Catholic young people from Southern Africa to celebrate their Christianity, community and unity while experiencing the chosen theme of “young people, faith and vocations.”

The intention is for the five day formal gathering to bring together young people between the ages of 18 and 35 years from South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Young people from all walks of life, representing different cultures, different languages and different geographical locations will come together to deepen their faith and to be encouraged to become more active, thoughtful, engaging and caring global citizens. Over the five days, there will be community engagement; prayerful activities; discussion groups and pilgrimages.

Booking for the conference is now open, and early booking is encouraged as delegate numbers are limited.For more information, please contact Barbara Koorbanally at the Archdiocese of Durban on 031 303 1417 or the Conference Company on 031 303 9852 – both during office hours; or visit https://miniworldyouthday.co.za/ or email louise@confco.co.za. Follow us: Facebook: Mini World Youth Day 2017 / Twitter: @MWYD_Durban  / Instagram: mwyd_durban

Music: jazz / contemporary / acoustic 

Seb Goldswain

KZN Tour: 27 Sept – 1 Oct

The effervescent guitar maestro, Seb Goldswain has announced his dates for his tour around KZN this  spring.

His jazzy, rock sound blended in with a bit of acoustic finger-picking ensures that his original solo acoustic performances are always highly energetic and a gig to remember. Having had a relatively quiet year as far as performing and artistic output goes, and after walking down the aisle; the guitar virtuoso has jumped into the spring and heritage season working on material for his next solo-acoustic album as well as working on loads of new and exciting material for his live shows that he is eager to introduce to the world.

For more info visit www.sebgoldswain.com or contact the venues for more details.

KZN Tour Sep 2017:

27 Sep: COPA Durban Guitar Clinic:
Time: 10:30am
Venue: COPA, Durban. 79 Smiso Nkwanyana Road
4001 Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
Cost: Free entrance.
Contact/booking: 031 303 7701
28 Sep: Alliance Française Durban:
Time: 6:30 for 7pm
Venue: Alliance Francais, 22 Sutton Crescent, Morningside.
Cost: R100
Contact/bookings: Alliance Francais, 031 312 9582, afdbn@global.co.za
29 Sep: The Dive, Hexagon Theatre, PMB:
Time: 7pm
Venue: Golf Road, UKZN Campus, 3201 Pietermaritzburg
Cost: R100
Contact/bookings: hexagon@ukzn.ac.za
More info: 033 260 5537
30 Sep: Westville Theatre Club:
Time: 7pm
Venue: 6 St James Avenue (adjacent to Westville Swimming Pool)
Cost: R100
Contact/Bookings: vanessa@marshallhillcrest.co.za
(Book a table for 8 and only pay for 7 offer)
1 October: Rocky Ridge, Ramsgate:
Time: 1pm
Venue: Fascadale Road, 4275, Ramsgate
Cost: R60
Contact: 072 473 6095
More info: www.rockyridge.co.za

Burton Naidoo group perform Kintsugi

The Jazzy Rainbow, Saturday 23 September

This performance by the Burton Naidoo group of Kintsugi at The Jazzy Rainbow is part of the Concerts SA Venue Circuit which aims to foster a love and support for live music in our communities, as well as anchor small and medium sized venues in urban and rural Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
Durban’s The Jazzy Rainbow, in association with Concerts SA, launched its first straight jazz programme on the eve of Heritage Day in September, 2016 and is following up with the same concept in 2017. “#JazzyStraightAhead is about introducing regular, live, straight jazz concerts to our city in order to help keep the music alive,” says Oliver-Rene Haas.
This forward thinking musician, who takes pride in the study and presentation of his art, has and continues to perform with some of South Africa’s finest musicians across all genres.
Date: Saturday 23rd September
Entrance: 7pm
Entrance fee: R70 including a free drink (T&C)
Bookings: phone 031-3038398 or email jazzyrainbow@mweb.co.za
The Jazzy Rainbow 93 Smiso Nkwanyana Road, Morningside

Andile Yenana’s Umngqungqo Wabantu presents Beyond Octave Trends tour

In association with Concerts SA, legendary jazz pianist Andile Yenana presents Beyond Octave Trends Tour- 7 performances, 4 cities, 3 different provinces- with his band Umngqungqo Wabantu.
Conceived as a musical metaphor, Beyond Octave Trends is a decade-long project through which jazz pianist, composer and teacher Andile Yenana aims to engage mainly legacy audiences such as the youth (who he will also involve centrally as band members), who will carry the fabric and universal principles of jazz into the future.
This touring project seeks to also challenge himself and fellow musicians- the nation as well- to go beyond our music, to ensure it embraces and reflects our greatest ideals of our society. Because music, and especially jazz, is the way society can reimagine itself by embracing its highest universal ideals while watering its own seeds, its own roots, to nurture the voice of its collective conscience.
Events Listing
Durban – The Headroom Studio [Performance]
Friday 6th October – 7pm – R 60
Address: 21 Bridlington road, Seaview, Durban
Bookings: 031 459 0840 / marius@theheadroom.co.za
Durban – The Jazzy Rainbow [Performance]
Saturday 7th October – 7pm – R 70 including a free drink (T&C)
Address: 93 Smiso Nkwanyana Rd, Morningside, Durban
Bookings: 031 303 8398 / jazzyrainbow@mweb.co.za

Theatre:

Booking now open for:

Defending the Caveman

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre: 2 – 14 October 2017

Tim Plewman, by public demand, once again dons the Caveman’s skins and steps onto stage to add to his record breaking slew of sold out performances of the longest-running and most successful solo comedy in South African theatre history, as he returns to the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN campus in Durban to perform Defending the Caveman from 2 – 14 October.

Tickets available from Computicket www.computicket.co.za 0861 915 8000 / Shoprite Checkers Money Market Counters.

Booking now open for:

Evita Bezuidenhout & the Kaktus of Separate Development

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre: 31 Oct – 19 Nov

Get a revised history lesson from South Africa’s most famous white woman, Evita Bezuidenhout, as she presents her side-splitting, satirical stand-up Evita Bezuidenhout & the Kaktus of Separate Development at the Elizabeth Sneddon theatre on UKZN campus for a three week run from Tuesday 31 October until Sunday 19 November.

Tannie Evita takes her audience on a unique great trek as she follows the journey of the Kaktus of Separate Development (Kaktaceae Apartica) from its arrival in 1652 to its reinvention in 1994 – right up to the headlines of today. Assisted by visual aids reflecting a familiar terrain of history, from the arrival of a small Dutch ship called the Drommedaris to the coronation of a former political prisoner called Madiba. She will have you in stiches while tackling one of the most controversial issues in our democracy: the real history of South Africa and the right to laugh at the lies.

Evita Bezuidenhout & the Kaktus of Separate Development

Venue: Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre

Dates: 31 October – 19 November 2017

Times: Tue 31 Oct: 19h30 Low Price Preview

Wed, Thurs, Friday at 7.30pm

Sat and Sun at 3pm

Tickets: Computicket www.computicket.co.za 0861 915 8000 / Shoprite Checkers Money Market Counters.

Booking now open for:

Ashwin Singh’s drama To House returns

Playhouse Drama: 5 to 7 Oct

The Singh Siblings in association with The Playhouse Company present a new production of  award-winning playwright Ashwin Singh’s To House. First staged at The Playhouse in 2006, it runs in the Drama Theatre from October  5 to 7. One of Durban’s best known international theatre pieces, it remains as relevant now as it was a decade ago, with South Africa’s continuing racial divisions and increasing class conflicts.

Directed by South African theatre-maker Ralph Lawson, the new staging of To House features a distinguished cast including Michael Gritten, Menzi Mkwane, Rowin Munsamy, Sivani Chinappan, Sandile Mthembu and Ashwin Singh.

To House runs each evening at 7.30pm from October, Thursday 5 to Saturday 7 and on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm as well. Tickets are R100, with concessions for pensioners and students. Booking is via Computicket on 0861 915 8000, online at www.computicket.com, or by calling The Playhouse Box Office on 031 369 9540/ 369 9596 (office hours).

YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN: Riverbend’s Spring Festival offers art, music and wine

Markets:

Durban’s newest monthly bespoke sundowner market

Rivertown Night Market

Rivertown Precinct: 29 Sept 5.30pm til 10pm

The Rivertown Night Market, opposite the ICC, is a brand new venture from Wholefood, a Durban based events and catering company, in partnership with Propertuity, which will take place on the last Friday evening of every month at the Rivertown Precinct..

The event will be family oriented and focus on local producers and entrepreneurs, the aim being to bring people together, and into the city, for a night of live entertainment, good food and great atmosphere. The focus will be on fresh and fabulous food and funky fare. Aside from a carefully-chosen variety of refreshments and light meals from carefully-selected service providers brought together for the event, the evening will feature an eclectic line up of live music. There will also be child-minding services and activities for the kids.

The Rivertown Night Market will take place at 130 Stalwart Simelane Street, opposite the ICC. Off street parking will be available adjacent to the venue, with ample additional street parking. Designated security guards and car guards will be on duty for the duration of the event to ensure the safety of guests.For further information on the market, please contact Darryl Hofmann on darryl.hofmann@icloud.com

All information from Publicity Matters. 

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