17 – 19 September

One of the country’s most established and respected arts festival – the annual Witness Hilton Arts Festival which is now in its 18th year, will take place on the beautiful grounds of the Hilton College from 17 – 19 September.

The annual Witness Hilton Arts Festival is broadly considered to be KZN’s foremost arts and culture festival which consistently produces a sterling programme of cutting-edge drama, comedy, music and cabaret, as well as an impressive array of arts and crafts appealing to all who visit the festival each year.

The festival attracts an enticing mix of phenomenal South African performers and artists gleaned from the most prestigious stages around the country including the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown in July.

There are some new spins on the festival this year. This year’s festival starts with a a full day’s programme of age-specific arts-events aimed at schools. Just under a thousand learners will experience the thrill of the performing arts. It is a celebration of all that is young, new and vibrant and has been dubbed “Jongosi” – Johnny Clegg’s word from the Afrikaans meaning “jong os” which has become absorbed into isiZulu parlance. Jongosi is designed to educate, entertain and allow learners to expand their world view.

The Witness Flagship Production is Dada Masilo’s Swan Lake. 25 year old Dada Masilo is one of South Africa’s most exciting contemporary dance talents.

Booking will open on 20 August. Programmes available in that day’s Witness; at selected Spar stores. For more information or a full programme and booking kit – visit or www.hiltonfestival.co.za phone 033 383 0126 /7

The festival would not be possible without: The Witness, East Coast Radio, Black Coffee, Nedbank, Budget, SAB, Star Hire, KZN Dept of Arts & Culture

Heritage month – time for the ninth annual Celebrate Durban events showcase which features 45 plus eclectic participative vents which are on offer this year during September in recognition of heritage / tourism month.

The season once more sees a comprehensive calendar with a clever mix of social, family, heritage, sports, arts, culture, health, environmental and community events to celebrate our city’s cultural diversity.

Our city has once again put together a diverse, engaging and participative programme for September to which city residents and visitors are warmly invited to share.

For more information, contact the Department of International and Governance Relations in the eThekwini Municipality on tel 031 311 2104.

FULL PROGRAMME HERE

Arts: Sept 4, Sept 18,
Heritage: Aug 28, Sept 11, Sept 25

Especially for the Celebrate Durban season, the popular Arts Bus and its sister the Heritage Bus - will alternate weekly offering two different cultural experiences with a free hop-on, hop-off city bus which allows arts lovers to visit eight of the city’s premier galleries and some of the city’s top heritage attractions in a day.

The Celebrate Durban season will see the bus travel every Saturday with the two buses alternating: the Arts bus on Sept 4, Sept 1 8 and the Heritage bus on Sept 11, Sept 25.

The idea is for residents to explore their city with comfort and ease; and for visitors to discover some of the arts and heritage treasures which the city has to offer. Packaging day trips makes visits easier with no transport, navigation or parking issues.

A major benefit is that the bus has an onboard guide to explain the attractions en route and to provide a narrative context to all the places to be visited.

The bus for both routes will depart at 9am at the KZNSA Gallery in Glenwood for those wanting to park their cars in the KNZSA car park.

The Arts Bus takes visitors to some of the premier galleries in the city. The route includes the KZNSA Gallery; The Durban Art Gallery; The BAT Centre; Artisan Gallery; African Art Centre; Durban University of Technology Gallery, ArtSPACE Durban and Crouse Art Gallery.

The Heritage route includes: Mazisi Kunene Museum; the KwaMuhle Museum; the Old Court House Museum; Durban Botanic Gardens, the Juma Masjid Mosque and Emmanuel Cathedral. An in depth guided tour through the precious artefacts of the Phansi Museum has also been organized for bus commuters.

En route passengers will be shown various civic attractions such as the John Ross statue; Vasco Da Gama clock; Dick King statue; Fernando Pessoa statue; Port Natal Maritime Museum, the Victoria St Indian Market and City Hall / Post Office precinct.

This will be the third year that the Arts Bus has been running. It has previously been an integral part of the Celebrate Durban September season, and was part of the World Cup season in July this year.

Bus entry is free and all are welcome. There will be lunch stops factored into the itinerary for passengers to purchase a light meal. Seats are limited so booking is advisable. Enquiries and bookings: Domy Cortes domcortes@gmail.com / Tel: 078 161 2092 ROUTES AND ATTRACTIONS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE!

Courtyard Theatre, DUT 7pm - Friday 27th August, 2010

Colours of Dreams picks up its season after their run was cut short last week due to strike action. Durban University of Technology’s Drama Department presents the annual dance production, a season of contemporary dance entitled “Colours of Dreams” which is being staged at the Courtyard Theatre at DUT campus this week from Wednesday 25 until Friday 27 August.

This production revolves around different dreams, Pink, Red, Black, Grey, White, Green, and Yellow. Colours of Dreams focuses on a Journey or search for the truth “coming clean”, purity, healing, growth, newness which can be symbolic of death and new beginnings, individuality and space that define our inner being. Colours of Dreams involves all 2nd and 3rd year dance specialists who specialize in Theatre Dance and showcases four works by Durban based choreographers, Mdu Mtshali, Musa Hlatshwayo, Mlekeleli Khuzwayo, Sandile Mbili and directed by a dance lecturer Mdu Mtshali.

The Courtyard Theatre Management, DUT and the Department of Drama Studies, wish to apologise profusely for any inconveniences caused. The theatre and boxoffice will reopen for these days. Patrons are please to re-book with Lebohang Sibisi on (031) 373 2194 / lebohangs@dut.ac.za

Date: Wednesday 25th August, Thursday 26th August and Friday 27th August
Time: 19h00
Venue: The Courtyard Theatre, Steve Biko Road
Entrance Fee: R20
For more info: Lebohang Sibisi (031) 373 2194

Playhouse Opera: 17 Sept to 25 Sept

The ever-popular 19th year of Shall We Dance Ballroom and Latin American showcase presents its glorious annual dance extravaganza which features 100 of the region’s most exciting dancers as well as top award-winning industry professionals, in the Playhouse Opera for a short season from17 – 25 September.

It once more promises to delight audiences with its carefully-chosen eclectic mix of quality dance – all with an underlying ballroom and Latin American theme. The annual showcase started in 1991 - Shall We Dance is probably the longest annual production in Durban. It is presented by the Playhouse Company in association with the South African Dance Teachers’ Association. It is directed by tireless dance activists, Neville Letard and Caryl Cusens

This year for the first time ever, Shall We Dance boasts a top international dance couple from London: Danny Stowell and Kate Moore. The other featured soloist couple hails from Cape Town and stole the show last year: Megan Lottering and Devon Snell.

Shall We Dance – which this year falls into the city’s Celebrate Durban season - once more promises to delight audiences with its carefully-chosen eclectic mix of quality dance – all with an underlying ballroom and Latin American theme. Featured dances include Ballroom and Latin American dancing; hip-hop; modern; ballet; tap; Spanish, and American smooth.

The MC is once again Damon Beard and soloist is velvet-voiced singer Jaziel Vaugh’hann – known to many as “Jaz”. Jaz will be singing two songs from his highly-acclaimed recently-launched first album, “Heaven Only Knows”: Angel and I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

Shall We Dance runs from17 – 25 September. Seats are available downstairs and in the loge of the Playhouse Opera only. Tickets are R100; and R60 pensioners and scholars. Heritage Day Friday matinee, tickets are R60 throughout (no concessions.)
Book at Computicket.

Schedule:
17 Sept - Perf - 1 - 19h30 - Opening
18 Sept - Perf - 2 - 15h00
18 Sept - Perf - 3 - 19h30
19 Sept - Perf - 4 - 15h00
21 Sept - Perf - 5 - 19h30 – Charity – Denis Hurley Centre
22 Sept - Perf - 6 - 19h30 – Charity – Rotary
23 Sept - Perf - 7 - 19h30
24 Sept - Perf - 8 - 15h00 - Heritage Day – low price
25 Sept - Perf - 9 - 15h00
25 Sept - Perf -10 - 19h30 - Finale

Playhouse Opera: 21 Sept at 7.30pm

The organisers of Shall We Dance Ballroom and Latin American showcase have graciously made available the downstairs seats at the 7.30pm performance of 21 September as a fundraiser for the Denis Hurley Centre which will be a multi-purpose community centre in the heart of the city, affiliated to Emmanuel Cathedral which will house various worthwhile ecumenical and community projects.

The new building will be used to its optimum. It will house the Cathedral’s outreach and social responsibility programmes – including homeless support and feeding projects; refugee pastoral care; nursing / HIV / AIDS programme; a comprehensive counselling service; the St Vincent de Paul Society. A subtext to the vision is community building – creating bridges between the Zulu speakers, English speakers and refugees in the parish. This will be complemented by a multi-purpose conference and educational centre; catering facility; coffee shop; book shop; craft shop; resource centre and exhibition space. There will also be accommodation for visiting interns and volunteers.

Archbishop Denis Hurley OMI was bishop and archbishop of Durban from 1947 – 1992 becoming known internationally for his stand against apartheid and his active involvement in reform of the Catholic Church. After retiring in 1992, he became parish priest of the Cathedral for the last ten years of his active ministry.

For further info about the Denis Hurley Centre, contact Paddy Kearney on pkearney@saol.com / tel 031 201 3832 / 072 806 4417.

All profits raised from this performance will be donated to the Denis Hurley Centre fund.
Seats available downstairs and the loge in the Playhouse Opera only. Book at Computicket.

Catalina Theatre: 23 Sept – 3 Oct.

Shows: Thursday to Sunday
Time: 7:30pm, Sunday Matinee 3pm.
Friday the 1st and Saturday the 2nd October at 6pm (to dove-tail with the Blues Festival.)
Cost: R80, Matinee and block bookings R60.

Great news for dance enthusiasts, Linda Vargas, Durban’s much-loved ‘Queen of Spanish Dance’, is to return to the stage with her acclaimed Flamenco Dance Company after an absence of six years. Vargas will present an exhilarating programme entitled Familia Flamenco at the Catalina Theatre on Wilson’s Wharf. This will run Thursday to Sundays from 23 September to 26 September, and again from 30 September to 3 October 2010.

True to the traditions of Flamenco communities in Spain, the upcoming season at the Catalina Theatre will follow the pattern of offering up a programme performed by a close-knit family group, hence the title of the show.

Performances times of Familia Flamenco will be at 6pm (23, 28, 30 September, and 2 October) and at 3pm (24, 26 September and 3 October). Book now for this limited season and avoid disappointment. Tickets cost R60 (matinees) and R80 (evening shows). Booking is through Strictly Tickets 073 725 7381 or online at www.strictlytickets.com. Alternatively call the theatre directly on 031-305 6889.

Courtyard Theatre: 7 – 10 Sept

Rhinoceros – Eugene Ionesco’s iconic French Theatre-of-the Absurd play about social conformity – is being staged by drama students from DUT at the Courtyard Theatre from 7 – 10 September, under the direction of Lloyd O'Connor.

Rhinoceros takes place in a small village where locals pass the time and passionately debate the issues of the day. The everyman character, Berenger, is a laid-back drunk and a cafe regular. One by one the people around literally morph into rhinoceroses, until ultimately he is the only villager still in human form.

This watershed drama and dark comedy is a fascinating, wry and disturbing study of the “pack mentality” - man’s ability to indiscriminately embrace violence, force and conformity without question. Ionesco was profoundly influenced by the events which led to the outbreak of the Second World War and the alarming rise of Communism and Facism in Europe. In a more contemporary context, the psychology behind this production could just as easily inform phenomena such as religious cults, neo-Nazism or xenophobia.

Rhinoceros features a cast of 35 DUT undergraduates.
Event: Rhinoceros
Genre: absurdist theatre / dark comedy
Date: 7 – 10 September 2010
Venue: Courtyard Theatre
Time: 19h00
Director: Lloyd O'Connor.
Entrance Fee: R20
For more info: Lebohang Sibisi (031) 373 2194

Upper Deck, uShaka Marine World: until September 4.

Aye, aye captain – the upcoming show at the uShaka Marine World’s Upper Deck is going to be a foot stomping, sing-along pirate party of note.

The Buccaneers is a ship shape, light-hearted musical and interactive dinner experience featuring musical gems like the McCulley’s Workshop song that shares its name with the show, traditional Irish number Whisky In the Jar (Thin Lizzy / Metallica), Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough (Michael Jackson), Ready to Run (Dixie Chicks) and sailor jigs aplenty.

Like its Predecessor, Born in the RSA, The Buccaneers doesn’t follow the traditional supper theatre format, allowing for plenty of ad-libbing and audience participation. On arrival, guests can choose one item of pirate apparel – an eye patch, kerchief or a hook – and then prepare to find themselves sword-fighting, deck-swabbing and treasure hunting before they can yell Ship Ahoy!

Hosted by Captain Bess and her comely wenches (who just happen to serve up a few drinks before taking to the stage), the show is gate-crashed by a rowdy bunch of hard-drinking, sword-fighting pirates. That means a rollicking experience for the whole family

The Buccaneers stars Bandile Hlope, Rory Booth, Brendon Mendez, Krystle Temmerman and Lyle Buxton.

The show runs every Thursday to Saturday starting July 29 and runs until September 4. Booking is via Computicket. Buffet Dinner and show is R169 with complimentary cocktail on arrival. For more information call 031 328 8107.

The Playhouse Loft: 7-12 September
Witness Hilton Arts Festival: 17 – 19 September

KickstArt is proud to present its critically acclaimed production of Duet for One, the deeply moving and yet disarmingly funny West End hit play by Tom Kempinski at the Playhouse Loft from 7-12 September 2010, and then to the Hilton Arts Festival.

The production had a highly successful season in Johannesburg earlier this year, with outstanding reviews across the board and numerous standing ovations.

Duet for One is an absorbing and fascinating play about a virtuoso violinist stricken with multiple sclerosis and her relationship with her psychiatrist. The point of reference for the story is the life of famed cellist Jacqueline du Pre, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and her relationship with her husband, conductor Daniel Barenboim.

The production pairs two of the country’s most accomplished actors, Durban’s Clare Mortimer and Johannesburg’s Michael Richard.

Duet for One is directed by multi-award winning director, Steven Stead; designed by Greg King with lighting design by Tina le Roux. KickstArt was invited to collaborate on Duet for One after Johannesburg theatre producer, Daphne Kuhn saw their production of Margaret Edson’s astonishing play Wit which was critically acclaimed in Grahamstown, Johannesburg and Durban last year.

7-12 September: Loft Theatre, Playhouse (Durban)
7.30pm Tues-Sat, 2.30pm Sat, 6pm Sun
Prices: R100 (Adults) R80 (Pensioners/Students)
SEATING UNRESERVED
Booking is through COMPUTICKET (0839158000) or www.computicket.co.za

DPHS: 15 – 17 Sept

Wonka’s Golden Ticket is the DPHS Centenary Production and features a senior primary cast of 70. The show will be held at Durban Preparatory High School, 99 Gordon Road, Morningside 15th - 17th September, doors open at 17h30 - curtain up at 18h30. Tickets are R30 and are available from 6th Sept - 14th 07h30 - 08h30 Sept outside the DPHS school hall. Alternatively people can contact me on brunings@dphs.co.za or 083 326 3257 to reserve seats.

This show will be a fabulous production featuring our talented senior primary learners and a wonderful way to crown DPHS' Centenary Year! In your wildest dreams you cannot imagine the wonderful surprises that await YOU!”

Square Space Theatre, UKZN: 31 Aug – 5 Sept - 7.00 pm

The House of Bernarda Alba, the second part of this year’s Lorca festival following Blood Wedding in March, is directed jointly by UKZN’s Tamar Meskin and DUT’s Tanya van der Walt, and continues the collaborative project begun last year with the critically acclaimed FrontLines, which aims to bring staff and students from each of Durban’s Drama departments together.

The House of Bernarda Alba, subtitled as a drama of women in villages in Spain, follows the events in the claustrophobic atmosphere of a house full of women, shut up for eight years of mourning. The recently widowed Bernarda keeps her five daughters locked away from the world, exercising absolute control over their every move, but underneath the surface of their day to day life, the inevitability of the tragedy broods. The men, who represent both a threat and the promise of freedom, never appear onstage, but their absence looms large as catalyst in the catastrophic unfolding of events, in a story filled with love, lust, madness and betrayal .

Like Blood Wedding, The House of Bernarda Alba is a vehicle to investigate the subjects which fascinated Lorca: desire, repression, ritual, revenge, love, and family and the constraints and commitments of the rural Spanish community in which the play is rooted. Hauntingly beautiful and profoundly moving, this play is Lorca’s masterpiece and in it he evokes with passion and power the lives of repressed people everywhere in pursuit of freedom.

The production features a cast of 16, all wonderful dynamic young actresses, who are relishing the challenge of Lorca’s intricate language and character. With set and costume design by Mervyn McMurtry, and lighting design by Tina le Roux, the production promises to be a visual feast.

For more info Claudette Wagner at (031)260-3133, or email at wagnerc1@ukzn.ac.za.

The Anton Benzon @ Crouse Art Gallery
254 Lillian Ngoyi / Windermere Rd Morningside, Durban

Two women artists - Este Mostert and Helena Wagenaar - with very different views of women will jointly exhibit at the Crouse Art Gallery opening next Friday 10 September.

Both women paint evocative, personal, tender, carefully-observed portraits of women – both in their own distinctive style.

Helena Wagenaar’s beautiful and charming oils have such wide appeal and to speak to this warm and talented painter it’s easy to see her own charm reflected in her works. Her subject matter is largely women and, although this down-to-earth woman doesn’t like to over-intellectualise, when pressed says, “Women make the world turn - or condemn it - but I prefer turn. Also, I went to an all-girl school and in the nursing profession was surrounded by women most of the time. I’ve also been inspired by my musical and artistic sisters.” She doesn’t paint many landscapes because, as she puts it, “I live in a landscape. At home, if I turn 360 degrees, there are no houses apart from ours as far as the eye can see.”

Struggle is not evident in Wagenaar’s eloquent, poetic oils. There is a restful quality, even when the subject matter is melancholy, and the paint is vigorously applied with a confident approach and enviable technique that belies her words.

From a very young age, Esté Mostert showed a particular aptitude for the fine arts. This served as inspiration to formally study art. Mostert sees her work as the romanticising of the everyday realities surrounding her. Her experiences are transposed to an out-of-this-world environment where an old worldly gentleness prevails. This setting for her art is often seen as a place where dream and reality meet.

"My career developed from a desire to express my creative abilities and attributes. This I do through painting my dream world, thereby giving expression to my views, my beliefs - my own inner being. The images in my art, are the depiction of the way I see the world and the characters that live in my imagination", Mostert is quoted as saying.

A large combined body of work by Wagenaar and Este Mostert will be showcased in a joint exhibition entitled “The Soul of a Woman”, which opens on 10 September at Crouse Gallery on the corner of Lillian Ngoyi (Windermere) and Adrain Rds in Morningside.

For more information to phone 031 312 2315 or visit their website – www.crouseartkzn.co.za

ArtSPACE Durban runs until 11 September

A solo exhibition by UK based artist-activist Sandira Reddy entitled All Shades of Brown, opens at ArtSPACE Durban on Monday 23 August.

“The title of the exhibition describes the skin colour element that comes across in all the disciplines that I work in: graphic design, photography and fine art. The show will feature pieces from each area illustrating all the facets that make up me – the artist and designer,” explains Reddy.

“This is the first time I will be exhibiting in my hometown and my aim is to show how my South African background (both political and physical) has influenced my work. It will also showcase how my Indian heritage and migration to England has also affected the art I produce, particularly relevant this year as South Africa celebrates the 150th anniversary of the arrival of Indian migrants, My ancestors four generations ago.”

Reddy was brought up between South Africa and England. “This means I was exposed to a whole spectrum of differences. The racial conflict in South Africa has influenced some of my design work and photography and is the bais of a book I am currently working on.”

Reddy will be exhibiting at artSPACE durban. Which can be found at 3 Millar Road (off Umgeni Road), Durban. Tel: +27 31 312 0793. www.artspace-durban.com / www.artspacedurban.blogspot.com. Gallery Hours: Mon - Fri 10H00 - 16H00; Sat and Public Holidays 10H00 - 13H00

Essenwood park: Every Sat: 9am – 2pm

The region’s foremost craft, art, treasures and collectables market takes place every Saturday morning under the trees a stone’s throw away from Musgrave Centre. In-between shopping, there is a comprehensive tea garden with an array of brunch and tea time delights, as well as children’s activities and a playground<