The year of Mega, Majestic, Mayhem, Magic, Merry and Mythical Adventures
Top Durban theatre producers, KickstArt, have announced a full programme of four productions for 2018: a fun comedy; a magical musical; a delightful children’s show and its end of year family pantomime – all to be staged at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN campus.
The 2018 year kicks off with the delicious hit comedy: The Play that Goes Wrong which will be staged just after Easter: from 6 – 29 April. Described as Fawlty Towers meets Noises Off, it is a fairly new production, premiering in London in 2012, which went onto win every major award on the London stage, including the 2015 Olivier Award for Best Comedy.
The premise is an amateur dramatics company is putting on a 1920’s murder mystery, The Murder at Haversham Manor, in a similar vein to the acclaimed The Mousetrap, but as the title suggests, everything that can go wrong…does! Even before the play starts, the audience see the backstage staff doing last-minute adjustments to the set, including trying to mend a broken mantelpiece….. and to find a dog that has run off! The accident prone luckless thespians battle against the odds to make it to their final curtain call with the set still standing, with hilarious consequences!
The Play that Goes Wrong stars James Cuningham, Liesl Coppin, Bryan Hiles, Michael Gritten, Daisy Spencer, Mthokozisi Zulu and Adam Dorè. It is directed by Steven Stead and designed by Greg King.
Hot on the heels of The Play that Goes Wrong, is Camelot which comes to the Sneddon from 18 May – 3 June. This magical musical classic explores the enchanting and inspiring tales of King Arthur, his beautiful wife Guinevere, and the famed Knights of the Round Table, against a backdrop rich in the pageantry of a legendary, medieval England.
Camelot is a musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe based on the King Arthur legend as adapted from the T. H. White novel “The Once and Future King”. It features some of Lerner and Loewe’s most beautiful music, with songs like “If Ever I Would Leave You”, “How To Handle a Woman”, “It’s May” and “I Loved You Once in Silence”. The original 1960s production ran on Broadway for 873 performances winning four Tony Awards and spawning several revivals.
It stars Steven Stead as Arthur, Jessica Sole as his queen, Guinevere, and Lyle Buxton as Sir Lancelot. With sumptuous Game of Thrones-inspired costumes by Terrence Bray, atmospheric sets by Greg King and choreography by Janine Bennewith, this romantic, swashbuckling spectacle will be an unmissable theatrical experience. (Not suitable for children under eight years old).
The mid-year slot sees the fabulous Roald Dahl family show come to life: The BFG will be staged from 21 June – 8 July. Following the success of last year’s James and the Giant Peach, Greg King returns to direct this enchanting reimagining of Roald Dahl’s delightful children’s classic about the adventures of a big, friendly giant, and Sophie, a little orphan he befriends.
Ten-year-old Sophie is in for the adventure of a lifetime when she meets the 24-foot Big Friendly Giant. Naturally scared at first, the young girl soon realizes that her new companion is actually quite gentle and charming. As their friendship grows, Sophie’s presence attracts the unwanted attention of a slew of bad giants including the scary Bloodbottler and Fleshlumpeater. Sophie and the BFG realise that they must travel to London to convince Queen Victoria to help them get rid of all the bad behemoths for once and for all.
Featuring quirky and inventive puppetry and an all-star local cast, this is ideal fare for the July holidays. It stars Bryan Hiles, Belinda Henwood, Clare Mortimer, Daisy Spencer, Straw Nzimande and Lyle Buxton.
The KickstArt year wraps-up with their much-anticipated annual family pantomime. The choice for 2018 is a magical, brand new production of Cinderella – everybody’s favourite fairy tale about the kitchen maid with the heart of gold, who wins the hand of a handsome prince. With lush sets and gorgeous Baroque costumes, toe-tapping songs, jokes aplenty and masses of audience participation, this is family entertainment at its very best!
It is directed by Steven Stead, designed by Greg King with choreography by Evashnee Pillay, and stars Darren King and Bryan Hiles as the Ugly Sisters, Mthokozisi Zulu as Buttons, Nathan Kruger as the Prince, Lyle Buxton as Dandini and Anne-Marie Clulow as the Fairy Godmother.
Cinderella will be played by newcomer, Roshanda Lewis, chosen from 40 hopefuls in an open audition to play the coveted title role.
For schools’ performances, charity fundraisers or block bookings of 50 or more, contact KickstArt Theatre via email: kickstart@letni.co.za.
Also, note the Early Bird Special Offer on ALL shows: Buy eight tickets and get two free! This offer is available through Computicket up to the first performance of each production. Booking through all shows is through Computicket.
Listings:
The Play That Goes Wrong

6 -29 April
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
Ticket Prices R235 / R205 / R185
Previews: R185 throughout
(No discounts except school’s performance R130 throughout)
Camelot
18 May – 3 June
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
Ticket Prices: R255 / R215 / R185
Previews: R185 throughout
(No discounts)
The BFG
21 June – 8 July
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
Ticket Prices: R195 / R165 / R135 (Adults)
R165 / R135 / R115 (Children Under 12 and Pensioners)
R110 (Schools’ Performance throughout)
Previews: R115 throughout
Cinderella
7 Dec – 6 Jan
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre
Ticket Prices: R245 / R195 / R165 (Adults)
R190 / R175 / R135 (Children Under 12 and Pensioners)
R130 (Schools’ Performances throughout)
Previews: R135 throughout

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