Octo or Eight spoken word theatre plays on stage in Durban during October.
Bald Soprano / No Added Bank Charges: Courtyard, DUT 6 – 8 Oct
Letters of Suresh, Roti Queen & Out of Bounds @ Red Mango Arts Festival: Sastri College: 8–11 Oct
The Ugly Noo Noo / Tin Bucket Drum: Actors Studio, DUT: 15, 16, 17 Oct
Callum’s Will: Seabrookes Theatre, DHS: 29 Oct – 2 Nov
Lovers of quality spoken word theatre, you can craft your own festival in October, when Durban unusually is hosting eight theatre productions in venues around the city.
Spoken word theatre productions are rare at the best of times. For the city to be hosting multiple productions in one month – is blue moon unusual and absolutely worth supporting. These plays are in addition to the excellent musical theatre productions, cabarets, musical-comedies, fine-music and student dance dramas also on offer this month.
Chronologically, first up are three brilliant productions as part of the Red Mango Festival taking place at Sastri College from 8 – 11 October. On the bill are Letters of Suresh, a poetic exploration of identity by Pulitzer-nominated American playwright Rajiv Joseph. The four-hander drama is celebration of the lost art of letter writing performed by Shika Budoo, Sahil Samlal, Shika Maharaj and Ralph Lawson. Directed by Rajesh Gopie.
Also at Red Mango is Roti Queen – a solo comedy by Shika Budoo, directed by Dhaveshan Govender. Marriage is a dance between love, sacrifice, and personal identity. Amrita, once a professional dancer, unravels domestication, dedication and life’s decisions as she makes a fresh batch of roti for her 19th anniversary dinner.
Out of Bounds at the Red Mango Festival, has become a South African classic written and performed by Rajesh Gopie. Using 28 different characters, Gopie, often humorously, tells the story of Lal Lachund, a young Indian man growing up in 1980s South Africa, who lives with his parents and extended family in a cramped house in Inanda.
The ever innovative Durban University of Technology’s Drama and Production Studies Department is extending the performance range of their students with two unusual one act comedy / dramas to be staged as a double bill: an original farce, No Added Bank Charges written and directed by lecturer Dr Verne Rowin Munsamy; and the iconic absurdist play, The Bald Soprano written by Eugène Ionesco, and directed by lecturer Palesa Matabane, both coming to the Courtyard Theatre on DUT’s Ritson campus from Monday 6 until Wednesday 8 October, with afternoon and evening shows daily.
Staying on DUT campus on 15, 16, 17 October, two SA classics will be staged in the Actor’s Studio as part of the DUT Higher Certificate Performing Arts Technology Industry Interface project. Andrew Buckland’s masterpiece of comic physical performance, The Ugly Noo Noo tells the story of a man’s encounter with the notorious Parktown Prawn. The Ugly Noo Noo will feature Mpilo “Straw” Nzimande, directed by Peter Mitchell.
Neil Coppen’s Tin Bucket Drum is directed by Bryan Hiles and featuring Mpilo “Straw” Nzimande and recent Naledi Award-winner Cara Roberts. In Tin Bucket Drum, Neil Coppen weaves together elements of magical realism, shadow puppetry, Kabuki theatre and live percussion. It offers a fresh twist on the traditional conventions of African story telling.
Finally, at Seabrookes Theatre, DHS from 29 Oct – 2 Nov, Darren King produces the beautiful Callum’s Will which was created for him more than a decade ago by Janna Ramos Violante. This time around it is directed by Blessing Xaba and will star King with Joburg actor, Tafara Nyatsanza. Callum’s Will is a poignant drama exploring the touching relationship between two men of very different backgrounds. The story follows Callum, an ex-ballet dancer (played by King) and his journey to find peace after a car accident has left him crippled, helped by his carer, Will (Tafara Nyatsanza).
“It is a rare treat for Durban to have the opportunity to enjoy not one but eight pieces of spoken word theatre in one month. The importance of supporting these productions is reflected in their ability to mirror the human condition and reflect our own experiences,” said Darren King.
Good to Know:
No Added Bank Charges
Written and Directed by Dr Verne Rowin Munsamy
DUT Courtyard Theatre: 51 Steve Biko Rd, Musgrave, Durban.
Guarded, off-road parking available on site.
Dates: Mon 6, Tues 7, Wed 8 Oct
Show times: 2pm and 6pm daily
Available through secretary Bawinile at 031 373 2194, email: BawinileM1@dut.ac.za
or at the door.
The Bald Soprano
Written by Eugène Ionesco, Directed by Palesa Matabane
DUT Courtyard Theatre: 51 Steve Biko Rd, Musgrave, Durban.
Guarded, off-road parking available on site.
Dates: Tues 7, Wed 8 Oct
Show times: 2pm and 6pm daily
Tickets: R 50 pp and students R 30pp
Available through secretary Bawinile at 031 373 2194, email: BawinileM1@dut.ac.za
or at the door.
Letters of Suresh
@ Red Mango Arts Festival
Sastri College. 1 Winterton Walk, Greyville
Thurs 9 Oct @ 13:30 and 19:30 / Sat 11 Oct @ 15:30
Booking and full programme is through Webtickets.
Roti Queen
@ Red Mango Arts Festival
Sastri College. 1 Winterton Walk, Greyville
Wed 8 Oct @ 13:00; Friday 10 Oct @ 15:00
Booking and full programme is through Webtickets.
Out of Bounds
@ Red Mango Arts Festival
Sastri College. 1 Winterton Walk, Greyville
Wed 8 Oct @ 19:30; Friday 10 October @ 19:30
Booking and full programme is through Webtickets.
The Ugly Noo Noo / Tin Bucket Drum:
Actors Studio, alongside Courtyard Theatre, DUT
Seating is limited and booking is essential. Bookings to Clarec1@dut.ac.za.
The tickets are R50 / Students & Scholars and Pensioners – R20.
There are only 50 seats per performance.
Ugly Noo Noo
Wed 15 October @ 10.00 / Thurs 16 October @ 13.00
Tin Bucket Drum
Thurs 16 October @ 17:00 / Fri 17 October @ 15:00
Callum’s Will: Seabrookes Theatre, DHS: 29 Oct – 2 Nov.
Show times are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday @ 19.30 / and on Sunday @ 15:00 and 18:30.
There is one performance scheduled for Thursday at noon for schools. More will be added if there is demand.
Ticket price R150 / R100 for students and OAP.
Booking direct through Darren King on 0823241709.
OCTOber Offers A Feast Of Durban Theatre
