A FAIRY TALE CHRISTMAS CAROL: REVIEW

 

(Pic by Val Adamson)

 

Well done to cast and crew for this fabulous, festive, fairy tale musical! A story for the ages, for all ages! (Review by Shannon Kenny)

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol is given a fairy-tale spin in this delightful adaptation produced by Durban's Young Performers' Project. Dickens' enduring characters are cast in fairy-tale roles. We have Ebenezer Scrooge as the Big Bad Wolf; the Crachits as Prince Phillip and Cinderella Charming; Jacob Marley as Jacob Midas and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as Fairy Godmother, Old King Cole and the Queen of Hearts respectively. Big Bad Wolf's misdeeds include dissolution of a kingdom and inheritance appropriation (Prince Phillip's); home foreclosure (the Three Little Pigs'); and general meanness and a disregard for the feelings of others (everybody). The show blends well-known carols with original music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur and Scott DeTurk. Daisy Spencer is director and choreographer, with Des Govender as musical director and production manager.

The curtain opens on our narrator, Mother Goose - played by Mackenzie Jahnig - who introduces the story and the fabulous cast of fairy-tale characters who join her for the rollicking company number, Once upon a time. Jahnig's Mother Goose is at once matronly and cheeky, with enough jolly-hockey-sticks energy to brighten any room. She sustains her no-nonsense perkiness throughout the show.

James Armstrong (Fake Santa in Elf; Donkey in Shrek and Pres Roosevelt in Annie) plays the suitably curmudgeonly and miserly Big Bad Wolf, skilfully making his way through his transition to the big-hearted and kindly Wolf he should be in the end. It is a joy to watch him perform in a demanding role where he is seldom off stage. James can certainly add another feather to his cap with his Big Bad Wolf/Scrooge.

The Three Little Pigs - replete with East End accents - are realised as a tight little unit of sibling rivalry, kinetic energy and sheer hip hop delight by Kaitlyn Rex (last seen as Annie in the eponymous musical), Anele Mtshali and Lungelo Ntsele. Their punchy Chinny Chin Chin was a clear audience favourite.

Matthew Brown, with a twinkle in his eye, plays Wolf's kindly nephew Jack (he of the prolific beanstalk and free-range poultry - you'll get it when you see the show). Jack and his sweet wife Mary (Ezekhethelo Zulu) consistently extend a hand of kindness - because, well, that's what kindness is - despite being rebuffed time and time again by Wolf who vilifies his nephew's magnanimity.

The Charming family - Prince Phillip (Mzwakhe Bultitude), Cinderella (Jenna van Eyssen), Hansel, Gretel and Tiny Tabitha - are true to their name. Jenna van Eyssen is a generous and multi-talented performer - also the show's assistant choreographer - who brings strength, warmth and grace to her Cinderella, so fitting for a character 'holding things together' for her penurious family. Mzwakhe Bultitude does a good job as loving family man and Wolf's bullied clerk. And how could I not notice the sniffles and teary eyes around me during the family's mellifluous God Bless Us Everyone in the second act, led by the utterly adorable Tabitha (Mackenzie Judge), Gretel (the aptly-named Larke Manto) and Hansel (Noah Bassa).

Damien Butt (Lord Farquaad in Shrek) is a hoot as the gold-clad Jacob Midas - a disco Ali-G-meets-Vanilla-Ice in gold chains and matching do-rag - there to give Wolf a heads-up on his spectral visitors and a warning about the road to perdition should the miser resist choosing a more righteous path. Multi-talented Damien is also the show's assistant musical director, and a creative talent to keep an eye on.

Wolf's transformation begins with visitations from the three truth-sayers: Fairy Godmother, an effortlessly spunky Joslyn Walters; the hilariously genial Old King Cole played by Clive Ngcobo and Thingo Dlamini as the sassy Queen of Hearts. We're introduced to Little Wolf (Christo Burger) his demure sister Fan (Scarlett Westdyk) and jolly Mr Fezziwig (Sakhiwesihle Shibe), Wolf's first employer.

Some delightfully magical moments include a pas de deux with a young adult Wolf (Nicolas Steyn) and Goldilocks (Jasmine Theron) and the children's chorus of the most darling Dickensian waifs who seamlessly float in and out of scenes, their voices ever so sweetly drifting out into the audience. All the big cast numbers featuring the main and supporting ensemble cast come together just gorgeously, every performer perfectly placed.

Kathy Singery once more pulls out all the stops as costumier, bringing sartorial magic to the production. Nicolene Steyn's set design is simple and effective. Dylan Heaton's lighting design compliments the action beautifully and Ant Govender's sound design ably supported the story.

Daisy Spencer's direction and choreography once more allows her performers to shine like the stars they are and Des Govender has all in fine voice. Kudos!

Of course, in the end, our Big Bad Wolf is convinced of the error of his ways and not only restores in full what was rightfully theirs to those he's cheated, but builds a bridge to heal the rift he's caused with those who love him - and whom he realises he loves, too.

The final medley had the audience on their feet and clapping along. Happiness!

This show has all that you would want from a Christmas musical - delight and melancholy, comfort and joy; a grumpy anti-hero who's not so scary the littlies will be terrified; popular fairy-tale characters entertaining us with jokes and puns aplenty; huge dollops of Christmas cheer and a very, very happy ending that reminds us that Love is what makes us truly rich.

Well done to cast and crew for this fabulous, festive, fairy tale musical! A story for the ages, for all ages! – Shannon Kenny

A Fairy Tale Christmas Carol - The Musical runs in the Playhouse Drama until December 21 as follows:

Tues 9 Dec – 14h30

Wed10 Dec – 14h30

Thurs 11 Dec – 14h30

Fri 12 Dec – 14h30

Sat 13 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30

Sun 14 Dec – 14h30

 

Tues 16 Dec – 14h30

Wed 17 Dec – 14h30

Thurs 18 Dec – 14h30

Fri 19 Dec – 14h30

Sat 20 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30

Sun 21 Dec – 14h30

 

A Fairytale Christmas Carol is presented by The Young Performers Project, The Playhouse Company and Pioneer.

Tickets (R180 to R230): Webtickets (please book through Webtickets, and not through any other ticketing agent)

Show is 75 minutes. And there is one interval.

DANCE AS A POWERFUL VEHICLE: REVIEW

 

In a cultural landscape still fighting for true inclusion, the 4th Flatfoot Access Festival stands as a compelling model for how dance can lead the way. (Review by Marcia Mzindle)

 

“This is not a charity case but art,” says Artistic Director of Flatfoot Dance Company, Dr Lliane Loots, in her opening address as we gather for the 4th Flatfoot Access Festival at the Stable Theatre, Durban, on Friday, December 5, 2025.

Her words are encouraging, honouring and celebratory - perfect for a pioneering programme that positions dance as a powerful vehicle for shifting lives and negotiating difference and inclusivity. 

The Flatfoot Access Festival challenges traditional notions of virtuosity, expanding our understanding of who belongs on stage and why. In doing so, it sets a valuable precedent for what inclusive choreography can aspire to: complexity, rigour and uncompromised artistic excellence.

Watching dancers with disabilities and without disabilities perform together reveals the full breadth of what embodied expression can hold. Their performances are beautiful, poetic, daring and deeply challenging. It is a courageous and generous act of art-making.

We also honour and celebrate, in absentia, Amanuel Solomon and Samuel Wubet of Kaitim Dance Company from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Though they could not be with us tonight, we had looked forward to the performance they would have brought to the festival, and we hope for the near-future opportunities to experience their performances.

Tonight, we unite for four special works, opening with We Are Rising, inspired by Maya Angelou’s Still I Rise, performed by Flatfoot dancers (Sifiso Khumalo, Siseko Duba, Jabu Siphika, Sbonga Ndlovu and Ndumiso “Digga” Dube) and the Flatfoot Access Panthers (Kelly Louw, Danielle Spangenberg, Chloe Malcomess, Maddie Tooley, Kyle Myers and Thomas Ras). Choreographed by Lliane Loots in collaboration with the dancers, this piece becomes not only a language of the body, but a profound declaration of what it means to rise together.

This is followed by Web of Uncertainty, choreographed by Sifiso Khumalo and performed by Zinhle Nzama, Bheki Khotsholo and Siseko Duba. The work evokes the sensation of being trapped in an invisible web. Sudden shifts in direction and fragmented pathways mirror the disorientation of searching for hope without clarity. The choreography resolves in suspended gestures and hesitant pauses, embodying the fragile balance between confusion and the yearning for direction.

Being Free, choreographed by Jabu Siphika and performed by Ndumiso “Digga” Dube and Sbonga Ndlovu, emphasises physical autonomy and the ability to move, express and exist without imposed limits. It is about reclaiming the body as a site of empowerment rather than restriction. Freedom of the body is directly tied to inner strength and imagination.

Hold My Heart, performed by dancers from Flatfoot and Flatfoot Downie Dance Company (Charles Phillips, Kevin Govender, Karl Hebbelmann, Michaela Munro and Sofia Jameson), pays tribute to the longevity and depth of artistic partnership. It acknowledges the shared journey, growth and trust built over nearly a decade. The choreography centres on intimacy and relational bonds, showing how human ties shift, deepen and transform over time through mirrored movements, lifts and embraces. Movement becomes a metaphor for the fluidity of connection—sometimes tender, sometimes dynamic, always changing.

Across these four works runs an undeniable thread of friendship, human connection and hope. What unfolded on stage tonight was far more than performance. It was community in motion. It was friendship made visible. It was the courage to reach across difference and find a shared rhythm. As the dancers took their final bow, it felt clear that this festival is not just an event but a home—one that continues to grow, welcome and inspire. The choreographies challenge conventional ideas of what bodies can or cannot do, reframing disability not as limitation but as a different form of embodied possibility. They urge audiences to expand their definitions of ability.

The four works showcased not only the talent of the dancers but also the depth of commitment behind Flatfoot’s long-standing access programme. In a cultural landscape still fighting for true inclusion, the 4th Flatfoot Access Festival stands as a compelling model for how dance can lead the way. – Marcia Mzindle

For more information visit https://web.facebook.com/flatfootdancecompany/?_rdc=1&_rdr#

 

BRYAN ADAMS’ ROLL WITH THE PUNCHES TOUR

 

(Bryan Adams. Pic supplied)

Global icon, Bryan Adams is heading to South Africa in 2026! With a career spanning four decades, countless chart-topping hits, and a reputation as one of the world’s most electrifying live performers, he’s set to light up stages across South Africa with his signature anthems and unmatched stage presence.

Bryan Adams brings the Roll with the Punches Tour to Grand Arena, GrandWest, Cape Town on April 21, 2026;  SunBet Arena, Time Square, Pretoria on April 25, 2026, and Durban ICC, Durban on April 28, 2026.

Bryan Adams has been touring the world for nearly four decades. His music has achieved #1 status in over 40 countries and is the recipient of numerous Awards including a Grammy, American Music Awards and 3 Academy Award, 5 Golden Globe nominations, and he is a Companion of the Order of Canada

In 2018 he ventured into the world of musical theatre, co-writing the songs for Pretty Woman: The Musical and released his 16th studio album, So Happy It Hurts in 2022.

He also followed Taylor Swift in re-recording some of his biggest songs with a double album of “Classics” in 2023, and has released a three-album box set from his residency at The Royal Albert Hall shortly afterwards

In August 2024, Bryan launched Bad Records, his own independent label, with a limited edition 7”, digital single and video of two songs Rock And Roll Hell and War Machine.

Another Big Concerts Experience, in association with KFM 94.5, Hot 102.7 FM and East Coast Radio.

Tickets on sale from www.ticketmaster.co.za and www.bigconcerts.co.za

 

Important Note:

Fans are strongly advised against purchasing tickets from Viagogo and other secondary sites. These tickets are unlawfully resold by deceitful sellers for commercial purposes at multiple times the face value and are not legitimate tickets. Should you purchase these tickets, you will be denied entry into the venue, and you will not be entitled to a refund.

 

 

BUMPER GLENWOOD CHRISTMAS ACTIVITY DAY

 

(Above: Succeed Manyisa, Ujala Sewpersad, Robin Opperman and Comfort Ngubane taken in front of the new mural by Robin Opperman. Pic by Shelley Kjonstad)

 

A fun and varied day of family activities comprising a morning market; a make-a-paper snowflake-decoration workshop; live music and a visit from Santa and his elves, will take place at Glenwood Village on Saturday December 13 from 09h00.

Robin Opperman and Ujala Sewpersad from Umcebo Design (black Tshirts) will be running a paper craft workshop.

Comfort Ngubane from Denis Hurley Centre Street Lit will be selling pre-read books and CDs at the market, and indeed trades daily at the centre. (in green)

Succeed Manyisa (AKA The Belt Man) will be selling stylish quality belts at the market, and indeed trades daily at the centre. (in red)

Santa will be visiting with some of his elves, in a fun and festive pop-up Santa’s Workshop on the upper level for the morning. Santa and co will be available for photos, and offering a slew of children-friendly activities including face painting, balloon twisting and colouring in.

Alongside Santa’s workshop, Robin Opperman and Ujala Sewpersad will be hosting a craft workshop where participants can learn to make a super-easy, but beautifully intricate handmade snowflake tree decoration. This is geared for older children and adults; and booking is required to participate. (Call Robin on 083 793 3408 to secure your spot. Cost is R100 which includes all necessary craft materials).

There will be a morning market on the upper level – offering Glenwood entrepreneurs an opportunity to showcase their wares and skills – offering fine art, greeting cards, sweet treats, books and CDs, pre-loved clothing, treasures and collectables, beadwork, belts, soaps and décor items. Durban’s own Ilza Oosthuizen will be playing a range of Christmas carols, festive songs and show tunes on the piano alongside the activity area.

For more information, contact 031 201 0137 (o/h).

 

MY RADIO MEMORY SERIES 2 TO BE RELEASED

Meteorologically speaking, today marks the first day of summer in South Africa. And that is not the only cause for celebration - the heat is destined to get hotter.

Robin Sewlal, editor of Radiocracy, takes enormous pleasure in revealing that on Thursday December 18, the anniversary for radio in the country, volume 2 in the My Radio Memory series is to be officially released.

The next instalment comes hot on the heels of the ongoing phenomenal success of My Radio Memory: Listening to the Listener. As we count down to release date of volume 2, further information on the publication will continually be made available.

You can secure your copy by emailing MyRadioMemory@radiocracy.co.za

Just another red hot reason to be in celebratory mood this festive season. The exciting journey continues . . . hashtag#MyRadioMemory hashtag#Radio100SouthAfrica hashtag#RadiocracyGold hashtag#InternetExpress hashtag#MYProductions

 

 

6/666 CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL DANCE DRAMA

 

(Above: Members of the Ulozolo Youth Organisation company in rehearsal. Pic: Shelley Kjonstad)

 

“Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people.” Mandela

Ulozolo Youth Organisation presents 6/666 - a once off dance / drama / music production reminding us of the importance of honouring our forefathers in our quest for real freedom and democracy, to be staged in the BAT Centre Hall on Saturday, December 20, at 18h00.

The production takes us through the life journey of some key struggle hero icons. This production embraces their life journey:  joining the liberation struggle, how they died and why the country should always remember their contribution towards liberating South Africans. Such stories are told through dialogue and music, and dance to give clarity on how South Africa achieved it democracy.

6/666 is written, directed and choreographed by Lucky Cele and Musical Director is SA Idols top 10 runner up, Nkosinathi Shange, produced by Ulozolo Youth Organisation. A youth-led organisation empowering KZN artists with business skills to thrive within the Creative and Cultural Industry.

Performance information:

Date: Saturday December 20

Time: 18h00 to 20h00.

Bat Centre, Esplanade

R80 tickets / Webtickets / at the door

 

The production has been supported by the National Arts Council and the National Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.

DARK HORSE BLUES TO HILTON

 

(Left: Doc MacLean. Pic: Stefan Hurter)

 

Legendary American Bluesman Doc MacLean brings Dark Horse Blues to Hilton this December.

Visitors and locals in the Midlands are in for a rare musical treat this festive season as internationally-acclaimed bluesman Doc MacLean performs live at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

Known for his raw, intimate storytelling and unmistakable Delta blues sound, MacLean brings his celebrated Dark Horse Blues tour to Hilton for one night only.

 

Armed with his vintage 1935 National guitar, MacLean delivers performances that are equal parts music and lived experience - “bare knuckles, secret stories,” as he calls them. His songs carry the weight of journeys across continents and decades: stories hidden inside melodies, forgotten in the corners of old theatres, or hummed in the quiet hours while waiting for a distant train.

Tracing its roots to the Mississippi Delta - and before that, to Africa - the blues MacLean performs is more than a genre. It is a tradition passed down “from mouth to mouth,” a vessel for human spirit and shared memory. His early mentors were themselves grandchildren of enslaved people, linking his music directly to the origins of the blues. MacLean’s performances move along the “dreamscapes and songlines” of a life spent on the road, between blurred highways and the rhythmic hum of wheels.

The son of a civil rights lawyer and a fiddle player, MacLean was immersed in music and activism from a young age. By his early teens he was performing harmonica and washboard in coffeehouses and at festivals, with frequent appearances on radio and television. In 1972 he formed a duo with fellow young musician Colin Linden—now a Grammy-nominated producer and recent guitarist for Bob Dylan. Together they opened for legendary artists including Sonny Terry & Brownie McGee, Muddy Waters, and John Hammond, cementing MacLean’s place in the lineage of American blues.

The concert takes place at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, 1 Knoll Drive in Hilton on Friday, December 19, 2025.

Doors open at 18h00, show starts at 19h00.

Tickets: R160. Bookings: WhatsApp 082 331 7271

 

BUMP AND GRIND

 

Live at the Northlands Bowling Club this festive season!

Durban’s favourite comedy duo, Aaron McIlroy and Lisa Bobbert, return to the Northlands Bowling Club this festive season with their brand-new musical comedy Bump and Grind

Expect new characters, old favourites, and a soundtrack packed with thumping hits as McIlroy and Bobbert once again deliver their trademark blend of side-splitting humour, larger-than-life personalities, and musical mayhem!

Back by popular demand are Bruce and Charmaine as unforgettable Elvis impersonators, Dot and Max settling into the chaos of retirement village life, and everyone’s favourite philosopher of the people, Dr Veejay, offering his “words of wisdom.” Add in a host of hilarious new faces, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for festive season fun!

Directed and choreographed by Daisy Spencer, Bump and Grind promises to keep audiences on their feet — or rolling in the aisles — with laughter, music, and McIlroy & Bobbert’s unbeatable comic chemistry.

Because really — what would the end of the year be without Aaron and Lisa’s show at the Northlands Bowling Club?

The show is presented by Rhumbelow Theatre and will run from December 18, 2025, to January 4, 2026.

Bookings: Webtickets or contact Roland directly on 0824998636

Northlands Bowling Club is located at 50 Margaret Maytom Avenue in Durban North.

 

A BAROQUE CHRISTMAS WITH JS BACH

 

(Margrit Deppe and Yosuke Matsui. Pic by Shelley Kjonstad)

 

A glorious morning Christmas concert of music for trumpet and organ will be performed at St Cyprian’s Church on Sunday December 21 at 11h00 featuring Margrit Deppe on the newly-refurbished organ and Yosuke Matsui, on trumpet.

The concert features works for trumpet and organ alongside solo organ pieces, centred on the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. The concert celebrates the joy and splendour of the Baroque era within the spirit of Christmas. Included in the programme will be some short stand-alone hymns, carols and praise and worship pieces for organ and trumpet.

Yosuke Matsui is a Yamaha performing artist, and principal trumpet player with the KZN Philharmonic, who has served as principal trumpet of the Kyushu Symphony Orchestra; Chiba Symphony Orchestra in Japan, and tutti trumpet in the Sydney Orchestra in Australia. He holds a master’s degree from Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. His expertise ranges across various types of trumpets.

Margrit Deppe on organ is the co-principal oboe and cor anglais at the KZN Philharmonic. She teaches piano at Clifton School and for 2023 was the church musician / Cantor at the Nauen Rathenow Church District in Germany. She studied Church music in Halle, Saxony Anhalt in Germany and has her BA honours at the University of KZN.

Tickets R130 (R100 concessions) at Quicket in advance, or cash at the door.

There is off-road and guarded parking at the church. Tea and coffee will be served after the concert, and the pub will be open.

This concert is supported by the KZN Performing Arts Trust and KZN Philharmonic.

St Cyprians Anglican Church is located at 603 Umbilo Road in Durban.

ACTION IN AUTISM’S ENDLESS SUMMER MARKET 2025

Action in Autism will host its much-anticipated annual Market, on Saturday December 6 from 09h00 to 14h00 at their premises 105 Haig Road, Parkhill, Durban North.

This year’s theme is Endless Summer and once again the year-end event will celebrate creativity, inclusion, and community spirit. The autistic students from the organisation’s Shahumna Centre, a Skills Transfer and Business Hub, have been working tirelessly to prepare a delightful selection of crafts, potted plants, and baked goods for sale.

The event promises to be a vibrant day of creative crafts, community connection, and family fun, all in support of the Action in Autism Centre and its programmes.

The Shahumna Centre offers a three-year entrepreneurship programme for autistic adults, focusing on skill development in baking and catering, plant propagation and small-scale gardening, as well as arts and crafts. The Market serves as an annual highlight where students take the lead in planning, preparing, and managing their own stalls. It provides a vital platform for students to showcase their talents, apply their skills in real-world contexts, and engage confidently with the public.

This year’s Endless Summer Market will feature a wide range of stalls, delicious food, handmade crafts, and entertainment for the whole family — including pony rides and a jumping castle.

Ashvir Dalu, Manager of the Shahumna Centre, shared: “The Market has become a major annual fundraising event for our organisation that is of a deserving cause to be supported. Moreover, it continuously serves as a platform for our talented autistic students to showcase their learned skills in cooking, gardening, arts, and business management; and enables engagement with the public in an accepting space that is fully supportive of neurodiversity. We look forward to the attendance of many people who would like to support our students and share the important message that they can and will contribute meaningfully to society — and require opportunities to become employed.”

Adding to this, Uday Mahlutshana, a student at the Shahumna Centre, said: “Our Endless Summer Market will be good, and we want it to be successful with your support. I encourage everyone to attend and experience pony rides, a jumping castle, over 20 different vendors, and witness us students showcasing our skills. We really appreciate if you can share our event details and bring your family and friends along for a fun day.”

Action in Autism welcomes community members, businesses, and supporters to get involved by donating goods, sponsoring services, or contributing raffle prizes to enhance the market. Those who wish to make financial contributions may do so by depositing into the organisation’s bank account:

 

Action in Autism

FNB Account: 621 029 10123

Branch Code: 220629 (Umhlanga Crescent)

SWIFT Code: FIRNZAJJ

(All monetary donations, on request, will receive a Section 18A tax certificate.)

 

Local entrepreneurs and crafters are also invited to book a vendor table for just R250 to sell their wares at the market. Interested vendors can contact Action in Autism at info@actioninautism.org.za or 031 563 3039 to secure their spot.

The Endless Summer Market 2025 is not just a fundraising event — it is a celebration of inclusion, empowerment, and community. Every purchase, donation, and act of kindness directly supports autistic individuals in building their skills, developing confidence, and achieving greater independence.

 

A FAIRYTALE CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL

 

(Some of the youthful cast members. Pic by Val Adamson)

Charles Dickens timeless story about life’s second chances, A Christmas Carol, has been joyfully adapted to A Fairytale Christmas Carol, the Musical, to be staged by the Young Performers Project at the Playhouse Drama Theatre from December 5 to 21, 2025.

This original festive season family-friendly production blends familiar fairytale characters with the well-known story about how the miser Scrooge has a change of heart for Christmas.

This clever adaptation is surprisingly true to the original text in theme; yet unlikely, fresh and fun. The Big Bad Wolf is the Ebenezer Scrooge character (James Armstrong from ISPA, who was Donkey in Shrek), who meets the ghost of his old business partner, Jacob Midas who could turn anything to gold (the Marley character). Midas warns Big Bad Wolf that we will be visited by three ghosts: Christmas Past, Present and Future (played with aplomb by Fairy Godmother, Old King Cole and the Queen of Hearts respectively). The ghosts make Scrooge realise what a scoundrel he has been, and that it is not too late for redemption, allowing him to reform and rejoice.

In the true spirit of Dickens, together we rediscover the importance of love, family, friends, kindness, compassion …. and joy.

The production team for A Fairytale Christmas Carol, sees Daisy Spencer in both the director’s chair as well as choreographing the production; with musical direction by Des Govender; costume design by Kathy Singery; props and set by Nicolene Steyn; sound design by Anthony Govender and lighting by Dylan Heaton. In the spirt of training the next generation of theatre practitioners, this year there is an assistant music director:  Damien Butt; and an assistant choreographer Jenna Van Eyssen – both from ISPA.

Musical numbers include a mixture of original songs with familiar and much-loved carols as well as a few surprises…

The Young Performers Project has, for the past 24 years, faithfully staged an annual musical theatre production with a youthful cast (with at least one professional performer) and a professional production team to provide the next generation of theatre practitioners with valuable experience of performing in a professional context. YPP has grown and developed from staging one annual production to three musicals annually. In April this year, they presented Shrek at the new Milkwood Theatre in Durban North; followed by Annie in the Playhouse Opera in July.

The cast includes senior primary as well as high school learners, and members of Durban-based International School of Performing Arts to provide maximum experience opportunities for as many aspirant young performers as possible.

This year, over 300 students from a variety of schools in Durban auditioned to be part of the YPP programme. The cast of A Fairytale Christmas Carol features 80 children from 45 schools from throughout KZN – from as far as Richards Bay. The youngest of whom is nine. They have been rehearsing for seven weekends.

There will be a special Relaxed performance on Friday December 5 where formal theatre etiquette of silence and stillness won’t be enforced, enabling people and families with different needs to feel welcome and comfortable in a supportive environment. For this performance, before the show starts, some of the main characters will come in-front of the curtains to introduce themselves so that patrons become familiar with the performers ahead of the show.

A Fairytale Christmas Carol is presented by The Young Performers Project, The Playhouse Company and Pioneer.

Tickets (R180 to R230): Webtickets (please book through Webtickets, and not through any other ticketing agent)

Show is 75 minutes. And there is one interval.

 

Playhouse Drama: Performance Schedule:

Fri 5 Dec – 14h30 – Relaxed performance

Sat 6 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30

Sun 7 Dec – 14h30

 

Tues 9 Dec – 14h30

Wed10 Dec – 14h30

Thurs 11 Dec – 14h30

Fri 12 Dec – 14h30

Sat 13 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30

Sun 14 Dec – 14h30

 

Tues 16 Dec – 14h30

Wed 17 Dec – 14h30

Thurs 18 Dec – 14h30

Fri 19 Dec – 14h30

Sat 20 Dec – 11h00 and 14h30

Sun 21 Dec – 14h30

 

THE PREDICAMENT: REVIEW

 

He re-creates the life of the 1960s with great skill and delivers a classy, entertaining spy thriller. (Review by Margaret von Klemperer, courtesy of The Witness)

 

The Predicament is the second outing for William Boyd’s secret agent, Gabriel Dax, but there is really no need to have read the previous novel – this works fine as a stand-alone. Dax’s day job is as a travel writer, which gives him a great excuse to turn up in all sorts of places that were of importance in 1963, when the story is set. 

He is also in the employ of MI6, who have got him to persuade the KGB that he is in fact a double agent.

 So there are going to be plenty of moments when the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing.

And there are also many moments when Dax really doesn’t know what either side is up to – because they don’t tell him the whole story, ever. So, who to trust? The KGB seem to want him to visit Moscow, which he doesn’t do in this book, and also to tell them more about his MI6 handler and sometime lover, Faith Green. She sends him off to Guatemala in the guise of a journalist who wants to interview a reclusive left-wing politician. But things go badly wrong and he is caught up in a coup, but not before he has come across some very fishy people.

Still, he manages to investigate a river in Guatemala for his book on rivers, and makes it back to England to carry on with the day job, deal with a fellow writer who is accusing him of plagiarism and visit his psychiatrist, to whom he cheerfully confesses all the strands of his life, which to the reader seems like a foolish thing to do – he is a spy after all, and who knows which side she might be on.

His next assignment is to go to Berlin which is about to be visited by charismatic American president John F Kennedy. But there are plots to assassinate the president, and Dax finds himself mixed up in trying to identify – and stop - the would-be killers, for the CIA. And there is the creeping doubt about whether his spymasters are using him as a handy useful idiot, or whether they really rate his abilities, and just who it is who wants Kennedy dead.

There is a delightful, innocent amateurishness about Dax’s activities, and Boyd manages to make his novel fast-moving, funny and, particularly towards the end, dramatically tense. He re-creates the life of the 1960s with great skill and delivers a classy, entertaining spy thriller. - Margaret von Klemperer

Published by Penguin Viking: ISBN 978-0-241-76114-4