DUT CHILDREN’S THEATRE FESTIVAL

DUT’s 7th Children’s Theatre Festival will take place from September 19 to 21 at Wushwini Theatre in Inanda and at The Courtyard Theatre at the Durban University of Technology.

The DUT Children’s Theatre festival founded by Prof Lutge goes into its seventh year.

“We proudly present this year’s original work, Roar, written and workshopped by drama staff, Lee-Anne Naicker and Donna Steel with the first year students of 2017. Sixty performers, dressed as some of Africa’s (and abroad) cuddly creatures, take to the stage in Roar to frolic in fun and learn to make harmonious symphonies.

The tantalisingly talented animals tease us with song, dance and splendour but find it difficult to put aside their diverse differences to make magical music. Will they croak like frogs or sing like the nightingale? Time presses on to their Heritage Day deadline but tensions are rife and feathers are still ruffled.  Come join us to hear how the story unfolds. With much excitement and mayhem the show is suitable for all ages,” say the organisers.

Performances take place on September 19 at Wushwini Theatre in Inanda and on September 20 and 21 at the Courtyard Theatre, Ritson Campus. All shows are at 12 noon.

Tickets R50 (R30 children). Block booking for 10 or more at R20 each. Bookings through Lebohang on 031 373 2194. The Courtyard Theatre is situated in Steve Biko Road, Ritson Campus, Gate 6

PORTRAITS OF COLONIAL NATAL

Portraits of Colonial Natal, recently launched at Adams Musgrave Branch, is a collection of scholarly essays by Dr Duncan Du Bois. His previous books are:  Sugar and Settlers: A history of the Natal South Coast 1850-1910 and Labourer or Settler? Colonial Natal’s Indian Dilemma.

At a time when a leading politician’s career has been blighted  because she made objective remarks about the legacies of colonialism, the publication of Portraits of Colonial Natal provides a wide-ranging account of pioneers, places and prejudices without fear or favour.

Comprising 12 chapters, the book balances settler enterprise, initiatives and hardships with accounts of discrimination and human rights abuses. It also includes a ground-breaking study of Joseph Baynes as a pioneer in the liberalisation of race relations.

Anecdotal detail gleaned from colonial newspapers and unpublished correspondence in the Pietermaritzburg Archives revives bygone times and characters in focusing on travel and transport and settler nodes such as Umzinto and Umkomaas.

Two chapters focus on the experiences of Indians. One examines the abuse of indentured labourers; the other charts the evolution of prejudice against Indians as settlers and entrepreneurs.

IN BLOOM

(Floral Photo by Robyn Perros)

The next exhibition at the KZNSA Gallery will be In Bloom, the first group exhibition hosted by the award winning South African publication, Ja. Magazine.

In Bloom seeks to showcase a new wave of South African independent art and creativity. Comprising multimedia work, photography, illustration, street art, and literature, the group exhibition brings together the varying narratives, identities, and observations of an emergent South African creative community. The works featured in this exhibition have been inspired by, and created in, city centres, small towns, online spheres, homes and more. Each work, in its own way, attempts to bring to light the complexities, absurdities, and even the small celebrations of a life lived through art.

Refreshments will be served at the opening.

In Bloom opens on September 26 at 17h30 and runs until October 15, 2017. The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1705, fax 031 201 8051 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za

HUES AND SHADE

(“Under The Sea” - acrylic on canvas by Raja Oshi, 2016)

Opening at artSPACE durban on September 23 at 11h00 is an exhibition by Pietermaritzburg-based artist Raja Oshi titled Hues and Shade.

“I enjoy adding texture to my surfaces and designing the shape and discovering new adventures, it is as surprising every time you get a different a varied outcome. I make my own material, since I feel like this is an essential step in the process. I weave strips of canvas material together to make my own sort of canvas, with its own specialized texture and response to paint.

“When I rub my cloth “tapestry” layers with cloths dipped in paint, it adds another dimension to my work. It begins to mix and overlap, different materials and layers of paint to reveal hints of colour coming through edges, layers and spaces,” says Oshi.

Hues and Shade runs from September 23 to October 12, 2017.

artSPACE durban is situated at 3 Millar Road (off Umgeni Road) close to the Waste Centre. More information on 031 312 0793 or visit www.artspacedurban.co.za or www.artspacedurban.blogspot.com