(Pic: Royal Messengers who will appear in the national isicathamiya competition)Presented in partnership with the Office of the KZN Premier in celebration of the FIFA World Cup, The Playhouse Company’s big-stage performance showpiece, Ingqay’ngqayi ye Africa, will be staged in the Playhouse Opera on June 9. Created for praise singer, soprano, alto, tenor, bass soloists, with mass choir, orchestra and Indlamu dancers, this grand-scale stage piece features original music by Phelelani Mnomiya, set to a libretto by Professor Themba Msimang and orchestrated and conducted by Naum Rousine.
Directed by Mbongeni Ngema, the spectacular showcase of South African talent and diverse cultures was conceived for performance to national and international audiences, and promises to be a memorable live theatre experience. The piece highlights special qualities that proclaim our endemic cultural characteristics, music complexities, beautiful melodies and harmonies, the beauty and splendour of our natural and heritage sites as well as the warmth and humanity of ubuntu espoused by the people of South Africa.
Various elements of South Africa’s diverse cultural heritage are brought together in this unique celebratory piece. Ingqay’ngyayi eAfrica, whilst distinctly a KwaZulu-Natal artistic showcase, extends itself to universal themes and offers a splendid showcase for the multi-cultural heritage of South Africa. However, this performance is for invited guests of the KZN Premier.
A further performance initiative to be staged in partnership with the Office of the KZN Premiere in honour of the international soccer fixtures will be a series of World Cup Concerts. These will be held on the Playhouse Transnet Mobile stage in key areas of KwaZulu-Natal during peak tourism periods linked to forthcoming matches at the Moses Madiba Stadium in Durban. The concerts will provide performance opportunities for local prize-winning pantsula, maskandi, indlamu and kwaito exponents. Performances in this series will be given at Richards Bay, Ballito, Pietermaritzburg and Margate.
The annual touring production staged by Northwood High from Johannesburg is the 1970 Biblical musical Godspell by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. This will play in Playhouse Drama from June 16 to 20.
The Playhouse Company’s National Is’cathamiya Festival is scheduled for the Playhouse Opera Theatre on June 26 and 27. This marathon event spans some 18 hours, beginning late afternoon on Saturday and running into mid-morning on Sunday. Usually staged in September during Heritage month, this year it is planned to coincide with the FIFA World Cup, to afford international soccer fans a cultural experience which is uniquely South African.
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