(Marco Kotze, who
appears in “White Christmas”. Pic by Val Adamson)
Musho! - PANSA’s ninth annual celebration of one and two
person theatre - will be held from January 15 to 20 at the Catalina Theatre in
Wilson’s Wharf in Durban.
The Performing Arts Network of South Africa, PANSA, jumps
into the new year with vigour by staging a busy festival of 14 productions
which showcase smaller theatrical works, all featuring either one or two
actors. Each production is staged for one performance only (except Freeze! which has two showings) in a
packed programme from January 15 until 19, ending with a master-class for
theatre practitioners on January 20.
The festival opens with three proudly Durban shows: eLimboland by Gisele Turner, performed
by Jem Atkins and Gabriel Miya on January 15 at 20h00 which looks at two men
who find themselves alone ... and dead ... in the hereafter.
Dear Breeder on January
16 at 20h00 is a quirky piece of musical theatre comedy created and performed
by Karen Logan and Kasia Vosloo, and directed by Iain Ewok Robinson.
There are two shows on January 17: White Christmas a bittersweet tragic-comedy one-hander by Clinton
Marius performed by Marco Kotze about a family’s Christmas holiday. Later in
the evening is Meze, Mira and Make-Up
– a hilarious one-hander from Jo’burg about an adolescent Greek girl growing up
against the grain.
Also from Johannesburg is The Shoe Man which looks at the challenges of a young man in South
Africa today – by Samson Mlambo – Musho! audience favourite award-winner, which
is on January 18 at 18h00. Later on at 20h00, The God Complex uses comedy and visual theatre to turn omnipotence
and omniscience on their head – in a masterful piece by Sylvaine Strike and
Daniel Buckland.
The Dutch will have a strong presence again this year with
two productions. On January 18 and 19 at noon is Freeze! in which performance artist Nick Steur creates a minimal,
beautiful and breakable installation outside the Catalina. On January 19 at 18h00
is Dette in Africa – billed as a
“stand-up economy” by award-winning actor Dette Glashouwer who will also be
conducting a master-class on Monday morning about translating ideas into
action. The Dutch are brought to Musho! by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the
Netherlands.
Embedded in the festival are two sessions of Musho! with a Twist – showcasing work
which has been created through the Twist Development initiative which is
sponsored by the NLDTF (National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund) and the KZN
Dept of Arts and Culture. Also two productions from the New Director’s
Development Project – supported by the Arts and Culture Trust: The Crook’s Eye (by Mthokozisi Zulu,
mentored by Daisy Spencer) and Back to
Night under the Street Poles (by
Wiseman Mncube mentored by Roel Twijnstra).
Tickets for all shows R50 with concession tickets going for
R30. There are all-day Saturday and Sunday tickets for R100. Musho! with a Twist tickets and New
Director’s Development productions are on a Pay What You Can donation basis.
Booking is at Computicket / tel 0861 915 8000 / www.computicket.com More information is
available at www.mushofestival.co.za
or email kzn@pansa.org.za or call the
Catalina Theatre on 031 837 5999.
For theatre practitioners to secure their places at the
Master-Class on Monday at 10h00 until noon, contact kzn@pansa.org.za.
PANSA is grateful to
Musho! sponsors and partners: the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands;
the Department of Arts and Culture KZN; the Arts and Culture Trust; The Daily
News and Business and Arts South Africa.
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