MUSHO! TURNS TEN

Musho! - PANSA’s tenth annual celebration of one and two person theatre will be held early in the new year from January 14 to 19 at the Catalina Theatre in Wilson’s Wharf in Durban.

Applauding the first decade of Musho!, this festival will have a slightly different format this year, with the favourites from the past ten years being invited to take to the Musho! stage in a celebratory affirmation of the craft of one and two-hander theatre

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 in a packed programme over five days, ending with a master-class for theatre practitioners on January 19.

“We are delighted that Musho! has made it to ten years ! It's great when something in Durban "sticks" - and the support we have had over the past 10 years from both actors and audiences has been fantastic. We are also very excited to have old friends back at the festival this year. Inviting back past winners is our way of acknowledging the success that they had both at Musho! and further afield,” says festival director Emma Durden.

“It feels like a "favourite favourite" selection this year - and we look forward to bumper audiences and a hotly contested "audience favourite" vote with the line-up. We have lots of Durban familiar faces, with Gcina Mhlophe (who opens the festival), Ewok, Mary Steward and Marc Kay all bringing new work to the festival, as well as some of the young up-and-coming artists on the Durban scene, like Wiseman Mncube and the South-Coast based Emuhle Artists. There is a bit of something for everyone at the festival; comedy, drama, spoken word, story-telling ... and a great version of The Enormous Turnip with Bryan Hiles and Daisy Spencer for kids.”

Embedded in the festival is 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) which will take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons presented as two compact double bills.

There is a Monday morning theatre practitioners masterclass which focuses on creating theatre for young people and working with schools. Talented young Deaf performer Sibo Masondo performs an extract from Eenie Meanie Greenie GROW! an eco-comedy devised and directed by veteran theatre maker Gisele Turner. Turner will talk about creating work for young people and Yvette Hardie from Assitej South Africa will provide input on working with schools and with the Department of Basic Education. Entry is free but booking is essential on 031 201 4750.

All shows are R50 per ticket (R30 concession tickets). There are all-day Saturday and Sunday tickets for R100. Tickets for Musho! with a Twist and Saturday and Sunday 16h00 shows, are on a Pay What You Can donation basis.

Booking is at Computicket on 0861 915 8000 / www.computicket.com for more information visit www.mushofestival.co.za or e-mail 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 on 031 201 4750.

PANSA is grateful to Musho! sponsors and partners: eThekwini Municipality; the Department of Arts and Culture KZN; The Daily News; Catalina Theatre; Twist Development Projects and Business and Arts South Africa.

MUSHO! FESTIVAL PROGRAMME 2015

January 14 at 20h00: My Travelling Bag. From a very young age, Gcina Mhlophe got to travel all over her home province, KZN, telling stories. But her gogo sounded a word of warning- “There is a bigger world out there”. Those were wise and prophetic words. In this show, Gcina reflects on 33 years of suitcases bought, stamps in her passports, friendships, missed flights, mementos and memories. They can only be told and shared one bowl at a time. Written and performed by Gcina Mhlophe. Storytelling. 55 minutes. Ages 16 and up.

January 15 at 20h00: The One. Much has changed since our grannies waited months for a ship to arrive with a letter from a sweetheart. Now a 13-year old can tell when the boy she’s ‘vibing’ with has read her whatsapp and hasn’t replied. Mary Steward explores the highs and lows of dating and the unfathomable rules of courtship, where whether we are 16 or 60; we are essentially undone and enchanted by love. Written and performed by Mary Steward. Comedy. 55 minutes. Ages 13 and up.

January 16 at 18h00: No Contest. It’s the finale of a reality game show, where two dancers are battling with three routines to win the claimed talent title. Along the way, we meet several fans of the show as they are glued to their television sets in this gripping finale, all offering their ideas on the talents that South Africa should have. A political satire which uses physical, farcical characters from our diverse nation. Created and performed by Verne Rowin Munsamy and Sashin Kandhai. Comedy. 60 minutes. Ages 13 and up.

January 16 at 20h00: Back To Blue Monday. Homegrown poet and rapper iainEWOKrobinson began performing his one man Spoken Word theatre shows at The Catalina in 2004, as part of a Catalina Blue Monday Platform initiative. His style, that has evolved into multi-genre audio and visual experiences and toured internationally, started on this stage as a simple poetry performance. 10 years on, Ewok returns to the stage that started it all with a selection of work from his various shows. Conceived and performed by iainEWOKrobinson . Visual artistry by Karen Melissa Logan. Spoken Word / comedy. 60 minutes. Ages 13 and up.

January 17 at 12 noon: The Great Big Enormous Turnip. Based on an old Russian folk tale, a little old man (grumpy old geezer) and a little old woman (nagging old bat) hate the sight of each other! Then one day the little old man grows the biggest turnip in the world and the two set about trying to pull it out of the ground. Hilarity ensues as they, with the help of the audience, learn to work together. Directed by Peter Court and Bryan Hiles. Performed by Bryan Hiles and Daisy Spencer. Family theatre. 45 minutes. Ages 3 and up. This is an outdoor performance. Please dress accordingly.

January 17 at 14h00: MUSHO! WITH A TWIST 1: DOUBLE BILL OF TWO SHORT SHOWS.  Freedom Forest (Izwi Youth Theatre Group) Even after 20 years, an old veteran feels that he is not free. Will his dream take him to a place where freedom is? Too Long (Sinethemba Theatre Group) Strangely, Noma has been pregnant for two years, and doesn’t understand why. She needs to uncover a buried secret before she will be free to give birth. Created by the groups with mentorship through Twist Projects. Drama. 30 minutes each. All ages.

January 17 at 16h00: The Chameleon. In a world overrun with chaos, discipline elevates you above the rest; but sometimes things happen that are out of your control. What happens when the bad things that you want to get rid of are the multiple personalities inside you? It would appear that there’s only one thing left for you to do: Take care of the monster or put it out of its misery. Written and directed by Wiseman Mncube. Performed by Sipho Zakwe. Drama. 45 minutes. Ages 16 and up.

January 17 at 18h00: Actress and Girl. A dark, whimsical story about the kindness and cruelty of strangers. Two women stand together on the side of an empty stretch of road somewhere in the Karoo. An actress, stranded by her touring group; and a girl, trying to make ends meet selling scrap, are united in boredom as they wait for cars to pass. Produced by Tristan Jacobs. Created and performed by Maude Sandham and Rachael Neary. Directed by Simona Mazza. Drama. 60 minutes. Ages 14 and up.

January 17 at 20h00 – Vincent. A chronicle of the slow descent into madness of the Dutch painter, Vincent Van Gogh, who famously never sold a painting whilst he was alive. From tragedy to tragedy, through his love affairs and lifelong friendship with his brother, the play takes us into the life of a man who lived before his time, in a world filled with light and vibrant colour. Written and directed by Marc Kay. Performed by Clinton Small. Drama. 45 minutes. Ages 16 and up.

January 18 at 14h00 – MUSHO! WITH A TWIST 2: A DOUBLE BILL OF TWO SHORT SHOWS. Mpilo and Themba (Siyathuthuka Theatre Group) Mpilo shares a room with Themba in a children’s home. Secrets about their parents are uncovered that allow them to realise what family really means. The Dress: (Lashona Arts and Creations) A beautiful pink dress hangs in a cupboard. Watch how it changes the lives of three generations of women. Created by the groups with mentorship through Twist Projects. Drama. 30 minutes each. Ages 14 and up.

January 18 at 16h00: Falling Pyramid. Raised by the streets of Durban before moving on to a life of music and crime in Johannesburg, Sthembiso is a depressed, egocentric star who has neglected to deal with his past. Today, at a press conference, he is facing all his demons. Today is the day, and everyone in the room is an enemy. Written and directed by Bongani R. Baai . Performed by Siyamthanda Mdluli. Drama. 55 minutes. Ages 14 and up.

January 18 at 18h00: Bru. Join two surfer dudes as they escape the purgatory of the concrete jungle of Jo’burg in search of the freedom of the waves. A high-energy physical theatre fusion with a pair of talented young actors. Written by performed by Sandi Dlangala and Mikey Frederick von Bardeleben. Directed by Josh Martin. Physical theatre. 50 minutes. Ages 12 and up.

MASTERCLASS – CREATING THEATRE FOR KIDS: January 19 from 10h00 until 12 noon. This masterclass focuses on creating theatre for young people and working with schools. Talented young Deaf performer Sibo Masondo performs an extract from Eenie Meanie Greenie GROW! an eco-comedy devised and directed by veteran theatre-maker Gisele Turner. Gisele will talk about creating work for young people and Yvette Hardie from Assitej South Africa will provide input on working with schools and with the Department of Basic Education. The workshop is free, but booking is essential, on 031 201 4750.

Ticket prices: R50 (R30 students, OAPS and PANSA members). Special all-day tickets for Saturday and Sunday: R100 per day Tickets for Musho! with a Twist, and Saturday / Sunday 16h00 - Pay what you can.

The Musho! Festival 2015 is brought to you by PANSA with support from eThekwini Municipality; the Department of Arts and Culture KZN; The Daily News; Catalina Theatre; Twist Development Projects and Business and Arts South Africa.