The KZN Arts Showcase has seen an array of
drama, dance, live music and poetry staging at the Playhouse. The free Showcase
wraps up this weekend.
The Playhouse Company’s inaugural KZN Arts
Showcase has seen the first two weekends of October at the Loft Theatre
bustling with local theatrical activity.
The KZN Arts Showcase opened on October 6 with
an array of drama and dance productions, as well as live music and poetry
staging at the Playhouse.
The Showcase wraps up this weekend with the
final leg of offerings staging in The Loft Theatre from October 20 to 21.
Peace
Magents stages on October 20 at 11h00 and October 21
at 14h00. This is the story of ex-convicts who are serving their time at Durban
Westville correctional facility. They tell their different stories on the life
they were living before they were arrested. They are about to be released and
are looking forward to making a difference.
Human
Race takes place on October 20 at 15h30 and October
21 at 15h15. This theatre piece is a “show within a show”. Three childhood best
friends are running a final dress rehearsal. The show is about three gentlemen
- president, pastor and low life citizen – who are trying to figure out where
they are. They fall into the human race, race of power and equity. Will they
make it on their race to the gates of heaven?
Cell
Block Double is a two-hander new South African play
about two women who are incarcerated in prison together. The production stages
on October 20 at 16h45 and October 21 at 16h30. The characters take us through
a journey of their lives and the circumstances that have lead them to be in
prison. Most importantly, however, the audience experience their love/hate
relationship and how they become each other’s strength in the journey of
rehabilitation. This is a heart-warming look at the power of humanity and how
two women, caught in violence and destruction, find redemption through
friendship.
Ulwembu - which stages on October 20 and 21 at 19h30 - is a poignant,
informative, honest and incisive theatre production about drug addiction. Over
the course of 2015, a dynamic team of story-tellers, playwrights,
theatre-makers, academics and researchers set about exploring the Whoonga
(low-grade heroin) crisis currently plaguing KZN communities. The result is a
powerful theatre production entitled Ulwembu
(isiZulu for Spider web) created by award-winning playwright and director Neil
Coppen, top local actress Mpume Mthombeni, KwaMashu-based community theatre
group, The Big Brotherhood, and educational sociologist Dylan McGarry.
On October 20 audiences can stop by the
Playhouse’s Coffee Shop Foyer to enjoy a FREE Sundowner Concert featuring Dawn
King and the Selaphi Sisters. While on October 21– at the same venue – a FREE
poetry showcase will stage, featuring local poets Nkosi Mnguni, Lerator
Sokhulu, Tulile Siguca and Thubelihle Mthembu.
Also on October 20 (from 12h00 to 15h00) a
FREE Master Class on Marketing and Publicity will be held at the Playhouse
Grand Foyer. This is the final Master Class hosted within the KZN Arts Showcase
activities with the intention being to assist emerging artists in various
fields that could help them. In the case of the Master Class on Marketing and
Publicity, the intention is to equip artists with advice from the experts on
how they can market and publicise their events.
All productions, Sundowner Concerts and
Poetry, as well are Master Classes are FREE entry. For theatre productions
staging in the Loft Theatre and the Master Class booking is essential via
salescoordinator@playhousecompany.com
The inaugural KZN Arts Showcase has seen an
array of drama, dance and more showcased at the Playhouse Loft Theatre every
weekend in October.
A total of 10 productions are being staged
during this showcase which was created to celebrate authentic local works. This
showcase has been co-curated by The Playhouse Company with K-CAP, Umsindo
Theatre Projects, The University of KZN Drama Department and an independent
panel, who recommended productions based on pre-set criteria. This included
nominations of the best productions from their respective programmes, festivals
or competitions.
For the full festival schedule visit
www.playhousecompany.com
Posts
