(Lyle Buxton as Sinbad
the Sailor and Belinda Henwood as Morgiana the Magnificent. Photo – Val Adamson)
What would the festive season be without KickstArt’s annual
panto? Durban’s astonishing multi awarding winning production house, KickstArt,
will be presenting a delicious original new family panto for the year-end
holidays: Sinbad the Sailor, at the
Elizabeth Sneddon theatre on UKZN campus from December 1 until January 7 2017.
This year marks KickstArt’s 14th annual pantomime and the
eighth panto written by Steven Stead since 2004. It is a riotous romp over the
Seven Seas, in the company of the famous sailor, Sinbad, and his madcap crew
and family! With gloriously colourful sets and costumes that evoke the exotic
mystery and magic of the Arabian Nights, and exciting music and dance, inspired
by Bollywood, this is a unique, unforgettable pantomime experience for the
entire family.
Sinbad features Lyle Buxton in the title role, and panto
regulars Bryan Hiles as Dame Donna Kebab, Darren King as Long John Slithe and
Belinda Henwood as Morgiana the Magnificent. The delightful heroine of the
piece is Princess Marina (Amanda Kunene) and the magical larger-than-life Genie
of the Seven Seas is Sandile Mabaso with Marion Loudon as the no-nonsense
Ameena; Graeme Wicks as the deliciously vague Silly Billy Souvlaki; and Mthokozisi
Zulu as the trusty pirate side-kick, Mustapha Kitkat. The chorus is made up of
Kirsty Ndawo, Katherine Anderson, Pavishen Paideya and Muvo Hlongwana.
Written and directed by Steven Stead; designed by Greg King,
with choreography by Evashnee Pillay, lighting by Tina le Roux, sound by Ross
van Wyk and musical supervision by Jason Bird, Sinbad the Sailor is perfect year-end holiday entertainment for the
entire family.
Director Stead is excited about the project and looks
forward to transporting audiences off to magical faraway places – the style of
which he likens to a ‘cartoon on steroids – with a lot of heart’. He enjoys that the story will have an element
of surprise as although the characters and context are well-known, it is not a
familiar fairy-story. The look is rich colours in peacock hues; delicate
fretwork; lanterns; minaurettes, exotic islands and pirate ships. Stead has
chosen an interesting soundtrack for the panto this year – fusing accessible,
contemporary music with much-loved tunes – with an underlying Eastern beat,
Indo-Arabic flavour and percussive influences.
Sinbad the Sailor runs
at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from December 1 to January 7. Performances Tuesday
to Sunday at 14h30 with an evening performance on Fridays at 19h00. No
performances Christmas Day or New Year’s Day. Tickets: R230/R180/R150 (R180/R160/R120
for children under 12 and pensioners). Special Preview and Schools Prices: R130
throughout.
Book for all 2017 shows at Computicket:
www.computicket.co.za / 0861 915 8000 / Shoprite Checkers Money Market
Counters. For more info, visit
www.kickstarttheatre.co.za.
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