SASOL NEW SIGNATURES ART COMPETITION CALLS FOR ARTISTS TO GO “BEYOND”

(Overall Winner: Patrick Rulore and his work: “Stage 4 Moments”)

Deadlines: June 24 & 25, 2020, between 10h00 & 16h00

The call for entries for one of South Africa’s oldest and most respected art competitions, the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition, is now open.

Now in its 31st year of existence, the competition calls on this year’s entrants to enter works that are “imaginative, transgressive, transcendent, disruptive, boundless and ‘beyond’,” said new National Chairperson, Pfunzo Sidogi.

Explaining further, he said: “The world today is complex and full of seemingly irreconcilable contradictions, and as we march into a new decade, visual artists are best equipped to make sense of our dynamic, interconnected, and challenging environments. By promoting art that is ingrained with an aura of possibility and potentiality, the ‘beyond’ moniker is a call for artists to go ‘beyond’ mere mimesis of the global malaise.”

(Right: Merit Award Winner: Kagisho Moloto and her work ”Disguise Mask“)

Emerging artists across the country have the opportunity to submit their works at various collection points on Wednesday, June 24 and Thursday, June 25, 2020 between 10h00 and 16h00.

This annual competition is open to all South African artists who are 18 years and older, who have not yet held a solo exhibition. Artists who have held a solo exhibition for academic purposes, for example, a Master’s degree exhibition, are allowed to enter. Artists are able to submit artworks in all artistic mediums including photography, performance art, video and installations.

Not only do emerging artists benefit immensely from the profile of being named a winner but it is also “an enabler for emerging artists to not only unsettle societal conventions, but to also expand the possibilities of art” says Sidogi.

(Left: Runner Up: Luyanda Zindela and his work: “Phowtha sis'Mgabadeli”)

The overall competition winner receives R100,000 and an opportunity of a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum (terms and conditions apply) with the runner-up receiving R25,000 and five merit awards winners receiving R10,000 each.

Patrick Rulore (see above), who won 2019 competition for his work titled Stage 4 Moments – which is an oil on canvas – said the competition is “a wonderful platform to expose emerging artists and to show the huge belief this corporate company has in emerging artists. It has opened doors for me as an emerging artist. The Sasol New Signatures competition sort of means you leap-frog ten big steps at once. This sort of achievement usually takes fifteen years.”

Artists can enter by downloading entry forms from www.sasolnewsignatures.co.za

All details regarding Feedback Sessions as well as collection points and conditions of entry are also available on the website.

Due to the national state of disaster declared to curb the spread of Coronavirus in South Africa and guidelines on social distancing and gathering, the Information Sessions held in previous years will not take place this year. Artists can, however, follow on twitter (sasolnewsignatures) and visit the website for regular updates for further information, tips and more.

The winners of this year’s competition will be announced on August 26, and the Sasol New Signatures exhibition will run from August 27 to October 4, 2020.

BOLSHOI THEATRE OF MOSCOW FREE YOUTUBE VIEWING

For the first time in its history, the Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow has announced that it will broadcast several classical opera and ballet performances (known as the "Golden Series") live on the theatre's Youtube channel for free viewing

The films will be reserved for 24 hours for a global audience to enjoy.

Moscow Grand Theatre Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/bolshoi

Programme schedule:

March 27, 2020: Swan Lake

March 28, 2020: The Sleeping Beauty

April 1, 2020: The Tsar's Bride

April 4, 2020: Marco Spada

April 7, 2020: Boris Godunov

April 10, 2020: The Nutcracker

THE SA ACTION AND DRAMA TO WATCH WHILE ON LOCKDOWN

(“Dora's Peace” - Khabonina Qubeka)

As people stay at home across the country, streaming platforms are offering a variety of top local films for every taste.

From heists to drama, and action to comedy, some of the best in South African films – released in cinemas by Indigenous Film Distribution over the years are available on digital and on-demand platforms as people across South Africa brace themselves for a 21-day lockdown to tackle the spread of the new coronavirus.

(Left: “The Wound”)

“There’s something for everyone – thrillers, dramas, action,” says Helen Kuun, MD of Indigenous Film Distribution. “Given the current circumstances, we are pleased these films are available on digital for audiences to enjoy from the comfort of their homes.”

In Assignment Kathleen (Kat) Jacobs, a renowned conflict journalist returns home to Johannesburg after her assignment is cut short by a near-fatal incident in the Congo. She discovers an incredible scoop, one which pitches her squarely against major political forces. Kat finds herself on the run. What ensues is the most dangerous cat-and-mouse chase of Kat's life. Not only her career and reputation are on the line, but also her life and her family's as well. Assignment stars Sandi Schultz, Gert van Niekerk and David Dennis.

In Charlie Vundla’s How to Steal Two Million, Jack comes out of prison having spent five years there for a robbery gone bad. His partner Twala never got caught and Jack never talked. But Twala is as treacherous as Jack is honourable. He’s married Jack’s former fiancée. Jack wants to go legit but after being rejected for a loan he needs a new source of capital. Twala presents him with an opportunity a job with a R2 million take. The heist films stars Menzi Ngubane, Terry Pheto, and Rapulana Seiphemo.

A must-see for political history fans, Mandla Dube’s  Kalushi: The Story of Solomon Mahlangu, tells the story of the Mamelodi township schoolboy-hawker who, after the events of June 16, joins the military wing of the ANC to fight against the brutal oppression of the Apartheid regime and ends up becoming an icon of South Africa's liberation. The film stars Thabo Rametsi, Thabo Malema, and Welile Nzuza.

In iNumber Number, starring S'Dumo Mtshali, Presley Chweneyagae and Mncedisi Shabangu, Chili and Sello, undercover cops, are cheated out of a large reward by their corrupt superiors. Chili infiltrates a gang as it prepares to rob an armoured car, and instead of busting them, he convinces Sello to participate in the score.

Wonder Boy for President tells the story of a charismatic young man from the Eastern Cape who is coerced into running for president by two corrupt characters. It’s a political satire that delves into political dynamics and challenges that arise. Directed by John Barker, it stars Kagiso Lediga, Tony Miyambo and Ntosh Madlingozi.

Coming in April is Four Corners, directed by Ian Gabriel. Fatherless and raised by his grandmother, 13-year-old Ricardo Galam lives in the Cape Flats, a unique and volatile sub culture dominated by two Number gangs, the 26s and 28s. Ricardo's future as a chess prodigy is threatened by his growing interest in the 26s whose local leader is grooming him as a potential member. It’s a gripping drama set against the backdrop of a gang war which has been raging for 100 years.

On Showmax, women fight back in Dora’s Peace, a story about a Hillbrow prostitute who shields a gifted young boy from the violent clutches of organised crime. In the process she discovers aspects of her own lost humanity with Kabonina Qubeka.

(Right: “Five Fingers For Marseilles - Vuyo Dabula)

If you’re into westerns with an African twist, Five Fingers for Marseilles looks at how lives change forever when Tau, a young lion, kills two corrupt policemen in a South African shanty town. It stars Vuyo Dabula, Zethu Dlomo and Hamilton Dhlamini.

In ‘Inxeba (The Wound), Xolani, a lonely factory worker, travels to the rural mountains with the men of his community to initiate a group of teenage boys into manhood. The controversial film stars Nakhane Touré, Bongile Mantsai and Niza Jay.

LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE FOR MNET

M-Net (channel 101) will host Season 1 of Little Fires Everywhere tonight (Monday, March 30), 2020, at 21h00.

Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington drive this mini-series that is based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller. 

Follow the intertwined fates of the picture-perfect Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upend their lives.

"The story explores the weight of secrets, the nature of art and identity, the ferocious pull of motherhood – and the danger in believing that following the rules can avert disaster. (Wikipedia)

“THE FLAWED GENIUS OF JAN SMUTS” DOCUMENTARY

(Jan Smuts Jnr, who takes on the role of his grandfather, with Neville Herrington)

One project which has gone well for Durban based Tekweni Television is their one-hour drama documentary on Jan Smuts titled The Flawed Genius of Jan Smuts.

(Left: Anton Herrington (Director of Photography) on left with Sandra Herrington (Producer/Director) and Cape Town’s Skylab crew who were used for the aerial drone shots on Table Mountain and Riebeek West)

Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts PC, OM, CH, DTD, ED, KC, FRS (24 May 1870 – 11 September 1950) was a South African statesman, military leader, and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948. (Wikipedia)

The documentary was co-produced by Sandra and Neville Herrington and directed by Sandra Herrington, with financial assistance from the NFVF, using Jan Smut’s look-alike grandson in a cameo role of this great icon. It was shown several times locally on DSTV and then screened by them into 52 African countries. 

(Theriodopiolous Coetzer in the role of 11 year-old Smuts)

Sandra Herrington says: “We have now put it onto our You Tube Channel which has 90,000 subscribers and it has had 82,000 views (mostly over the last month) and growing daily. 

"What is very pleasing for us is that the documentary is doing the very thing we wanted it to do …. bringing this controversial figure into the public eye once more; by opening up on the site a heated debate through 450 viewer comments from around the world, including the following from the United States’ Presidential office :

"Thank you for sharing your history. love of country; respect of one’s and others roots creates balanced people and responsible stewards. 

Too often, public ignorance, skewed historiography and manipulative “grievance” based mass movements sustain control & unjust governance by an entropic clan of self serving oligarchic elites. 

The  United States & President Trump send our best wishes for South Africa “

The link on Tekweni Television’s Youtube channel for anyone who wants to watch it - https://youtu.be/4qaZR4vRHY0

It can also be viewed on the home page of the new Tekweni Media website:  http://tekweni.co.za

For more information contact Sandra Herrington PhD, Producer / Director/Scriptwriter/Editor on 031 261 1034 or 082 552 3949 or email: sandyh@iafrica.com

AMAZON CANCELS SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR THE LOCKDOWN

Amazon today cancelled the subscription of books and audio stories for children and students of all ages as long as schools are closed, youngsters everywhere can instantly stream an incredible collection of stories, including titles across six different languages, that will help them continue dreaming, learning, and just being kids.

All stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet using the following link https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE

(James Corden in One Man, Two Guvnors, for which he won a Tony Award. Stream the hit comedy free on YouTube from April 2 to 9. Picture by Johan Persson)

by BILLY SUTER (courtesy of sosuterbill.com)

While the Coronavirus pandemic keeps theatres dark in South Africa, on Broadway and in London’s West End, the curtain has risen on some terrific news – National Theatre Live, which presents filmed London stage productions, will be streaming acclaimed shows free on YouTube from Thursday, April 2.

In an effort to boost morale and promote theatre in these dark times, the series will be known as National Theatre At Home and new shows will premiere at 19h00 (UK time) every Thursday. Each show will be available for free streaming on the National Theatre YouTube channel for seven days.

It has been reported that the series will include Q&As with cast and creative teams, post-screening talk-backs, and more.

The National Theatre Live (NTL) website reports that it has also been decided to offer NTL’s world-class productions free to UK state-funded teacher and pupils at home, as well as offer a free trial for other educational institutions.

First up among shows to be streamed free on YouTube will be Nicholas Hytner’s widely acclaimed production of One Man, Two Guvnors, filmed live on stage in 2011. It will premiere at 19h00 (UK time) on Thursday, April 2, and then will be available for free streaming any time until April 9.

Also confirmed for April streaming is Sally Cookson’s adaptation of Jane Eyre (from April 9). It is a bold and innovative reimagining of Charlotte Bronte’s masterpiece which uncovers one woman’s fight for freedom and fulfillment on her own terms.

Bryony Lavery’s adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island is scheduled for streaming from April 16. This thrilling stage production of the tale of murder, money and mutiny features Arthur Darvill as pirate Long John Silver,

Tamsin Greig plays Malvolia in William Shakespeare’s classic comedy, Twelfth Night (from April 23), which tells of music being the food of love and a play in which nobody is quite what they seem.

Additional titles are expected to be announced at a later date.

A Broadway and West End comedy hit, One Man, Two Guvnors features a Tony Award-winning performance from the host of The Late Late Show, James Corden, who has also been seen on the big screen in Into the Woods and Cats.

One Man, Two Guvnors also stars Oliver Chris, Tom Edden and Jemima Rooper. Adapted from a play by Carlo Goldoni by Richard Bean, the comedy focuses on a man who has to cater to two masters, one of whom is a gangster, while also just trying to get a bite to eat.

A riotous farce, running three hours and 30 minutes with interval, One Man, Two Guvnors enjoyed a UK tour before running in the West End and transferring to Broadway. It won Corden a WhatsOnStage Award, a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics Circle Award. – Billy Suter, sosuterbill.com

VIDEOVISION OFFERS FREE VIEWING

Anant Singh and Videovision Entertainment have announced that they will make available a selection of films produced by the company for free viewing online. These hit films will be available during the lockdown period from March 27 through to April 16, 2020.

The first films offered on the platform are all South African favourites to entertain and inspire viewers:

Sarafina!, based on the stage musical, it is an inspirational film about the youth uprising of 16 June 1976, and stars Leleti Khumalo, John Kani, Robert Whitehead, Miriam Makeba, Somizi Mhlongo and Whoopi Goldberg.

Mr Bones, South Africa’s Number One Box Office Comedy Hit

Yesterday, the first South African film nominated for an Oscar starring Leleti Khumalo and directed by Darrell James Roodt.

2010 – Once In A Lifetime, which focuses on the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa and the excitement and jubilation that this global event brought to South Africa and the African continent.

Red Dust, An intense, courtroom drama on the backdrop of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, starring Oscar winners Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor with Jamie Bartlett.

Celebrating Mandela One Hundred, traces Madiba’s life from his roots in the Transkei, to becoming one of the greatest leaders the world has seen.

Countdown To Freedom, documents the ten days leading up to our democratic elections and culminates with Nelson Mandela’s inauguration as President, and includes exclusive access to Nelson Mandela as he took the final steps on his walk from prisoner to president.

A Hero For All, follows the activities of President Mandela from the run-up to South Africa’s first democratic elections and throughout his presidency.

Paljas, based on the classic Afrikaans book and directed by Katinka Heyns, explores the life of a Karoo family whose lives are changed for the better when a travelling circus leaves behind a clown.

Ahmed Kathrada: A Man For All Seasons, follows struggle veteran Ahmed Kathrada’s extraordinary life journey as an activist, a Rivonia trialist, a Robben Island prisoner through to his post prison activities and the founding of the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation.

The films can be accessed on the Videovision Entertainment portal on Vimeo at: https://vimeo.com/showcase/6915595.

Singh and Videovision Entertainment have been actively involved in the Covid-19 campaign and crafted awareness videos in partnership with many stakeholders including the Nelson Mandela Foundation.  These videos can be viewed at: https://vimeo.com/showcase/6915930.

“For the first time in the modern age, South Africa and the entire world faces a health threat of unprecedented proportions, with uncertainty and concern. While our President implemented measures to quell the rapid spread of the Covid-19 with the 21-day lockdown, we felt it important to offer some of our films to our nation for free viewing online.  We have selected films that are firm favourites among South Africans,” said producer Anant Singh. 

Singh further said, “I commend President Cyril Ramaphosa, his cabinet and the members of the National Command Council for the swift action taken and the implementation of programmes that will hopefully quell the impact of the Covid-19 virus on our people. It is encouraging that initiatives like the Solidarity Response Fund have garnered support and I am delighted to be a participant. I urge all South Africans to take the necessary precautions against the virus and continue to practise good hygiene. May all South Africans be safe during this lockdown period and beyond. God bless us all.”

NEW FROM JUNKETS PUBLISHER

(Left: “Die 9de Maand” cover)

Robin Malan, founder of the Junkets Publisher company has announced that for the first time in its nine-year history, the Zabalaza Theatre Festival at the Baxter Theatre Centre declared two Joint-Winners of the 2019 Zabalaza Theatre Festival. This has given Junkets the opportunity to publish two new playscripts, in collaboration with the Baxter Theatre Centre.

Tyron Zoutman’s play Die 9de Maand is an intriguing exploration of the lives of four Coloured Male university students who, while friends, are both united and divided by a very significant secret. Something happened at the graduation after-party … something they would like to remain a secret but which the world wants to know. 

The major theme of the play is betrayal, of friends by a friend. Something else the four young men share is the absence of a viable father figure in their lives.

(Right: “Ukuwa kweNkaba” cover)

Not altogether surprisingly, that same theme is at the centre of Mthobisi Mpandle’s play Ukuwa kweNkaba (The Cord). Father has moved away from his rural family to the city, and connection between him and his wife and two sons is broken. The community wonders if the second son Lungile is his father’s son. Where was his umbilical cord buried? This causes grave anxieties in Lungile’s mind, and he does not seem to be able to get a clear answer from anyone, least of all his mother. The play ends without Lungile having found a resolution to his dilemma.

(Left: “Benji” cover)

The third newly-released playscript from Junkets is the runner-up in the 2019 SCrIBE Playwriting Competition run by the Imbewu Trust. This play is Benji by Terence Makapan. Again, it features fathers and sons, but in a different context. Young James is a rent boy who responds to an out call, and finds himself in the home of an older man who has expectations of him very different from the usual. The interplay between these two characters, each of whom needs to find a resolution to something in their pasts, results in a striking piece of theatre.

All three of these plays can be ordered from Junkets by emailing info.junkets@iafrica.com .

  

The Winner of the SCrIBE Playwriting Competition has been published by the author Koleka Putuma in association with Junkets Publisher. The play’s title is No Easter Sunday for Queers. Two young lesbian women find themselves in a head-on collision with the Christian church to which they both belong. The issue is further complicated by the fact that the pastor of the church is also the father of one of them.

(Right: “No Easter Sunday for Queers” cover)

Information, pricing and availability of this play can be obtained from cocoputuma@gmail.com.

Coming soon from Junkets (as soon as the lockdown is lifted) is the highly anticipated new play from Mike van Graan, sporting his longest title yet: Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Metaphors.

More information on email:info.junkets@iafrica.com or visit www.junkets.co.za

DURBAN TV

Doreen Theys of the DUrban TV channel on the internet provides an optimistic view of #Covid19.

Whilst everyone is in panic buying mode as we go into #SALockdown DUrban TV is getting ready to bring you the best of our local talent as we #Countdown21days to remind everyone there is light at the end of the #Covid19 tunnel.

There is no better way to wake up on the first morning of lockdown than to the sounds of our very own Ladysmith Black Mambazo in concert to remind yourself of our beautiful, country, our internationally acclaimed talent and incredibly rich culture.

Don't let the next 21 days get you down. Durbanites are #StrongerTogether

Watch the #Livestream concert to lift your #SASpirit. View our channel at www.durbantv.net and follow our social media to stay in touch and get through this.

DUrbanTV is the first Web based streamcasting TV channel in South Africa aimed at bringing community and entertainment to Durbanites whilst taking Durban to the world.

Durban Film Office and the Durban Film Mart have successfully attracted big industry players who have contributed to the development of the film and TV industry in the city. Having both #Uzalo and #ImbewuTheSeed production studios being based in Durban has brought stability and sustainable employment of crew and support industries to the city creating a multiplier effect for local business.

DUrbanTV zooms in on the business of film and the benefits it brings to Durban in this, the first of two programmes on the 10th Durban Film Mart.

DUrbanTV – bringing community and entertainment to DUrbanites and taking Durban to the world … Watch www.durbantv.net or via catch up with our VideoOnDemand

Follow durbantv.net and social media pages for regular updates.

WHEN YOU SEE ME: REVIEW

If you’re into the thriller genre, “When You See Me” is highly recommended. (Review by Barry Meehan)

“You thought you were safe, but he’s still out there”

“When You See Me” by Lisa Gardner has a truly gripping opening chapter, one which sets the scene for this fast-paced thriller featuring Gardner’s hard-working Sergeant Detective D D Warren. It is actually a follow-on from her D D Warren series dealing with the kidnapping and incarceration of Flora Dane at the hands of the psychotic Jacob Ness, but if you haven’t read them, it’s not a problem as When You See Me stands on its own. If you have read the three previous books in the D D Warren/Flora Dane series, however, (Find Her, Look for Me and Never Tell), so much the better, as you will get a much better understanding of the principal characters and what drives them.

The story is told through the eyes of four very different women – a young shooting victim whose mother calls her Chiquita, D D Warren, former victim and confidential informant Flora Dane and FBI agent Kimberley Quincy. Two hikers discover a shallow grave above the small town of Niche in Georgia, a picturesque spot in the Appalachian Mountains, frequented mainly by the hiking community during the summer months.

It would appear that the quaint town is just that, but beneath the surface lie a number of dark secrets. The townsfolk seem perfectly normal to outsiders, but all is not as it seems, as D D, Flora and Kimberley are soon to discover in their quest to solve the mystery of the body in the shallow grave, given the victim’s, and the town’s, possible links to Jacob Ness. Along with Flora’s geeky sidekick, computer analyst and crime enthusiast, Keith Edgar, the three women embark on a whirlwind investigation which shatters the peace of the small town, turning up more bodies as it twists and turns its way to an explosive climax.

Lisa Gardner’s writing style is fluid and eminently readable, as witnessed by her status as one of the foremost thriller writers of today, having sold millions of copies around the globe. If you’re into the thriller genre, When You See Me is highly recommended.

When You See Me is published by Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-1-529-12440-8 – Barry Meehan

ISABELLE IN THE AFTERNOON: REVIEW

This novel unfolds slowly and steadily into a truly beautiful story of joy, grief, passion and regrets. (Review by Fiona de Goede)

“A moving story of passion and heartbreak from the internationally bestselling author of The Pursuit of Happiness and The Woman in the Fifth.”

Before Isabelle I knew nothing of sex.

Before Isabelle I knew nothing of freedom.

Before Isabelle I knew nothing of life.

I was intrigued from the outset by this novel, Isabelle In The Afternoon – Paris in the Seventies has always evoked a sense of romance and a Bohemian lifestyle to me. This is charmingly illustrated in the opening chapters of the novel: Sam, an American student is on holiday in Paris before starting his studies at Harvard Law. He roams the streets of Paris, frequents cafes and cinemas, bookshops and bars and then he meets Isabelle…

They embark on a passionate affair conducted entirely within the boundaries of Isabelle’s rules and on her terms – afternoons between 5 and 7. This arrangement soon develops into a true affair of the heart.

Time goes by and Sam eventually meets Rebecca, a fellow lawyer, and despite several warning signals, they get married and eventually have a child. After a set of tragic events, they have a particularly acrimonious divorce and Sam decides to relocate to Paris on a semi-permanent basis. Inevitably, of course, he and Isabelle resume their affair, largely still on her terms but with the odd concession from time to time which allows Sam to meet her daughter and Isabelle to meet Ethan, Sam’s son.

This novel unfolds slowly and steadily into a truly beautiful story of joy, grief, passion and regrets. What appealed to me in particular was the growth evident in Sam – from a young, relatively uncertain student into a mature, loving father and man.

Douglas Kennedy, in my opinion, has always been quite masterful at setting a scene and allowing the reader to become involved in the lives of his characters.  This novel is no exception. 

Isabelle In The Afternoon is published by Penguin Random House South Africa. ISBN 978-0-09-195374-4 RRP R290.00- Fiona de Goede

M-NET BINGE - THE HOME OF HBO

(“Game of Thrones” Cast)

MultiChoice and M-Net lock down superb schedule for DStv Premium and Compact Plus pop-up channel

As South Africans are starting a crucial and critical 21 home-bound days to curb the spread of Covid-19, there’s no need for international series fanatics to fear long nights of boredom.

MultiChoice and M-Net have conjured up a must-watch pop-up channel with only the best of the best content from the HBO stable. M-Net Binge – The Home of HBO, channel 114 on DStv Premium and Compact Plus, showcases full seasons of edgy, award-winning series as well as a selection of riveting documentaries and HBO Original films.

M-Net Binge – The Home of HBO kicks off on Friday March 27 at 19h00. Thereafter it will be available seven days a week, between 18h00 and 06h00, Mondays to Sundays. Why 12 hours only, series aficionados may ask? Only because of the racy nature of the channel and the age-restricted material, which is not suitable for daytime viewing.

The weekday schedule for M-Net Binge – Home of HBO has been carefully curated to create appointment viewing. You will find the same series in the same time slot, on the hour, Mondays to Fridays. From series like The Newsroom, which earned leading man Jeff Daniels several TV gongs, to executive producers Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg’s epic war drama Band of Brothers; and the biggest series of modern times, Game of Thrones. Not to forget recent masterpiece The Night Of and the cult series Six Feet Under. When insomnia hits in the middle of the night, there’s also Banshee, The Leftovers and Girls. 

On Saturdays, up until 21h00, the line-up is packed with thought-provoking documentaries. At 21h00 there will be another episode of Game of Thrones, which is screened in the same slot during the week. Sunday’s schedule belongs to series that have been exclusive to the streaming service Showmax to date: His Dark Materials and Succession. That’s followed by a superstack (6 episodes) of classic Sex & The City, starting at 22h00. As a special treat for night owls, the next item on air is the HBO film at 01h00. The unmissable documentary picked for Saturday March 27 is Ice on Fire. Narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio, it investigates solutions to try and reverse the effects of climate change while time is ticking.  The film on Sunday is Deadwood, the movie HBO created to conclude the hit series form the 1990s. 

M-Net Binge – The Home of HBO will also be available on DStv Catch up and on the streaming service DStv Now. Fans can follow all the breaking news around the pop-up channel on the M-Net Website, and join the conversation with #mnetbinge on Twitter (@MNet), Instagram (@mnettv) and Facebook (@MNet).

A quick snapshot and summaries of the shows on M-Net Binge – The Home of HBO:

(Right: Jeff Daniels in “The Newsroom”)

The Newsroom

Mondays to Fridays at 19h00. Repeats next day at 18h00.

From the imagination of Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing, comes another riveting political drama series, set in the newsroom of the fictional Atlantis Cable News television channel. The Newsroom won a Critics' Choice Television Award for Most Exciting New Series, along with Golden Globe nominations and a string of other accolades. These include a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (Jeff Daniels) and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series (Jane Fonda).

Band of Brothers

Mondays to Fridays at 20h00.

Hollywood legends Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who collaborated on one of the greatest war movies of all time, Saving Private Ryan, teamed up again and revisited World War II as executive producers on a project that won high praise from viewers, and Emmy and Golden Globe awards for Best Miniseries. Based on a non-fiction bestselling book by historian Stephen E Ambrose, it follows the history of a parachute battalion from jump training in the United States through its participation in major actions in Europe.

Game of Thrones

Mondays to Saturdays at 21h00 and 22h00 (two episodes).

The most talked about television series of the new millennium, bar none, took the fantasy genre to a new level. Game of Thrones won a record 58 Emmy Awards, and has a global fan base that long ago surpassed the one billion mark – and keeps growing. If you’ve just returned from another planet and missed it first time around, you’ve got some catching up to do. There are 72 episodes, all told. Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, it has several plot arcs and a huge ensemble cast.

NB: The series contains scenes of nudity and violence.

Six Feet Under

Mondays to Fridays at 23h00

A funeral parlour may not sound like the ideal setting for a long-running drama series, but Six Feet Under was a smashing success, named by Time Magazine, The Guardian and Empire as one of the best television series of all time. Nine Emmy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Peabody Award back up those assessments. The story revolves around the trials and tribulations of the Fisher clan, owners of Fisher & Sons Funeral Home. Besides the usual themes of interpersonal relationships, love and loss, it fearlessly tackles the most important philosophical question of our time: the meaning of life.

(Left: John Terturro in “The Night Of”)

The Night Of

Saturdays at 23h00

Following a wild night of sex and drugs, Nasir “Naz” Kahn, a Pakistani-American student, wakes up to find that the woman he’d spent the night with has been stabbed to death. He has no recollection of the events of the night. This is the premise of a multiple award-winning crime miniseries starring John Terturro as John Stone, the lawyer who represents the murder suspect. It won four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Directors’ Guild of America Award among a slew of accolades. It has a score of 90 on Metacritic, based on 40 reviews, and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating universal acclaim.

His Dark Materials

Sundays at 19h00.

Strangeness and wonder mark this fantasy drama based on the cult novel series of the same name by Philip Pullman. The action takes place in a multi-world reality, switching from one to the other in an absorbing, unusual narrative. In an alternate world, all humans have animal companions called daemons. As it turns out, they are manifestations of the human soul. The main character is a girl named Lyra, an orphan who discovers a dangerous secret. And then her path crosses with a boy named Will. The series combines live action and animation and won an Annie, America’s top animation award.

(Right: Brian Cox in “Succession”)

Succession

Sundays at 20h00 and 21h00 (two episodes)

An American satirical comedy-drama television series that won the British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme and the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama. In addition to that, Brian Cox, one of the lead actors, won the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Television Series Drama. A dysfunctional family battles for control of a global media and hospitality conglomerate – and the patriarch’s health is in steep decline. Who will inherit the throne?

EXPLORING DLHM FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR COUCH!

Understandably there are many people who are currently working from home and choosing to spend their the weekends indoors rather than out and about, so Durban Local History Museums thought that now might be a good time to explore what the Durban Local History Museums’ (DLHM) website has to offer!

Obviously there’s nothing quite like seeing museum artefacts in the flesh, so to speak, but the DLHM website offers a wealth of information that’s accessible from the comfort, and safety, of your own home.

First off, there’s a weekly blog that covers topical items of interest, as well as highlighting various aspects of the museums’ collections. You can subscribe to the blog’s weekly newsletter by visiting https://durbanhistorymuseums.org.za

DLHM also publishes a biennial magazine, Umlando. If you visit the Papers & Publications section of the website https://durbanhistorymuseums.org.za/papers-publications/ you’ll find that all the past issues of the magazine are available for viewing online. There you’ll also find papers written by members of the DLHM, which make for fascinating reading!

And if you’re interested in the history of your hometown, the DLHM website offers some great background on the history of the region, including a wealth of information on the establishment of Durban’s port, the infamous ‘Durban System’ and the background to some of Durban’s townships and suburbs.

You can also take a mini-tour of the various museums that make up the DLHM stable. A brief introduction to the museums’ various permanent exhibitions is available for viewing under the tab ‘Exhibitions‘ - https://durbanhistorymuseums.org.za/exhibitions/, with details about each site to be found under the ‘Museums’ tab on the home page – https://durbanhistorymuseums.org.za/ - including directions for when normal life has resumed and you can visit them!

PHANSI MUSEUM & COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

Due the presidential enforcement of a COVID-19 lockdown starting midnight, March Thursday 26, Phansi will be closed until further notice.

“However,” the organisers say: “we are Africans and know how to make a plan when disaster hits! Throughout the lockdown, be sure to follow our Facebook and Instagram pages, as we post in-depth information about artefacts and items in our museum: a virtual museum.

“Learn a bit of isiZulu with our museum manager Phumzile, as we post 'sayings of the week'. We will share uplifting posts about art news, African history, and indigenous knowledge to keep you (and your children) informed and entertained.

During this time, as tours are suspended, any donation is greatly valued. Please find various donation information below. Contact Vanigay at vanigay@phansi.com for more queries

On site for emergencies call Similo on 060 398 8812 or Ayanda 072 965 3418.

Become a Friend of Phansi or Phansi Partner today to support our educational initiatives and programmes. We are in constant need of funding and donations to support our staff, museum maintenance and indigenous knowledge.

SIGN UP:

Phansi Resource Centre

Bank: Nedbank

Account Number: 1160617732

Branch Code: 198765

Swift Code: NEDSZAJJ

If you wish to make a donation, visit our website at https://phansi.com/or on Give and Gain.

Phansi Museum is situated at 500 Esther Roberts Road, Glenwood, Durban. Phone 031 206 2889 or email: admin@phansi.com

FIELD BAND FOUNDATION COMMUNIQUE

Nicolette du Plessis, Chief Executive Officer of the Field Band Foundation has released the following communiqué:

The Field Band Foundation is completely and proudly aligned to the principles and intentions of the President’s call for a lock-down from tonight until April 16.

The primary focus of our preparations has been the securing of our assets: our young community project leaders who are the agents of change in their communities.

Tight lines of communication are in place to provide consistent and caring support to these teams who have also been provided with information, sanitizing equipment and other basic supplies. They are the face and soul of the Field Band Foundation in 7 out of 9 provinces and we hold them close.

Our core head office staff include our re-patriated Norwegian exchange participants who are still actively contributing to getting our organizational To Do list completed. Virtual working has translated extremely well into actual results. We have had encouraging communication from our national and international partners and firm backing from our committed and involved Board members.

Belonging to the band means knowing we all have a part to play. We intend to play the game and play it loud and clear along with our fellow citizens. Starting with joining in on a virtual platform to sing the national anthem tonight (March 26, 2020) at 18h00.

We are ready. Will you stand with us?

For more information on the Field Band Foundation visit fieldband.org.za

MARKET THEATRE FOUNDATION COUNCIL PRESS STATEMENT

Market Theatre closes one chapter and turns a new page…

The Council of the Market Theatre Foundation (MTF) is pleased to announce that the five staff members who were subject to disciplinary hearings, following a forensic investigation report by Morar & Inc commissioned by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, were all found not guilty on all counts. The charges, which included allegations of racism, nepotism and graft were found to have no substance in a process overseen by independent prosecutors and presiding officers. The hearings of the CEO, Ismail Mahomed and CFO, Christine McDonald were referred by them to the CCMA in terms of section 188A of the Labour Relations Act.

“The process that unfolded was unfortunate and painful. However, we are pleased that our integrity, reputations and commitment to the arts, creative and cultural sector has emerged intact and that together with the staff and the Council of the MTF we are able to close this unfortunate chapter in the history of the MTF and continue to honour the legacy of our institution,” said CEO of the MTF, Ismail Mahomed.

The Council regrets the impact these allegations and the processes that followed had on Ismail Mahomed (CEO), Christine McDonald (CFO), Perpetua Mathsa (HR Manager), Zama Buthelezi (Brand and Marketing Manager) and Lusanda Zokufa (Senior Publicist) in both their professional and personal lives and on their families. The Council has also withdrawn a written warning issued to the HR Manager, Perpetua Mathsa, following a review of the hearing outcome.

The hearings found no proof of nepotism by the CEO as reported in the Mail and Guardian in which former staff member Yusrah Bardien was implicated, no proof of racism by the CEO as reported in The Sowetan and no proof of R100 million graft by the CFO as reported in The Star.

As an organisation this process led to an environment in which we lost a number of talented staff including Yusrah Bardien which was regrettable. Whilst the Market Theatre Foundation supports and encourages a free press the Market Theatre Foundation recognises the need for responsible journalism which is grounded on ethical reporting.

The Chairperson of the MTF Council, Gerald Themba Dumas, is satisfied that the process has been completed and thanks all the staff members of the Market Theatre Foundation for their diligence and for always putting the institution first even during this difficult period with the MTF scooping several awards, accolades and international partnerships during this period.

“The Council affirms its confidence in the CEO and CFO of the Market Theatre Foundation. Throughout this difficult period the entire staff of the Market Theatre Foundation, continued to serve their significant roles and maintained our position as a leading arts and culture institution in South Africa, and continued to make huge strides internationally”, added Dumas.

The Market Theatre Foundation is a legislated entity in terms of the Cultural Institutions Act No 119 of 1998. With more than 300 awards for artistic excellence and 3 awards for human rights that have been won over more than 4 decades the Market Theatre Foundation is critically reflective and celebratory of its past, anchored to the opportunities and the challenges of the present and visionary about the future. The Foundation comprises of the Market Theatre complex, Market Theatre Laboratory, Market Photo Workshop and the Windybrow Arts Centre.

Issued on behalf of the Council of the Market Theatre Foundation

Gerald Themba Dumas, Chairperson

Council of the Market Theatre Foundation

For more information visit http://www.markettheatre.co.za