Willow and Lily will present a Valentine’s evening on
February 14, at 19h00.
Tickets R550 pp includes a 4-course dinner and music by Grace Botha. There is a cash bar. There will be a 20% off all of their rooms should you wish to stay overnight.
Willow and Lily Bed and Breakfast is situated at B19 Currys Post Road, Balgowan.
To book watsapp 082 071 4419 or email info@willowandlily.co.za
(Above: Dr John Paul McGee.
Pic supplied)
On February 4, 2024, at 15h00, The Centre for Jazz and popular music is excited to open its doors with a special performance by Dr John Paul McGee (USA), who is the current assistant chair of piano at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts and Artist-In-Residence at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.
Dr JP earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music with a concentration in Piano Performance from Bethune Cookman University, a Master of Arts in Religion Degree from Liberty University, a Master of Sacred Music Degree with a concentration in Pipe Organ Performance from Emory University, and most recently a Doctorate of Ministry degree with a concentration in Pastoral Care and Counseling from The Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Ga.
The ground-breaking research performed in his dissertation, A Sound for Distressed Souls: Gospejazzical as an NTU Approach for Coping with the Vocational Stressors of the Black Pastor, investigates the healing and curative powers of his new pianistic genre, Gospejazzical. Gospejazzical is a signature sound that unites three powerful genres (Gospel, Jazz and Classical) into a unique fusion that entertains, uplifts, and inspires all who hear
An afternoon with pianist Dr John Paul McGee (USA) joined by Thuto Motsemme (double bass) and Bruce Baker (drums)
Doors open at 14h30. Music starts at 15h00
Tickets R110 (R80 for pensioners and R50 for students)
Tickets Booking: zamat1@ukzn.ac.za
The concert takes place at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music, The University of KwaZulu-Natal, Howard College Campus, Dennis Shepstone Building, level 2
This week, stakeholders and industry partners got a sneaky
glimpse of the soon-to-open Durban International School of Performing Arts
(ISPA), which is currently auditioning prospective students for their opening
next month. ISPA is affiliated to Trinity College of London.
The initiative grew out of the Go Durban Academy and has taken inspiration from the Young Performer’s Project formed more than two decades ago by the late Themi Venturas, The ISPA studios are embedded in the Olive Tree Church complex in Durban’s Florida Road, with their own entrance in 7th Avenue.
Many of the city’s top theatre personalities and behind-scenes experts are linked to the new academy which aims to foster a passion for theatre among young people by close mentoring by theatre professionals such as Des Govender (voice); Anthony Govender (technical); Lisa Bobbert and Aaron McIlroy (performance / production) Simon Mann (dance) and Daisy Spencer (drama) among others.
For more information, visit www.ISPA-Durban.com; or mail ISPA.durban@gmail.com
The phone number for the school is +27 65 385 9226.
Deadline for applications: January 31, 2024
Gaming, animation, VR and XR reality, museums, performing arts, and film and television entrepreneurs urged to apply.
Création Africa, a R24-million initiative to mentor, incubate and provide financial support for emerging culture and creative businesses in Lesotho, Malawi and South Africa, has issued its final call for applications. Entrepreneurs have until January 31, 2024 to apply.
Création Africa is an initiative of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, coordinated by the Embassy of France and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS). It aims to empower and scale emerging creative and cultural enterprises in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi and is part of a continent-wide initiative to bolster Africa’s cultural and creative industries launched in 2022. The programme is implemented in partnership with UVU Africa, serving as the Creation Africa incubator hub and the French public investment bank BPI.
Mr David Martinon, Ambassador of France to South Africa, says: “Création Africa is about cultural and creative endeavours; It’s a catalyst for cultural entrepreneurs who will be benefiting from an incubation program, funding and connections with investors. If you have a cultural enterprise, we can assist you in defining its objective and model, by providing tailored training, mentoring you to secure seed funding, and accompanying you into scaling it to success thanks to the right networks.’’
Lara Rosmarin, Head of Entrepreneur Development and Incubation at UVU Accelerate, adds: “We have been enormously encouraged by the applications that we have received since the launch of the Open Call.
“We have, as a result of high demand, decided to extend the application deadline from January 26 to January 31, 2024, to give as many businesses in the creative and culture sectors of the economy an opportunity to apply to be part of the Création Africa project.”
She adds that entrepreneurs in the gaming, animation, XR and VR, museums, performing arts, and film and television sectors are especially encouraged to apply and take advantage of this opportunity to be selected as a part of the Création Africa programme.
All projects selected for the Création Africa programme will undergo mentorship and incubation by UVU Africa. Grants will be allocated based on the financial needs of select projects at the end of the incubation programme. Participating projects will be exposed, through Bpifrance, to global networking opportunities that will open doors to further investment opportunities.
For full details about Création Africa (including how to download and complete the application), visit http://tinyurl.com/applicationscreationafrica
Cost: R2850 pp early bird before January 30 or 3 instalments of R1000.00
Are you feeling stuck and wanting change in your life in 2024? The Artist’s Way is a course that catalyses people into re-visioning creative possibilities for themselves. It is a creativity coaching course not an art-making course.
Believing all people are creative, Julia Cameron has written a book/course to help people transition their ideas into sustainable action. The Artist’s Way has taught artists and non-artists, homemakers, lawyers, painters, gardeners and filmmakers to live more playfully through practising an art; or simply to practice the art of creative living. In deciding our creativity matters, “We need to live a principled, creative, active life in support of our cherished ideal, to manifest our best potential.”
Bernice Stott is the course facilitator. Her background as a professional speaker, trainer and experienced counsellor sparks motivation in people to rediscover their talents. Her formal qualifications include theology, drama, art and Lifeline training. In her professional life she is an artist.
The course runs from January 30 to April 16, 2024, in La Lucia., taking place on Tuesday evenings from 17h30 to 19h45 at 64 Armstrong Avenue Unit 2, La Lucia Office Park La Lucia, Durban North.
Cost: R2850 pp early bird before January 30 or 3 instalments of R1000.00
For more information, or to book info@bernicestott.co.za / 0833438994.
NB: Participants are
requested to buy their own copy of the book The
Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron which can be purchased locally.
(Above: Poster for “Oppenheimer”)
The Golden Globes winners have been announced, the stars are readying themselves for the BAFTAS red carpet on February 18, 2024, and the sought-after golden statues wait patiently in the wings for the 96th annual Academy Awards celebration on March 10. According to the critics, the front runners of the Golden Globes and Critics Choice Awards could be the firm favourites to take home the prized Oscars, too, but nothing is cast in stone.
The Oscar nominations are, of course, the first clue as to which movies, casts and crew poised to take a podium place in this year’s race to movie stardom. Two of the films that resulted in the biggest movie weekend for Ster-Kinekor in 2023, Oppenheimer and Barbie, are both in the running in various categories, with Oppenheimer receiving an astonishing 13 nominations.
Other films nominated in various categories that are currently on circuit at select Ster-Kinekor cinemas countrywide include Poor Things, which released on January 19, Killers of the Flower Moon, Godzilla Minus One, May December, The Color Purple releasing on January 26, with The Zone of Interest on February 2, and The Holdovers releasing on February 9. Due to all the Oscar buzz around its multiple nominations, Oppenheimer will also return to Ster-Kinekor’s larger than life, immersive IMAX screens and select 2D cinemas for a week from February 23.
Says Lynne Wylie, chief marketing officer of Ster-Kinekor: “South Africans love movies, and the big box office performers of 2023 at our cinemas are proof of this. They love watching their favourite actors doing what they do best – and, on the big screen as the films are crafted to be viewed. With the 2024 Oscars season officially kicking off today with this year’s Academy Award nominations, we hope everyone will join in the excitement and anticipation that is #OscarBuzz, by watching some of the nominated movies on our big screens.”
Seven of the ten films nominated for Best Picture have screened, are currently on circuit or are releasing in the next few weeks at select Ster-Kinekor, IMAX and Cinema Nouveau cinemas nationally. This gives movie-lovers the opportunity to watch a feast of the best of the best on the big screen in the run-up to the Oscars awards ceremony. They are:
Oppenheimer
Killers of the Flower
Moon
Barbie
The Holdovers
Past Lives
Poor Things
The Zone of Interest
The full list of the 2024 Oscar nominations is available at https://aframe.oscars.org/news/post/2024-oscars-nominations-full-list. The 96th Academy Awards ceremony takes place on March 10, 2024, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, hosted once again by comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
Ster-Kinekor continually strives to provide audiences with the latest blockbusters and top-rated movies on both the mainstream and art movie circuits. The only way to fully appreciate the craftsmanship of these multi-nominated films is to view them as they were created to be viewed – on the big screen.
“As we start the countdown to the 96th Academy Awards ceremony, we invite movie lovers to watch the best films in the comfort of one of our cinemas and join in on the #OscarBuzz. We’d love to know who you think deserves to take home an Oscar this year,” says Wylie.
Book your tickets now at www.sterkinekor.com or download the SK App on your smartphone. For news and updates, go to Facebook: Ster-Kinekor Theatres | follow Ster-Kinekor on Twitter: @Ster-Kinekor. For all queries, call Ticketline on 0861-Movies (668 437).
If you are a fan of
historical fiction, then this book is one for you. An interesting and
engrossing read. To be recommended (Review by Christine E. Hann)
The Bookbinder of Jericho reads as a follow up to the Dictionary of Lost Words, the author’s debut novel. The book is written in a style that draws you into the lives of the women of Jericho, one of the poorer parts of Oxford, England, during World War I.
We are introduced to twin sisters, Peggy, and Maude, who work for the bookbindery at the Oxford University Press. The sisters are very different to each other, Peggy is quick and clever, and loves to read. Treasuring the pages of work that come through her hands. Spoilt pages and even books are saved and taken home to become part of her library on the barge the sisters live on, as did their late mother.
Maude is special, gentle, with wonderful hands, who needs to be guided, watched over and cared for as she goes through life. Peggy is her guardian, and her comfort in a fast-changing world. As Peggy grows in knowledge, she grows to feel the limitations of the world she lives in, and the limits her sister places on her.
The impact of the War on the twins, and their fellow workers and friends is immense. As the men go to war, the women need to take on their roles, venturing into the new opportunities, learning that so much can be possible and available to them.
Peggy follows the path of opportunity but learns on the way that there are difficult choices in life, with setbacks that must be faced and dealt with, especially in the male dominated era of the times.
I personally found the details of how the books were put together, bound and made whole fascinating, as were the texts and tracts that the author sets in place for the bookbinders to work on, and the reader to discover further.
The story is an uplifting one, even though it is set in times of hardship and war. The realities of which are evident in several of the characters who are important to Peggy and Maude and their stories. The reader encounters the hardships, terrible injuries, traumatised refugees and more, woven into a story that is very real to the time it is set in.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, then this book is one for you. An interesting and engrossing read. To be recommended.
Pip Williams was born in London, grew up in Sydney and now lives in the Adelaide Hills in the South of Australia with her family. Her debut novel, The Dictionary of Lost Words was a New York Times best seller which has been adapted for Stage and is set to become a TV series as well. She has also co-authored several children’s books. Titles by the same author: The Dictionary of Lost Words, One Italian Summer. - Christine E. Hann
The Bookbinder of
Jericho is published by Penguin Random House UK – 2023: ISBN: 978-1-784-74519-6
(Right: Frank Rautenbach)
52 consecutive weeks
of homegrown drama, intrigue and sheer spectacle wash over M-Net from this
Sunday, 28 January at 18:00, with the arrival of Summertide.
The multi-generational drama tells the story of a marine biologist and father of two children, Martin Field (Frank Rautenbach), who moves to the idyllic False Bay after the death of his wife, Julia (Amalia Uys). The family has already been introduced in a series of promos – they include Martin’s parents, Wilma (Terry Norton) and Jack Field (Andre Jacobs) – the latter a retired naval commander who runs his household like a military operation and the Field children – Tristan (Jan Combrink) and Lucy (Evangelina Hallock) – who must cope with the loss of a parent and moving to a new town on top of the usual stresses of school.
Martin's youngest brother, Gavin (Ty Keogh), is a retired pro surfer who runs a small surfboard business and lives out the back of his parents’ house. And then there’s Rebecca Solomons (Monique Rockman), who worked as a Michelin star chef in New York – and was Martin’s first love.
Reasons to tune in:
It’s the first of its kind for M-Net
Waldimar Pelser,
Channel Director: Premium Channels at MultiChoice Group says: “Summertide is M-Net’s first venture into
a format where a series arc takes place over 52 weeks, every week. It gives us
an amazing opportunity to explore each character in real depth and allow
viewers to get to know them as they would a member of their own circle – people
won’t be able to help falling in love with the Field family and the romance of
the False Bay coastline”.
It’s multi-generational and made for family-viewing
The families whose lives cross the Fields’ paths and intertwine in fascinating ways are the Solomons and the du Plessis’. Rebecca Solomons, recently returned from the US after the death of her father, Solly, has taken over Salty’s - her family's indebted and struggling take-away fish‘n chip shop close to the harbour.
Rebecca is constantly torn between her duty to continue her father's legacy, a
dark secret from the past holding her back, and her dream of opening her own
upscale restaurant in her hometown.
Rebecca’s mother,
Cheryl (Euodia Samson), sees in her daughter her own tenacity and ability to
dig deep to get by – and she is the keeper of Rebecca’s secret and will do
anything to keep it safe. Rebecca’s Uncle Freddy (Maurice Carpede) is her
father’s brother – and also a fisherman, as he was. He sells fish to Salty’s at
a ‘family rate’ and is a leader in the local fisher community. He’s seen it all
– from the changes to the False Bay fishing industry, the frustrations of the
new licensing agreements, fighting illegal offshore trawlers and the perpetual
fight with the authorities to allow fishing quotas that produce a liveable
income for his family. Though often at odds with Rebecca, he looks out for
family at all costs.
Hannes, Wesley and
Yolande du Plessis (Morne Visser, Matthew Vey and Cassiel Eatock-Winnik) cross
paths with the Fields in a haze of teenage testosterone. Hannes is a
businessman with many fingers in many pies – some of which may be sweeter than
others. Vivacious Yolande is ready to start a life of adventure – but she holds
a secret that puts paid to her promising dance career and colours every
decision she makes. Surfer boy Wesley is constantly caught between living his
own young, carefree life and caring for his sister. Guilt, frustration, and an
overprotective nature torment him and affect his relationship with his father
and his community.
There’s an award-winning crew behind the scenes
Red Letter Day
Pictures’ Corné and René van Rooyen the hitmakers behind Alles Malan – produce Summertide
alongside producer Tascha van der Westhuizen and lead an award-winning
behind-the-scenes team, including SAFTA winners Dino Benedetti (Cinematography
- Hotel); Catharine Cooke (Directing
– Reyka; The River & iNumber
Number), Ula Oelsen (Editing – The River, Bloedbroers & The Wild) and Mary-Sue Morris (Make-up –
Siembamba).
The storyline is relatable and relevant
“The characters in Summertide are meticulously researched
for depth and authenticity and their special quality lies in their relatability
– and it is this relatability that brings the story to life,” says René van
Rooyen. “The selection of our cast was a deliberate choice, and their
performances convey warmth and resonate with the intricacies of family life.
The diversity of our
cast is a source of excitement, ranging from 10-year-olds to individuals in
their 70s”.
Corné van Rooyen
says the producers’ goal is “to bring the entire family back together on one
couch – a reminder of the Sunday nights we spent together in our youth, watching
M-Net as an escape before tackling a new week”. He says the setting for the
series is a character in itself – “we have a deep appreciation for the False
Bay coast, where we are filming. This unique environment boasts a contemporary
character and identity, and we believe that the ocean serves as a unifying
force connecting all the characters. Each individual, in some way, is tied to
this ocean, fostering interconnected relationships and contributing to personal
growth”.
Viewers can ride the
waves of Summertide on M-Net (DStv
channel 101, every Sunday at 18h00 from January 28. This leads into Carte Blanche (19h00) and the Sunday
night blockbuster movie (20h05).
All shows will be
live streamed on DStv Stream and are available on DStv Catch Up. Visit the M-Net
Website and join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.
Spotlight on Johnny Cash at Rhumbelow Theatre in Durban
North.
The timeless music of Johnny Cash can be enjoyed this weekend at the Rhumbelow in Durban North on Friday and Saturday evening, January 26 and 27, and Sunday afternoon January 28, in the company of the Black Lapels with special guests, in Walk the Line.
The Rhumbelow has been extraordinary in responding to the changing needs of the performing arts and entertainment landscape by offering regular quality movies; filmed live screenings of some of the world’s best ballet, theatre and opera productions, as well as regular live events, music and comedy.
The music of Johnny Cash is a sun-soaked journey through country and rock, echoing the soul of Americana. His rugged voice and timeless tales ignite the summer air with raw emotion with his songs of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption. He was known for his deep, calm bass-baritone voice, as well as his all-black wardrobe and free prison concerts.
His signature songs include I Walk the Line, Folsom Prison Blues, Ring of Fire, Get Rhythm and Man in Black. He also recorded humorous numbers like One Piece at a Time and A Boy Named Sue.
The Black Lapels are brothers Rob Warren (singer, songwriter and guitarist) and Garth Warren bass and vocals) with Gareth Gale on drums, and special guests Tori du Plessis and Colin Peddie with great music and top-notch musicianship.
Shows take place at 19h30 on January 26 and 27 and at 14h00 on January 28.
In between the live shows, there is a great programme of Rhumbelow Film Club screenings, too.
Tickets R200. Bring food picnic baskets or buy at the venue. Bar available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises)
Booking is essential through Roland on email: roland@stansell.co.za or through Computicket.
Limited secure parking available.
For more information contact 0824998636.
Find the Rhumbelow Theatre and Rhumbelow Film Club on FB
Rhumbelow Durban North is situated at 50 Margaret Maytom Avenue.
The Durban FilmMart Institute is
pleased to announce project selection for the 3rd DFM ACCESS.
With support from the National Film and Video Foundation PESP funding, 12 South African projects were selected to participate in a 12-week online development programme made up of weekly plenary sessions and one-on-one mentorship.
DFM Access is a lab for entry level producers; it provides a nurturing framework for participants with existing long-form or episodic independent film projects to improve their project packages and pitching skills for the global marketplace. The programme focuses on topics such as story development, legal aspects of film production and financing, international co-production, distribution and pitching.
DFMI Director, Magdalene Reddy says: “DFM ACCESS has become a key part of the Durban FilmMart Institute’s programming, not only as part of the year round offering, but also connecting to the annual market hosted in July. In the past, DFM ACCESS participants have gone on to secure development funding and participation at international markets and training programmes after being selected to pitch at the annual Durban FilmMart. The 3rd edition of DFM ACCESS gives new voices an opportunity to be heard.”
At the end of the 12-week programme, all 12 projects will pitch to an independent panel of industry professionals who will select three projects to pitch in the 15th annual Durban FilmMart as an official project. The 15th annual Durban FilmMart will take place from July 19 to 22 2024 in Durban, South Africa.
DFM ACCESS 2024
PROJECTS:
Documentary
* AFRICA AI,
produced by Amílcar Patel and directed by Amílcar Patel and Chris Kets
* The One Who Sings,
produced by Cameron Lawry and directed by Chelsea Art
* MADOSINI THE LEGACY,
produced by Leroy Mnyulwa and directed by Herbert Delane
Fiction
* Morning Light,
produced and directed by Luhnar Pickering
* Mulisa, produced
by Nhlanhla Ndaba and Fanney Tsimong
* The Pathfinder,
produced and directed by Rafieka Davis
* UNOMBULELO
(working title), produced and directed by Philile Njikija
* Time Travelling
While Black, produced by Kopano Motsekoa and directed by Mazi
* LOVE RUNS WILD,
produced and directed by Njabulo (Soulist De Blac) Mashinini
Episodic
* Color Me Blue,
produced and directed by Karabo Mokoena
* INKANYAMBA,
produced and directed by Obett Motaung
* World Without End,
produced by Morgan Morris and directed by Stephen Nagel
MENTORS
The programme provides mentorship by industry professionals who have been producing successful films and adding great value to the film ecosystem.
The fiction projects will be mentored by Kethiwe Ngcobo, David Horler and Neiloe Whitehead. Kethiwe has been in the Film and television industry for 30 years. She started as a trainee assistant film editor and has been a filmmaker and television producer and broadcaster. She’s produced eight documentaries, eight drama series and five feature films produced through her company Fuzebox. She was Head of Drama at The SABC Channels - 1,2 and 3 and is widely acknowledged and recognised for her outstanding contribution and expertise that she brought to this role.
David is a producer at Proper Film based in Cape Town and is
an alumnus of the EAVE Producers Workshop [Eurozone] alongside various other
laboratories, networking and training forums. He has produced and collaborated
on more than 15 titles in both long and short-form documentary and narrative
fiction; alongside film-related projects across a wide variety of media
including television, advertising, music video production and online media
content.
Recently completed feature films as producer include Jenna
Bass’s feminist western FLATLAND
(2019 Berlinale Panorama opening film) and Bass’s supernatural dramedy HIGH FANTASY (2017 Toronto International
Film Festival, 2018 Berlinale).
Neiloe Whitehead cut her teeth in the production and
development department of the National Film and Video Foundation. She completed
the 2022 Realness/Netflix lab for development execs. She is an experienced
scriptwriter who has written on shows like uBettina
Wethu, the South African changed format of Ugly Betty amongst many more. She is passionate about story
development in both fiction and factual content. As a script editor, she has worked
with the National Film and Video Foundation, KwaZulu-Natal Film commission in
South Africa and many other film programmes around the world. She is co-owner
of Black Seed Film Hub, a black female-led production company.
Miki Redelinghuys and Khalid Shamis will mentor the documentary projects. Miki is a documentary filmmaker passionate about the power of film for impact. In 2020, she completed a MA at UCT with a focus on social impact through film, using her own film, This Land as a case study. She consults as impact producer, serves as programme director for the UCT Sunshine Cinema Impact course, co-director of the Climate Story Lab Southern Africa and co-ordinates the DFA docLOVE film screening programme.
Khalid has been a director and respected editor of independent documentaries since 2005 he has worked with some of the leading filmmakers in South Africa, very much enjoying seeing those films travel the world. Khalid also runs the RCLA, Rough Cut Lab Africa, a lab dedicated to supporting African independent documentary films in rough cut stage with African consultation.
Bongi Ndaba and Tracey-Lee Rainers will mentor the Episodic projects. Bongi Ndaba is producer and Director at Fosha Pty LTD. She started in theatre then moved to television in 2004 and her career has had achievements of writing and Head writing biggest shows, from Gaz’lam to Home Affairs, Generations, Isidingo, Uzalo, breaking AR records throughout.
Tracey-Lee Rainers is an international story development practitioner and creative collaborator with a 16-year track record in the film and television industry. She is the owner of Story Oasis, a Johannesburg-based development hub focused on growing African writing talent and shaping authentic narratives. Her company spearheads the Trajectory Training Programme - a writer focused, story editing initiative now in its third year. She serves as a story coach on various local and international screenwriting labs. Her most recent narrative works are currently streaming on various platforms.
DFM Access is funded by the National Film and Video Foundation PESP Funding and produced by the Durban FilmMart Institute whose principal funder is the Durban Film Office and eThekwini Municipality.
Durban FilmMart is situated at Fl 11 Rennies House, Margaret Mncadi Avenue, South Beach in Durban.
Read this wonderful,
honest, impressive book with joy and admiration for Karen and her husband –
there are also a good many impressive colour photographs to pore over and
admire. Highly recommended by this lover of the bush and wildlife in Africa.
(Review by Dee Stead)
“In Hippos, A Mongoose And Me, the sequel to the popular A Hippo Love Story, Karen Paolillo takes us deeper into her courageous but perilous life among Africa’s wildlife.” Karen and Jean-Roger Paolillo have lived on the banks of the Turgwe River in southeast Zimbabwe for 30 years.
At first, they lived in a little canvas tented lean-to, with a tiny caravan for a kitchen, but later built, with their own hands and help from only one guide, a beautiful thatched brick-and-stone house. Here they have lived with their cats, and an abandoned new-born baby mongoose which they hand-reared and named Squiggle, surrounded by bush and wildlife with the Turgwe River and its resident hippo pods since the early 1990’s.
This book has been written as a series of stand-alone chapters, each chapter telling a separate story. As I read these vividly described events and memories, I was struck by the suitability of many of them for bedtime reading to children in the 5-10 age group. As an introduction to the natural world of the local wildlife, I cannot imagine a more thrilling and informative routine for a child to look forward to of an evening.
Throughout the crippling droughts in the 1990s when vegetation was sparse, water non-existent and annihilation of most of the animals practically a certainty, Karen organised haybales and other supplements to be transported vast distances to sustain the animals she had come to know, name and love.
Karen’s writing is uncomplicated and honest and although she has a strong tendency to anthropomorphize, which is usually frowned upon by the more scientifically-minded reader, the very fact that she gives particularly memorable animals names and describes their “characteristics,” behaviour and attitudes, makes her stories accessible and endearing.
Karen does not confine her narrative to tales of the “Big Animals,” one chapter deals with the “Very Small,” like scorpion and the violin spider. The effects of bites and stings from this spider and from the Parabuthus scorpion gave me chills, and I made a mental note to remember to check inside shoes, bedding and hanging jackets before donning them whenever we spend time in tented campsites!
I learned from her the value of keeping supplies of tea-tree oil and lavender oil essence for the treatment of cuts, blisters and stings, too. The stories cover encounters with leopards, baboons, elephants, crocodiles, the smaller ungulates and occasional lions and the ubiquitous poachers and bullying landgrabbers.
She is always positive but unjudgmental – leaving the readers to mull over her words in their own fashion. Of course, work like that of Karen and Jean-Roger cannot go on forever without funding. They established the Hippo Haven Turgwe Hippo Trust, a non-profit organisation, that can only survive on contributions to the fund from sympathetic and like-minded individuals and groups world-wide.
As a PR exercise, this book is perfect – the thread of the vital need for funding runs gently through the narrative and is very effective. Read this wonderful, honest, impressive book with joy and admiration for Karen and her husband – there are also a good many impressive colour photographs to pore over and admire. Highly recommended by this lover of the bush and wildlife in Africa. – Dee Stead
A Mongoose and Me is published by Penguin Random House South Africa: ISBN 9781779890016
Enjoy a special two-course dinner and interactive show at
Woodstone on February 14, 2024, with Romance
by Request.
The show features Paul Spence, Kath McClelland and Charles Webster.
Tickets R350 per person. Reservations on 061 394 6064 or 082 413 9843.
Woodstone is situated at the White House Centre, 50 Main Street, Howick.
Celebrate with Brandon and the
Undaunted on February 10, 2024, at the Allan Wilson
Hall in Pietermaritzburg.
Celebrate Love contains music by Nat King Cole, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, The Turtles, Michael Bublé and more.
Tickets R250 (R1,600 per table of 8 includes 1 bottle of champagne for couples table and 3 bottles for group tables) booked through Evan on 060 571 6447.
Bring your own food – a cash bar is available.
The show starts at 16h00. The Allan Wilson Hall is situated on Durban Road next to the Eye Clinic.
See Ha! Man in performance on January 27, 2024, at 14h00 at
Playhouse 5, The Old Mushroom Farm, 11 Karkloof Road, Howick.
Tickets R110 booked through Sandy or Thabo on 060 470 1218.
Virtuoso (and spontaneous) cello, keyboard, voice, flutes, movement and more – with original virtual orchestra accompaniments
For more information visit www.hamanworld.com
(Aaron McIlroy & Lisa
Bobbert. Pic by Val Adamson)
Back by popular demand, the inimitable Lisa Bobbert and Aaron McIlroy will be bringing their latest two hander musical comedy show, Mr & Mrs Normal to the Rhumbelow in Durban this weekend, after a fabulous festive season at Northlands Bowling Club.
The show runs from January 26 to 28, 2024.
Mr and Mrs Normal! Is there such a thing? Join Aaron and Lisa to find out!
Lisa Bobbert says: “What is normal for one person is not necessarily normal for another person. The age-old notion of typical nuclear family, with stereotypical roles and ways of doing things, doesn’t really exist in the same way it used to. There was normal, then new normal, followed by newest normal …. Which became exhausting, so now let’s just go back to being normal again! In fact – don’t panic, act normal!”
Lisa and Aaron have chosen some fabulous show tunes, familiar clap-alongs, top hits, and timeless ballads in their musical comedy cabaret, which is directed and choreographed by the multi-talented Daisy Spencer. This season follows other successes: Bloopers, Family Therapy, Go Big and Bulletproof – which won an Ovation Award at this year’s National Arts Festival in Makhanda / Grahamstown. And of course, their most recent season with the Durban City Orchestra, Comedy Classics.
“This all-you-can-eat comedy buffet is a zany musical smorgasbord to cater for all theatrical tastes. Featuring brand-new characters and a few old favourites and show stopping music. Mr & Mrs Normal is the perfect comedic cleanse to start your new year with a Bang!” says The Rhumbelow’s Roland Stansell.
Show times:
Friday January 26: Show starts 19h30
Saturday January 27: Show starts 14h00 and 19h30
Sunday January 28:
Show starts 14h00
(Venue opens 90 minutes before show for snacks/drinks)
Tickets R200. Booking is essential on email: roland@stansell.co.za or Computicket http://events.durbantheatre.com/
Bring food picnic baskets. A full bar is available (no alcohol may be brought on to the premises)
Limited secure parking available
For more information contact Roland Stansell on 0824998636
Rhumbelow Theatre is situated at 42 Cunningham Road off Bartle Road in Umbilo, Durban.
NB:
To see Romi Schumann’s
review of the show when it was performed at Northlands Bowling Club, visit http://news.artsmart.co.za/2023/12/mr-and-mrs-normal-review-by-romi.html
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(Above: Josh Crickmay)
Adventurer and Wildlife Filmmaker Josh Crickmay comes face-to-face with “City Beasts” in new series on People'sWeather
Exploring the wild side of Cape Town game ranger, and adventurer Josh Crickmay takes audiences on an exhilarating journey through the City's hidden treasures in the upcoming TV series City Beasts: Cape of Chaos on People'sWeather on Channel 180 DSTV and Openview Channel 115 beginning on January 29, 2024.
City Beasts chronicles the journey of Josh Crickmay on a mission to find proof that humans and animals can coexist in harmony. Josh shares his experiences as he discovers these animals in a fun and educational way, imbuing the series with his unbridled enthusiasm and quirky sense of humour. Through tracking, trap cameras, stakeouts, and by following the tales from the locals, he encounters fascinating “beasts” of the City, uncovering their resilience, as they adapt and cohabit with humans, who have increasingly claimed their spaces.
Through honest and genuine encounters with animals like penguins, sharks, porcupines, baboons, genets, and even otters, he proves his theory that not only do people coexist with wildlife in Cape Town, but he also discovers the remarkable impact it has on the locals.
Josh’s passion for wildlife was ignited as a 15-year-old when as a lost and suicidal teen, he spent a “big year’ chasing down bird species in Southern Africa, the Andes, and the Amazon. Following this, he produced a magnificent coffee table book: Josh’s Big Year, a photographic record of his experience. Josh qualified as a FGASA nature guide and became interested in creating content and started filming his experiences, uncovering his eccentric and often humorous slant on nature.
Stephan le Roux, owner and CEO of People’sWeather, says: “What attracted us to the City Beast series is Josh's unique, genre-bending approach to wildlife film-making. It’s off-beat, unusual, highly accessible and engaging. He has created a fresh approach to an often serious genre that is desperately in need of some humour and young voices to broaden its appeal. Think Tik Tok by the waterhole!”
“Creating the City Beasts was the culmination of everything I love in life: Incredible wildlife, fascinating people, conservation, challenging filmmaking, pirate boats and unbridled havoc,” says Josh. “It was as every bit chaotic behind the scenes as it is on the screen, and I couldn’t have asked for better.”
Josh’s enthralling adventures kick off with a welcome by Cape Town’s dassies. He follows baboons as they navigate the urban landscape and tracks down the four species of cormorants inhabiting the City, unveiling a stunning diversity of avian life. He takes a plunge into the depths of the kelp forests, learning to free dive to bring viewers face-to-face with the shark life beneath the waves.
His encounters with the iconic seals of Cape Town, provide a rare glimpse into their daily struggles and triumphs in their natural habitat. He captures the goofy and lovable nature of African penguins. In a breathtaking exploration of shipwrecks off the Cape of Storms, Josh reveals how nature has ingeniously turned man's trash into treasure. He meets a Cape Clawless Otter under the docks of Simon’s Town harbour, searches the dangerous gorges of Table Mountain for the extremely elusive and aptly named ghost frog, and has a memorable experience with a pair of porcupines. Josh also shares his personal story of struggle and success with Autism Spectrum Disorder, as he explores sundews and seabirds and searches for an elusive otter.
It's no wonder that Josh feels that creating City Beasts is a kind of tribute to the Natural World - as it literally saved his life. Josh's curiosity, sheer bravery, and clever sense of humour make him an endearing character, and his passion is undeniably authentic and palpable throughout the series. “My every step forward is an attempt to repay that debt back to the Natural World, through conservation, spreading knowledge and excitement about our world through film - told with humour, adventure, and as always, mayhem.”
Catch this uniquely captivating series on People'sWeather on Channel 180 on DSTV and Openview Channel 115 from January 29 to February 8, 2024, at 20h30 with repeats.
To watch trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9UBn5T1_n4
For more information, go to https://www.peoplesweather.com/
For more info on Josh Crickmay, go to www.Joshcrickmay.com[KC2]
The next Antique Fair will take place on January 27, 2024, from 08h30 to 14h00 at the lower level of Windermere Centre. Morningside. Durban.
Roll up, Roll up for some awesome antiques and collectables including: porcelain, silver, linen, books, records, vintage clothing, toys, crystal, jewellery, etc.
For more information contact 084 241 0241
February is the month of love and the I heart Market will celebrate with its traditional bi-annual “sale” market on Saturday February 3, 2024, from 09h00 to 14h00 at Northlands Primary School, in Durban North.
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner – there will also be a gorgeous array of “romantically-inspired” products available.
There is a secure play area for children between the ages of 1 and 6, with qualified Teacher’s Assistants in attendance available for the morning for those parents who want to take a break to shop or enjoy some delicious food. There is a fee of R100 for the morning or part thereof.
The market is housed n the school hall and surrounding gardens from 09h00 to 14h00, and takes place rain or shine as most of the traders are under cover. Parking is available in designated school areas, with security guards to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience.
For more information, contact info@iheartmkt.com
Northlands Primary School is situated at 20 Gleneagles Drive, Durban North.
Just opened in the KZNSA Gallery’s Main and Mezzanine Gallery is Bazobuya... they are coming back, a
group exhibition, curated by Lawrence Lemaoana.
‘Bazobuya’ references the musical group, the ‘Soul Brothers’ 1990 song of the same title, echoing the lament of children, mothers, wives of husbands who have left home due to the migrant labour system in South Africa. It is a Zulu phrase which translates to ‘they are coming back’ and is here used as an umbrella to speak to various issues concerning the socio-political navigations of black men in South Africa.
All five artists showcasing works in this exhibition are black males whose bodies of works focus foreground narratives from their marginalised communities. In each of the participants' projects they unpack stories from these communities which focus on gendered struggles and perspectives through various visual arts mediums.
‘Bazobuya’ fundamentally evolved from a private artist mentorship and support programme which culminated into an art exhibition and showcase as well as public talks and workshop programme.
Through the mentorship and access to artist studios of Lawrence Lemaoana and Mary Sibande, these five art projects by five emerging artists have been identified and nurtured.
This body of work was first exhibited by Occupying the Gallery at Gallery 1 in Keyes Art Mile Johannesburg as an outcome of the Occupying the Gallery project and now travels to KZNSA Gallery to new audiences in Durban. The motivation for having this exhibition travel is largely to connect the five artists and their thematic explorations to various communities across South Africa with overlapping lived experiences.
Artists: Bongani Ndlovu, Hoek Swaratlhe, Lusanda Ndita, Mlondi Magubane, Ngoma, KaMphahlele
Meet The Artists
Bongani Ndlovu (b.1998) is a South African photographer and visual artist based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Using the mediums of photography, performance, costume and staging, his work explores themes of representation, black masculinity and gender expression.
Hoek Swaratlhe (b.1986) is a South African photographer and visual artist born and based in Soweto, Johannesburg. His thematic interests centre around his community, its urban culture and the history that informs its socio-political landscape.
Mlondi Magubande (b.2000) is an emerging visual artist born and based in Soweto. His work explores the intersection of urban culture, gender and traditional cultural practices.
Lusanda Ndita is a visual artist based in Johannesburg. His work considers domestic archives of black South African families, specifically looking at photo albums as well as oral histories and identities. In 2017 Ndita completed the Advanced Programme in Photography (APP) at the Market Photo Workshop.
Ngoma KaMphahlele is a visual artist who utilises photography as a medium to explore various areas of interest including fashion, jazz, architecture, home and the sense of belonging.
Meet The Curator |
Lawrence Lemaoana
Lawrence Lemaoana lived in the small mining town of Welkom before
returning to Johannesburg to continue his studies. He went on to study for a
Bachelor of Fine Art at the University of Johannesburg where he received his
B-Tech Degree majoring in Fine Arts. Lemaoana is currently reading for a
master's degree at the University of South Africa’s (UNISA) Art and Music
Department.
Lemaoana is a junior lecturer Visual art at UNISA’s Art History, Visual arts & Musicology Department. Lawrence Lemaoana’s body of work has, as its departure point, a fascination with the role of the mass media in present-day South Africa.
At its roots in Lemaoana’s work, the relationship between the ‘People’ and the media is problematized as a relationship of representation and control, questioning who gets to control modes of representation; and who gets to represent those in control. The power of the media to act as a didactic tool or propagandistic weapon, and the power of the media to reveal and shape the psyche, or group consciousness of the People, is taken up in Lemaoana’s work with the artist’s trademark cynical satire.
The exhibition closes on February 4, 2024.
The KZNSA Gallery is situated at 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, in Durban. More information on 031 277 1705 or cell 082 220 0368 or visit www.kznsagallery.co.za
Advocate Robin Sewlal has created a programme called
Radiocracy. He informs: “We are one month away from World Radio Day. As
proclaimed by Unesco, this significant occasion is celebrated annually on
February 13. The theme this year, extremely apt, is Radio: A century of informing, entertaining and educating. And
Radiocracy has made itself available to partner with radio stations around the
globe in celebration of World Radio Day.
“In view thereof, I have immense pleasure in unveiling the cover of the much-anticipated legacy book My Radio Memory to which many have kindly contributed.”
Readers can secure a copy of the publication by emailing MyRadioMemory@radiocracy.co.za The cost of R390.00 is inclusive of delivery through Internet Express.
Sewlal continues: “I must place on record my sincere gratitude to everyone who have made contact with beautiful and brilliant ideas in connection with the rollout of My Radio Memory.”
Pieter Scholtz and friends invite you to open your minds to the brave new world of AI. AI as in artificial intelligence.
Brian Downie will give a talk on February 5, 2024, at 18h00.
In his year as President of the Institution of Civil Engineering in 2019, Brian Downie spoke to thousands of students about education and artificial intelligence (AI) in a talk entitled “It’s a New World”.
Back then it was something in the future with occasional articles heralding “change ahead”.
“Now it is upon us and accelerating at a rate which few can comprehend.”
The truth, says Downie, is that you either learn how to manage this phenomenon, or it will manage you. His audio-visual presentation will start you on that journey.
Downie, who continues to be called upon to share versions of his talk given the topicality, controversy, rapid changes and interest in AI, will leave time for questions and discussion.
Background: “A little more than a year ago, the world seemed to wake up to the promise and dangers of artificial intelligence when OpenAI released ChatGPT, an application that enables users to converse with a computer in a singularly human way. Within five days, the chatbot had a million users. Within two months, it was logging a hundred million monthly users — a number that has now nearly doubled. Call this the year many of us learned to communicate, create, cheat, and collaborate with robots.” By way of background, click on the link to continue reading this December 2023 New Yorker article: The year A.I. ate the internet.
When the donations box is passed around, they encourage a minimum of R50 per person.
They plan to be outdoors. If it is chilly, remember to dress warmly. If it rains, they will need to set up indoors. They will adapt. All will be well.
Bookings limited to diners in support of St Clements restaurant and staff. They stay open specially for these evenings. Be there in time to order before the performance. Official starting time is 18h00.
Please cancel if you book then cannot make it as they often close the bookings due to space constraints.
St Clements is situated at 191 Musgrave Road. Mondays @ Six run between 18h00 and 19h00. Table bookings are essential on 031 202 2511.
If you wish to dine after the presentation, place your order before 18h00.
Van der Vyver is one
of those writers who can always enchant – she has a sure grasp of character and
a sharp eye and witty pen for the foibles her cast display. (Review by Margaret
von Klemperer, courtesy of The Witness)
Still Breathing is almost a sequel to Marita van der Vyver’s 1999 novel, Breathing Space, featuring many of the same characters, but is obviously intended to be read as a stand-alone as well. After all, the details of a book read in 1999 are likely to have faded over time.
And therein lies the main problem. There is a large cast of characters and although Van der Vyver helpfully gives a list of who is who at the beginning of the novel, while the reader gets them sorted out the inevitable and constant referring back to the list becomes an irritant, and an interruption to the flow of the story. This takes place on the eve of the Covid pandemic, when news of a far-away virus wreaking havoc in places like China and Italy is just beginning to cause a degree of alarm in South Africa.
The setting is Adrian and Yvette’s beach house on the West Coast where three generations of old friends are getting together, some for the first time in 25 years, for Adrian’s 70th birthday. Their lives have changed, but their friendship has endured. Not all of them still live in South Africa, and those that do are not uncritical of the prevailing situation. There is an elegiac tone as the older ones think about the past, while the younger generation contemplate their future and as the Covid news gets worse, this looks increasingly bleak.
The themes of the book are friendship, ageing, the strains of being a parent, the past and the future and grief - both private and public. There is a sense that however different the paths people take in their lives, if the bonds that bound them in the first place are sufficiently strong, something of them will always endure. And that is a comforting thought.
Van der Vyver is one of those writers who can always enchant – she has a sure grasp of character and a sharp eye and witty pen for the foibles her cast display. But the structure of Still Breathing does cause problems. In order to give all her characters a chance to have their moment in the spotlight, their sheer numbers, even when the reader has worked out who is who, gives the plotting an uneasily bitty feel. There is a lot to like here, but it is not the author’s best work. - Margaret von Klemperer
Marita van der Vyver’s Still Breathing is translated by
Annelize Visser and published by Tafelberg: ISBN 978-0-624-09405-0
(Right: Armand Joubert. Pic
supplied)
Armand Joubert is a magnificent pop-artist who was a contestant on The Voice South Africa, who is known for his energetic performances, high notes and impeccable style. He comes to the Rhumbelow Theatre in Durban from February 9 to 11, 2024, with his show, I’m Viral.
Born and raised in Witbank, Mpumalanga, he started singing at the age of five years old. He draws his musical inspiration from artists like Queen, Adam Lambert, Prince and Lady Gaga.
Performances are on February 9 and 10 at 19h30 and on Sunday, February 11 at 14h00.
Full information is available on the Rhumbelow website and social media platforms; and Rhumbelow WhatsApp group.
Tickets booked on email: roland@stansell.co.za or through Computicket.
For more information phone Roland on Cell 0824998636.
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