(Jack and the
Beanstalk cast – Photos previous KickstArt season by Val Adamson)
KickstArt theatre company announce 2025 plans.
Durban’s foremost theatre company, KickstArt Theatre, is
delighted to announce their exciting nationwide projects and productions coming
up in 2025.
The first part of the year has been focused on working on the multi-award nominated My Fair Lady, presented by Pieter Toerien Productions and Cape Town Opera, which, thanks to the vision of The Playhouse Company, is having a run in Durban currently (March 8-16) directly after closing in Johannesburg on March 2.
The glamorous production is headed creatively by KickstArt’s directors, with Executive Director, Steven Stead in the director’s seat, and Artistic Director, Greg King, as set designer. Both have been nominated for prestigious Fleur du Cap Awards for their work on this show.
(William Young and Roshanda Lewis star in “Jack and the Beanstalk”. Pic by Val Adamson)
In collaboration with the Baxter Theatre, KickstArt is thrilled to be taking their first pantomime to Cape Town for the July school holidays.
Join Jack and his hilarious companions on a magical romp up the famous fairy tale beanstalk and beyond, on an adventure that includes toe-tapping songs, jokes, slapstick, romance, fantastic sets and fantasy costumes! A must-see holiday treat for all ages.
Jack and the Beanstalk is written and directed by Steven Stead (My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Metamorphoses) and designed by two times Fleur du Cap winner Greg King. The show stars dashing Waterfront Theatre School graduate William Young as the hero, Jack, with the golden-voiced Roshanda Lewis as his love-interest, Princess Jill. Blessing Xaba, known to South African and international audiences for his role as Fatty in the Spud movies, steps into the Dame’s high heels to play Jack’s long-suffering mother, Flora Flatbroke. Others is the cast include Bryan Hiles, Brent Palmer, Liesl Coppin, Lyle Buxton and Samantha Landers.
Performances are scheduled in the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town from July 3-27: Tues-Fri at 14h00, and 11h00 and 15h30 on Saturday and 14h00 on Sunday. There are also several early evening performances scheduled. (Booking is now open at Webtickets).
“Come up to the lab and see what’s on the slab…” KickstArt is thrilled to be presenting a brand-new production of the cult classic musical, Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban.
The Rocky Horror Show will be directed by Steven Stead, with set designs by multi award-winning Greg King, and costume designs by internationally-lauded, Monaco-based Terrence Bray. Evan Roberts is the musical director, leading a live onstage band playing the well-loved score which features classics such as The Time Warp, Sweet Transvestite, Touch-a-Touch Me and Damn It, Janet. Choreography is by Simone Mann.
Heading the impressive cast list is Johannesburg actor, Tshepo Ncokoane (Kinky Boots, The Magic Box, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as the iconic cross-dressing mad scientist, Frank N Furter. Durban audiences will have seen Tshepo in KickstArt’s 2018 production of Camelot as Sir Dinidan, and in the 2021 CAB Festival Showcase for the Centre of Creative Arts.
Others in the cast include Bryan Hiles as Brad, Keryn Lynn Scott as Janet, Schoeman Smit as Riff Raff, Belinda Henwood as Magenta, Kaylee McIlroy as Columbia, William Young as Rocky, Lyle Buxton as Eddie/Dr Scott, and Michael Gritten as The Narrator. The show also features the talents of Blessing Xaba, Roshanda Lewis, Amahle Tembe and Carl Oosthuizen.
The Rocky Horror Show will run at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from September 17 to October 12, with performances scheduled at 19h30 Tuesday to Saturday, 14h30 Saturday, and 18h00 Sunday. Booking is at Webtickets.
Girls and Boys is a powerful, funny and moving play by British playwright, Denis Kelly, had a highly acclaimed West End run in 2018, starring Carey Mulligan. The 90-minute piece is a compelling and entertaining monologue, told from the perspective of an unnamed woman who tells of meeting the man of her dreams in an Easyjet queue, and of their subsequent developing relationship.
(Janna Ramos-Violante. Pic supplied)
Durban-born actress, Janna Ramos-Violante, returns to South Africa from her current residence in Austria for this benchmark production’s South African premiere at the Hilton Arts Festival.
She is directed by Steven Stead. The pair created this production for the Salzburg Landestheater in Austria in May 2024, and are delighted to be bringing it home, in a co-production between KickstArt Theatre, the Salzburg Landestheater, and the Hilton Arts Festival.
There are two performances only scheduled between August 8-10 at Hilton. Book at Webtickets.
(Above: “Sinbad the Sailor”. Pic by Val Adamson)
This year’s panto is Sinbad the Sailor, a riotous romp over the Seven Seas, in the company of the famous sailor, Sinbad, and his madcap crew and family! With gloriously colourful sets and costumes that evoke the exotic mystery and magic of the Arabian Nights, and exciting music and dance, inspired by Bollywood, this is a unique, unforgettable pantomime experience for the entire family!
Sinbad the Sailor is written and directed by Steven Stead, and designed by Greg King, with spirited choreography by Evashnee Pillay.
This delightful production, that will appeal to all ages, stars Rory Booth as Sinbad, Bryan Hiles as his mother, Dame Donna Kebab, Lyle Buxton as his nemesis, Long John Slither, Belinda Henwood as the scheming sorceress Morgiana the Magnificent, and Roshanda Lewis as his love interest, Marina. The show also stars Marion Loudon, Blessing Xaba and Mthokozisi Zulu.
Sinbad, the Sailor runs from December 4 to January 11 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.
Performances are scheduled at 14h30 Tuesday-Friday, 11h00 and15h30 Saturday, and 14h30 Sunday. There are no performances Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day. Book at Webtickets.
There are special highly discounted schools’ performances scheduled at 11h00 on December 4, 5 and 9.
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