HYMNS ACCORDING TO FISANI

 

Dress in your finest vintage attire and prepare for an uplifting afternoon as Hymns According to Fisani returns for its third annual live recording. 

This special musical experience celebrates powerful hymns written by an African composer, bringing together faith, worship and African musical heritage.

Through soul-stirring hymns and heartfelt performances, audiences are invited into an atmosphere of praise, reflection and spiritual connection.

 

Date: August 22, 2026 at 14h00

Venue: Opera Theatre, The Playhouse Company

Tickets: R350 – R500 – available at Webtickets

 

An afternoon of powerful African hymns, worship and timeless faith.

KZN DANCE FESTIVAL FOR WOMEN

FREE - The Rehab Women’s Dance Fest - Telling Women’s stories through dance

KZN Dance Festival for Women – this year dubbed as the Rehab Women’s Dance Fest - tells poignant stories of profound human emotion and experiences told through dance in a carefully curated one day FREE dance festival featuring collaborative work of five KZN dance groups, which comes to the Playhouse Theatre on Saturday August 29 at 15h00.

The combined narrative from each piece jointly looks at the complexity and challenges of creating an authentic identity. Finding hope and sisterhood in tales of GBV, human trafficking and abuse. The overall message is upbeat, thoughtful and life affirming.

This project has been put together by Mandisa Ndlovu supported by Lucky Cele in partnership with Ulozolo Youth Organisation. The project is supported by the South African Dance Board a national dance body which is one of the newly-formed clusters created by the minister of Sports Arts and Culture. Through funding from the National Arts Council (NAC), entry is FREE and all dance lovers are welcome.

Entry to the KZN Dance Festival is FREE and all are welcome.

For more information contact 067 942 8310 or email: mandisandlovu1989@gmail.com

 

SHALL WE DANCE?

The annual feel-good dance extravaganza, Shall We Dance returns to razzle and dazzle fans at The Playhouse Opera for five shows only from September 11 to 13, 2026.

The colourful celebration of dance combines over ten styles with vibrant choreography, vivacious costumes, pulsating music and energetic lighting. Shall We Dance is one of the longest-running dance shows in the world and features over 100 amateur dancers from around town.

Returning for their second appearance, international dance stars Egor Kondratenko & Mie Lincke Funch are coming to us hot off the European and Asian competition floor, bring their luscious Latin American steps back to the Playhouse stage. Representing Denmark, the duo has a busy calendar having just finished fifth in Denmark, third in Vietnam and will be taking to the floor for the Grand Slam and German Opens.

This spectacular showcase is the creation of dancers Caryl Cusens and Neville Letard, and is presented by the South African Dance Teachers Association in association with The Playhouse Company.

 

Show times:

Friday September 11 at 19h00

Saturday September 12 at 13h00 and 17h00

Sunday September 13 at 11h00 and 15h00

 

Prices range from R150 to R200

Sunday morning (11h00) - R150 throughout the house

Booking at Webtickets

 

 

CARMEN, THE OPERA, FOR WATERCREST

 

Filmed version of Cape Town Opera production

Watercrest Ster Kinekor: Sunday 23 August at 2.30pm and Tuesday 25 August at 12pm.

Book through Sterkinekor

 

KickstArt’s Steven Stead and Greg King are delighted that an opera production of Carmen, which Stead directed, and King designed for Cape Town Opera in May, has been filmed and is already available to be seen in Durban.

“We are beyond delighted that our local followers can see the production’ said Stead.

Everyone complains that good theatre hardly ever comes to Durban? Well, for a change, Durban has been included in a very special event: a cinema screening of Cape Town Opera’s sumptuous production of Bizet’s opera, Carmen.

What makes this even more special, is that Durban’s KickstArt Theatre was very much involved in the creation of this grand production, with Steven Stead directing, and Greg King designing and building the massive sets. The production has been highly praised in the press for its visual spectacle and its powerful, dramatic story-telling.

Set in 1930s Spain, and featuring a cast of 95 singers, this production, filmed for cinema in HD, promises to thrill audiences across the country.

There will be only two screenings at Watercrest Sterkinekor on Sunday August 23 at 14h30 and Tuesday August 25 at 12h00.

Book through Sterkinekor website:  https://www.sterkinekor.com/f/cape-town-opera-presents-carmen/678?tab=coming-soon-advanced-tickets

 

Watercrest Sterkinekor is located at 141 Inanda Road, Waterfall, Durban.

SON OF NOBODY: REVIEW

 

You don’t have to be a student of the classics to enjoy the ride. (Review by Margaret von Klemperer, courtesy of The Witness)

 

You don’t pick up a book by Yann Martel expecting something linear or straightforward, and Son of Nobody is no exception. Martel won the 2001 Booker Prize for Life of Pi, which I have to confess was not a book I much cared for, but he has made a name for himself as a writer to follow.

Here his central character is Harlow Donne, a Canadian scholar of Ancient Greek who, while working towards his PhD is offered a year’s scholarship to go to Oxford University and study a collection of fragments of papyri (in fact, Martel is making reference to a genuine collection here). If he accepts, it would mean leaving his fracturing marriage and his beloved six-year-old daughter back in Canada while he pursues his dream. So that is exactly what he does.

Harlow soon claims to have discovered that one of fragments he has deciphered is part of a lost epic of the Trojan War, covering much the same ground as Homer’s The Iliad but from a different angle, and telling a rather different tale.

While Homer tells of the exploits of the elite on both sides, what Harlow calls The Psoad deals with the war from the perspective of the common Argive soldier, specifically one Psoas, described as “the son of nobody”. For someone who is shuffling torn and scattered papyrus fragments, Harlow manages to construct an amazingly complete account of the war, and Psoas’s activities during it. And, like Psoas, Harlow is an ordinary man, not one of the Oxford elite who find his efforts ridiculous, not to say fantastical.

Son of Nobody is told through a very unusual way of constructing a work of fiction. Each page is divided horizontally into two: the top half is The Psoad and the bottom half is Harlow’s footnotes to the epic, combined with his own story.

When I started the book, I was unsure if this was going to work – or even be readable. But it is, and The Psoad is intriguing and very entertaining. Like The Iliad, it is full of battles, gore and lists but it is also a rip-roaring tale, and in his footnotes, Harlow explains it to his aptly-named daughter, Helen.

But, as I said, Harlow is also telling his own story, which, like that of the Trojan war, will be full of tragedy. I found this part of the novel less compelling than The Psoad. Harlow is an unappealing character – a failed husband, a failing academic and, ultimately, absent when his child needs him most. But nonetheless, Son of Nobody has its charms and holds the reader’s attention. And, of course, it fits into the current renewed fascination with the works of Homer which is seeing fiction take a look at the invisible characters of his ancient Greece – women and ordinary nobodies. And now film is joining in, with The Odyssey pulling them in at the box office.

You don’t have to be a student of the classics to enjoy the ride. – Margaret von Klemperer

Published by Canongate: ISBN 978-1-83885-908-4

 

MUSIC FOR TRUMPET AND ORGAN

A glorious winter morning concert of movie soundtracks for trumpet and organ will be performed at St Cyprian’s Church on Sunday August 23 at 11h00 featuring Maggie Deppe on organ and Yosuke Matsui, on trumpet.

Something different this time - the programme, titled Music from the Movies – will feature an array of well-known film soundtracks adapted to be performed on organ and trumpet.

Yosuke Matsui is a Yamaha performing artist, and principal trumpet player with the KZN Philharmonic. He holds a master’s degree from Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. His expertise ranges across various types of trumpets. Margrit Deppe on organ is the co-principal oboe and cor anglais at the KZN Philharmonic. She heads the Durban Chamber Choir, and she teaches piano. She has her BA honours at the University of KZN.

Tickets are R130 / R100 concessions at Quicket in advance, or cash at the door.

There is off-road and guarded parking at the church. Tea and coffee will be served after the concert, and the Vicar’s Arms pub will be open.

St Cyprians is at 603 Umbilo Road, Durban.

KZNPO EARLY SPRING SEASON 2026

 

The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s three concert 2026 Winter Season runs in The Playhouse Opera on Thursday August 20 and 27 and September 3, starting at 19h00.

There is a strongly-female presence throughout the season, to honour Women’s month - two of the three conductors, and three of the four soloists are women.

Season Tickets available through KZN Phil office on 031 369 9438 or info@kznphil.org.za and individual tickets through Quicket.

 

For those preferring not to self-drive to the concerts, there is a park and ride bus service offered from major arterial points: Upper Highway (St Agnes Church, dep 17h50) North Coast (Grace Family Church, dep 18h10); Westville (Westville Senior Primary, dep 18h10) and Berea (Caister Lodge, dep 18h20).

Bus tickets though 031 369 9438 or info@kznphil.org.za and individual tickets through Quicket.

 

Good to Know

Thursday, August 20, 2026

Time: 19h00

Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban

Conductor: Barbara Dragan

Soloist: Ziata Chochieva, piano

 

Thursday, 27 August 2026

Time: 19h00

Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban

Conductor: Debora Waldman

Soloist: Lidia Baich, violin

 

Thursday, September 3, 2026

Time: 19h00

Venue: Playhouse Opera Theatre, 231 Anton Lembede Street, Durban

Conductor: Leon Bosch

Soloist: Xin Wang and Florian Koltun, piano

MAKE UP MASTERCLASS

Colour Confidence Make up Masterclass

Pavilion Shopping Centre – Sat August 22, 2026

Ahead of the start of spring, Kryolan professional make-up, will be hosting three interactive masterclass demos on seasonal make-up colours, styles and trends, at the Pavilion Fountain Court on Saturday August 22.

Spring heralds fresh energy, a new colour palette and discarding winter woollies. In preparation of the change in season and in wardrobe, Kryolan Professional Make-up will be hosting three inspiring, interactive sessions where professional artists will demonstrate practical techniques to incorporate colour into one’s makeup routine in a way that feels wearable, modern and unique.

The masterclasses will be held at the Fountain Court on Saturday, August 22 at 10h00 to 11h30; 12h30 to 14h00 and 15h00 to 16h30.

For tickets - visit kryolan.com

EUROPEAN FILM FESTIVAL 2026

The European Film Festival 2026 is here and runs from September 17 to 27, 2026.

10 days, four cities and one opportunity to see 12 of the best films in current European cinema, fresh from Cannes, Venice, Berlin and beyond, on the big screen as intended.

Featuring award-winning films by giants of European cinema alongside bold new voices and starring Europe’s biggest names: this year's films follow families of all kinds - biological, chosen, broken, rebuilding - fighting to hold together and carve out a future against everything working to pull them apart.

Now in its 13th year, the Festival takes place across four cities: Cape Town, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Durban.

The films explore the theme of FAMILY as an ever-evolving background of history, belonging and identity. Family in all its many forms as the foundation of resilience and creativity in an uncertain age.

The Festival also pays tribute to the vision and tireless dedication of its former co-director Peter Rorvik, who sadly passed away last month. Fittingly, in line with this year’s theme of Family, Peter was not only the father of the European Film Festival in South Africa but also a passionate supporter of generations of film lovers, arts managers and filmmakers across South Africa for decades.

The 13th European Film Festival South Africa brings together 12 films from 12 European countries. Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Ukraine, United Kingdom. Ukraine's participation is supported by Austria, Flanders, the European Union, and the United Kingdom.

Follow on social media for exciting title reveals and updates www.eurofilmfest.co.za

FROM STAGE TO SCREEN II

 

(Above: Durban City Orchestra)

 

Durban City Orchestra presents more songs from film and musical theatre in From Stage to Screen ll as follows:

 

Milkwood Theatre, Durban North: Sun August 16 at 15h30

St Agnes, Kloof: Sun August 23 at 15h30

St Thomas Church: Sun August 30 at 15h00

 

The Durban City Orchestra presents their second concert series of the year, following on from their hugely successful homage to music from film and musical theatre – with a second programme of carefully-curated glorious bouquet of themes from much loved stage and screen productions to be performed throughout Women’s Month.

Booking is through Quicket

WORLD-RENOWNED DANCE MAKERS FOR JOMBA

 

World-renowned dance makers to share skills and techniques at JOMBA! Workshops

From August 25 to September 6, 2026, the Centre for Creative Arts (UKZN) presents the 28th edition of JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Experience, showcasing an international and national line-up of choreographers and companies at Durban's Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Square Space Theatre, Stable Theatre and the KZNSA Gallery.

Alongside its main stage programme, JOMBA! invites the dance community into the studio for a series of free workshops led by choreographers and companies featured on this year's festival programme.

These workshops give dancers direct access to the techniques, philosophies and creative processes of artists visiting Durban from South Africa, France, Nigeria/Ireland, Spain and Jamaica.

 

Presenting the workshops:

PJ Sabbagha (South Africa) - JOMBA!'s 2026 Legacy Artist leads an improvisation session built around listening: to the self, to others, and to the space itself.

Mamela Nyamza (South Africa) - fresh from her 2026 Silver Lion win at the Venice Biennale, Nyamza's Body & Sound workshop turns the body into an instrument of vocal and physical expression.

Vincent Mantsoe (France/South Africa) - shares his KOBA Technique, a "physical meditation" fusing traditional and contemporary movement in search of identity.

Mufutau Yusuf (Nigeria/Ireland) - leads Your Own Groove, a playful, inclusive improvisation workshop open to dancers of all experience levels.

Iron Skulls Co. (Spain), with Tebby Ramasike - Diego Garrido, Moisés "Moe" Gordo Gómez and Ramasike guide participants through the meeting point of Theatrical Breakin' and Afro-Butoh, set to live music.

Dr L'Antoinette Stines (Jamaica) - the creator of L'Antech, the first Anglo-Caribbean dance technique, leads a class rooted in Kumina, Bruckins, Nyabinghi, Dancehall and other ancestral forms, accompanied by L'Acadco dancers and drummers.

 

Two further closed sessions round out the programme: Ugandan dance artist Joseph Tebandeke works with UKZN's third-year dance students on access and belonging in dance practice, and the Introdans Education Team (Netherlands) shares its dance education methods with Edgewood Campus trainee teachers and with youth from the KwaMashu School of Dance Theatre.

 

Workshop Schedule

Venue: UKZN Howard College Campus, Drama and Performance Studies - Dance Studio

 

1.Wednesday, August 26: 16h30 – 18h00: PJ Sabbagha (South Africa) - improvisation workshop

2.Thursday, August 27: 16h30 – 18h00: Mamela Nyamza (South Africa) - "Body & Sound"

3.Friday, 28 August: 4.30 - 6pm: Vincent Mantsoe (France/South Africa) - KOBA Technique

4.Saturday, August 29: 10h00 – 11h30: Mufutau Yusuf (Nigeria/Ireland) - "Your Own Groove"

5.Tuesday, September 1: 16h30 – 18h00: Iron Skulls Co. (Spain), with Tebby Ramasike

6.Wednesday, September 2: 16h30 – 18h00: Dr L'Antoinette Stines (Jamaica) - L'Antech technique, with L'Acadco dancers and drummers

 

All open workshops are free of charge, but booking is essential and spaces are limited.

Bookings can be made through Thobile Maphanga at 2024jomba@gmail.com

Open workshops are for dancers aged 16 and older.

More info about JOMBA! can be found on the website: https://jomba.ukzn.ac.za/

NB: 

For more information on the Centre for Creative Arts, click on the logo advert to the right of this article.

MiTH LINEUP 12 AUGUST 2026

 

(Above: Hooligoose)

The music you love in the place you love with the people you love. Join up for a very special MiTH – the Midlands’ beloved Music in The Hills hosted at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm. For just R50, you get access to the perfect blend of great music, and there’s good food, familiar faces, and drinks on sale. Every MiTH night is its own unique little treasure chest.

 

Venue: The Knoll Historic Guest Farm

Entrance: R50.00 (cash or Zapper at the door)

Info: 082 331 7271

 

8:40pm – Hooligoose

Meet Hooligoose, a funky rock trio that brings a fresh groove sound to the stage. Fronted by a dynamic vocalist with a passion for soulful melodies, the band is anchored by the steady, thumping bass lines of Malcolm. Rounding out the line-up is Ethan, the prodigious 13-year-old drummer, and son of the lead vocalist, whose youthful energy and killer beats drive the band’s funky rock pulse.

Formed out of friendship, family, and a shared love for music that makes you move, Hooligoose delivers a sound that’s equal parts gritty and playful, drawing inspiration from the likes of Red Hot Chili Peppers, Parliament-Funkadelic, and classic rock swagger. Hooligoose isn’t just a band, it’s a celebration of connection, creativity, and the power of funk-infused rock.

 

 7:40pm – Staytree

Meet Staytree, the coolest trio of rockers ever to hit the stage! Made up of three brothers, this band is all about big energy, wild riffs, and having fun. With 13-year-old Ethan on drums, 12-year-old Rylee rocking the guitar, and 10-year-old Shaun bringing the noise on bass, Staytree is a force to be reckoned with. Their name, Staytree, comes from their mom, Stacey: “the tree that holds us together”.

Inspired by bands like Just Jinger, Prime Circle, Creed, Imagine Dragons, Green Day, The Beatles and many more, Staytree mixes catchy beats with lyrics about just being kids.

 

 7:00pm - Erin Fourie

Erin Fourie is a South African singer best known as a Top 16 contestant on the 7th season of the M-Net reality competition Idols. Erin’s audition got her four “yes”es from the Judges in Durban, which means that she could stop looking for a teaching job and start focusing on her singing skills. She was a Top 10 finalist of South African Idols in 2011.

Since 2003, Erin Fourie has become a well-known name on the Midlands music circuit. As a solo artist, she has entertained at restaurants, coffee shops and events.

She has worked in musical theatre on big stage shows such as Godspell, Young, Gifted and Gorgeous, and The Durban Playhouse's 2016 production of The Sound of Music. Closer to home she has performed in While My Guitar, 50 Ways to Leave your Lover, and Ladies Sing the Blues.

She’s been playing guitar since she was 13 and is currently trying to master the ukulele. Erin has a PGCE as well as an Honours Degree in Drama (from UKZN in Pietermaritzburg). She is certain that the stage is where she belongs: be it performing or singing, there’s nowhere she’d rather be. Erin is one of Hilton’s best-loved vocalists and is an utter treat to listen to.

 

ABOUT MiTH

Food and cash bar available on site. The KZN Midlands’ favourite live music venue, MiTH is a platform for beginners, professionals and music lovers to celebrate the joy of live performance. Hosted every second Wednesday at The Knoll Historic Guest Farm, Hilton.

 

DIRECTIONS TO MiTH

Take the N3 to Hilton. Turn into Hilton Village and drive 5.2 km along Hilton Avenue, which becomes Dennis Shepstone Drive. Look for Knoll Drive on your right – the entrance to MiTH is the second left into The Knoll Historic Guest Farm.

Info: 082 331 7271, www.mith.co.za or mithbookings@gmail.com