February 2, 2006
By Tabisa Mntengwana
BETRAYAL, hypnotism, laughter, love and music are all in the mix for Joburg's theatre line-up this year.
Comedian Mark Sampson in Missing Links
Get hypnotised by Andre, dance to the greatest hits by Joseph Clark, feel the love on Valentine's Day at the Sound Stage and have your questions answered by the Ballet Theatre Afrikan.
The Market Theatre
The iconic theatre was opened in 1976 by the late Barney Simon and Mannie Manim, in the city's original fruit and vegetable market. Out of this, three theatres have grown: the Barney Simon, the Main and the Laager.
Address: Cnr Bree and Wolhuter Streets, Newtown Cultural Precinct
Tel: 011 832 1641
Website: Market Theatre
The Main Theatre
Care to find out how the leopard got its spots? The Ballet Theatre Afrikan will answer that question along with others, like how did the rhinoceros get his wrinkly skin, in the production
Just So, a play based on the fables Rudyard Kipling heard as a child growing up in India. Other stories are sourced from the shores of the Red Sea, Australia and South Africa.
The show is choreographed by Martin Schönberg, Christopher Kindo and Thoriso Magongwa and is on from 24 February to 12 March.
Barney Simon Theatre
Hear and Now is a play about betrayal, relationships and the baggage brought into the present as a result of crippling pasts.
The show is directed by Lara Foot Newton and Gerhard Marx and runs from Friday, 3 February to Sunday, 5 March.
The Laager Theatre
Coal Yard is a story about a young man who runs away from home after he is sexually abused by his father. On his travels he forms friendships, falls in love and finds work in a coal yard.
The show is directed by Ofentse Bodibe and Prince Lamla and is on until 25 February.
Johannesburg Civic Theatre
The Civic in Braamfontein is one of the city's leading entertainment venues. It has three theatres – the Nelson Mandela, the Tesson and the People's Theatre.
Address: Loveday Street, Braamfontein
Tel: 011 877 6800
Website: Show Business
Nelson Mandela Theatre
The Carl Rosa Opera Company returns to South Africa with a production of Franz Lehar operetta
The Merry Widow. The show is about Hanna, an elegant widow, who plays a dangerous dating game but finally has to choose between love and money.
The show is directed by Peter Mulloy and choreographed by Steve Ellias, and is on from 8 February to 4 March.
Tesson Theatre
Macbeth, the Shakespearean tragedy, is on from 15 February to 11 March. It is one of the Bard's most famous plays and explores witchcraft, ghostly manifestations, murder and revenge and is presented by the Actors Centre.
Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre
The Montecasino Theatre opened in December 2000 with only one theatre, the Main Theatre. The Studio Theatre opened in July 2003. The former seats more than 300 people, while the smaller Studio seats 150 people.
Address: Montecasino Boulevard, Cnr William Nicol Drive and Witkoppen Road, Fourways
Tel: 011 511 1988/1818
Website: Montecasino Theatre
Rumours fly and complications multiply for the reverend's wife in the hilarious farce See How They Run, after actress Penelope marries Reverend Lionel Toop. The show is directed by Rex Gardner and is on from 8 February to 18 March.
Studio Theatre
After a four-year absence, Andre the hypnotist is back. The one-man show, or rather the one-man-and-a-few-volunteers show, is known for its ability to make people jump around on stage. Volunteer to be hypnotised and let your friends watch you speak in moon language, forget your name or impersonate a chicken.
The show is on until 27 February.
Main Theatre
Share a laugh with Tim Plewman in his final performance as the Caveman. The show is written by Rob Becker and is on until 5 February.
Barnyard Theatres
The Barnyard Theatre concept was the brainchild of Louis Moller and his wife, who own the franchise. The first theatre was established in a converted barn on their dairy farm – now there are four theatres around the country.
Broadacres
Address: Broadacres Shopping Centre, Cnr Cedar Avenue and Valley Road, Fourways
Tel: 011 467 6983
Website: Barnyard Theatre
Take a trip down memory lane with the five-piece Fab Four, covering the entire career of The Beatles, with hits songs such as Please, Please Me, I Want to Hold your Hand, Hey Jude and others. The show is on until 5 February.
Following that, Grease comes to life, tracing the teenage lifestyles of the 1950s, when boys had ducktails, wore motorcycle jackets and pegged pants, and girls had beehive hairdos, pedal pushers and white bobby socks. The show is directed by on Ian von Memetry and starts on Wednesday, 8 February running until Sunday, 30 April.
Cresta
Address: Cresta Shopping Centre, Beyers Naude Drive, Randburg
Tel: 011 280 4370
Website: Barnyard Theatre
Shaky Russell returns to Cresta with the Elvis tribute show Walking in Memphis. This charismatic singer performs Presley's popular hits such as Since My Baby Left Me, Good Luck Charm, Stuck On You and others.
The show is on until 26 February.
Then The Cliff Richard Show runs from 28 February to 12 March. The show pays tribute to the Peter Pan of Pop, Cliff Richard, with a few of his hits such as Summer Holiday, Livin' Doll, Young Ones, Do You Wanna Dance and Wired For Sound.
Liberty Life Theatre on the Square
The Liberty Theatre on the Square has been running for over seven years and is a recipient of more than 25 Naledi nominations and several awards for theatre excellence.
Address: 121 Nelson Mandela Square, Sandton City
Tel: 011 883 8606
E-mail: tots@artslink.co.za
Stand up comedian Mark Sampson has a new show called Missing Links, which is on until 18 February. The show takes you on a roller coaster taxi-ride through three billion years of evolution, from microbes to man.
Globe Theatre
Johannesburg's Globe Theatre opened in the early 1890s and was later renamed the Empire Palace of Varieties, which hosted the first moving picture shows. This replica of the Globe Theatre opened with the world premiere of Richard Loring's
African Footprint in 2000.
Address: Gold Reef City Casino Complex, Northern Parkway, Ormonde
Tel: 011 248 5168
Website: Gold Reef City
Fusion is a Bollywood love story with an underlying western flavour, between two individuals from different sides of the world. The musical has a cast of 21, who perform song-and-dance routines. The show is on until 26 February.
The Sound Stage Theatre
The Sound Stage was founded in 1989 by Richard Loring, to give the audience a vibey dinner – theatre experience, at an affordable price. The theatre seats about 300 people.
Address: 239 Old Pretoria Road, Constantia Park, Midrand
Tel: 011 315 5084
Website: Sound Stage
Joseph Clark heats up the stage with Music of Queen, featuring hits from the British super group such as We are the Champions, Love of my Life and We Will Rock You. The show is on from 25 January until 5 February.
Immortality, the Bee Gees tribute show, takes the audience back three decades with the music of the Bee Gees, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick, with hits such as Immortality, All of Me and After You.
The show features Paul Buckby, Mark Richardson and Luciano Zuppa and is on from 8 February to 12 February.
Spoil your loved one this Valentine's Day with a scrumptious three course buffet while dancing to the brilliant sounds of Clint and Co, with hits such as Time to say Goodbye, Candle in the Wind, Sacrifice and others. The Valentine's dinner is on Wednesday, 14 February.
Joe Cocker and Friends is a tribute show to the "gruff singers", featuring hits by Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Joe Cocker, the Rolling Stones and U2. It runs from 15 February to 19 February.
Fanie Fouche returns to enchant the audience with Elton John classics like Candle in the Wind, Don't go Breaking my Heart and others. The show is on from 22 February to 26 February.
Finally, Yesterday Once More takes the audience on a nostalgic journey through time, with yesteryear tracks of the Carpenters such as Close to You, Rainy Days and Mondays and Please Mr Postman.
The show starts on 9 March and runs until 31 May.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
