March 17, 2006
By Tabisa Mntengwana
AS the temperature cools and the cold weather approaches, Joburg's theatres keep entertainment in the city on the boil. This month the line-up is filled with dance, music, laughter, visions and African rhythms.
Share the visions of Meisie, a blind Afrikaans woman, take a nostalgic journey with Grease and Yesterday Once More, dance the tango with the cast of Tango Fire, or listen to the African drums at the Globe Theatre. Then laugh out loud at the Afrikaans production of Defending the Caveman.
The cast of the musical The Gingerbread Man at the People's Theatre
And for the young and the young at heart, the National Children's Theatre Trust, formerly the Johannesburg Youth Theatre, and the People's Theatre have new productions lined up.
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
Discover the history and the passion of Argentina's tango, in
Tango Fire. The 10 dancers are accompanied by a quartet of young musicians and one of Argentina's finest singers. The show explores the connection between the heat of the music and the sensuality of the dance.
It runs until 19 March.
No sooner has the stage quietened, than the South African Ballet Theatre puts on Rock-A-Tutu. This show takes timeless fairytales, turns them upside down and gives them a new meaning. The pop music score is guaranteed to get the whole audience dancing.
Rock-A-Tutu is on from 24 March to 9 April.
Tesson Theatre
An Afrikaans production of the hilarious comedy
Defending the Caveman is on from 14 March to 23 April.
Groet Die Grotman, by Rob Becker, explores the differences between men and women and how those differences cause so much misunderstanding.
Peoples Theatre
The Gingerbread Man, the popular children's story, is the first production for this year at the People's Theatre. The play is fresh, funny and engages children of all ages, who can take part as characters in the audience and on stage.
It is directed by Gill Gerard and Keith Smith and is on until 22 April.
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
Tel: 011 832 1641
Website: Market Theatre
The Main Theatre
Relativity - Township Stories comes to life. The show is a contemporary epic exploring the underbelly of township life. It also debunks the myth that people living in poverty find refuge in music and dance; most of them turn to alcohol, sex, violence and even religion.
The show is on from 21 March to 14 May and was written by Presley Chweneyagae, lead actor in the Oscar-winning , and Paul Grootboom, who is also the director.
The Laager Theatre
Full Circle is on until Sunday, 2 April. The show is a hard-hitting drama about power, identity and transition. Meisie, a blind Afrikaner, has the same vision as Nongqawuse had in 1856.
Nongqawuse was a young isiXhosa prophetess who, in the mid-1800s, persuaded her people to slaughter all their cattle and destroy their crops, promising them that the sun would rise in the west and the white settlers would disappear into the ocean.
The show is directed by Charmaine Weir-Smith and written by Kobus Moolman.
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
Main Theatre
Rumours fly and complications multiply for the reverend's wife in this hilarious farce, See How They Run, after actress Penelope marries Reverend Lionel Toop. The show is directed by Rex Gardner and is on until 18 March.
Studio Theatre
Glass Roots is a play about Mona, the mother from hell, and her feisty daughter, Jocelyn. Mona interferes in Jocelyn's life at a critical moment in her career as an advertising executive.
Starring Diane Wilson and directed by Roy Sargeant, the show is on until 9 April.
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 Theatres
Grease comes to life, tracing the teenage lifestyle of the 1950s, when boys had ducktails, sported motorcycle jackets and pegged pants and girls had beehive hairdos and wore pedal pushers and spongy white bobby socks. The show is directed by on Ian von Memety and is on until Sunday, 30 April.
Cresta
Address: Cresta Shopping Centre, Beyers Naude Drive, Randburg
Tel: 011 280 4370
Website: Barnyard Theatres
A show with a difference, Juke Box Hero features 50 number one music hits from the last six decades. The audience can choose songs and the cast performs requests live on stage.
The show on from 14 March to 7 May.
Liberty Life Theatre on the Square
The theatre has been running for over seven years and has received 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
Romance is a hilarious and provocative play that makes fun of the American judicial system, exposing the hypocrisy surrounding personal prejudices and political correctness. It is directed by Alan Swerdlow and is on until 1 April.
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
Back for a mesmerising season, don't miss the hypnotic heartbeat of the African drum, the soulful saxophone and haunting pennywhistle of African Footprint. Get into the swing of Afrocentric dances such as kwela-jive, gumboot, tap, hip-hop pantsula and contemporary ballet.
The show is on from 30 March to 2 July.
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 Theatre
Take a nostalgic trip through time with Yesterday Once More. Tracks from the Carpenters like Close to You, Rainy Days and Mondays and Please Mr. Postman are sure to entertain.
The show is on until Wednesday, 31 May.
National Children's Theatre Trust
The Johannesburg Youth Theatre, now known as the National Children's Theatre Trust, was established in 1990, with Joyce Levinsohn as the director. It presents plays based on well-known classics, four times a year.
Address: 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown
Tel: 011 484 1584
Website: Johannesburg Youth Theatre
The World of Beatrix Potter is a terrific treat for the kids. The play is a humorous adventure of colourful characters, marvellous puppets, Peter Rabbit and Jemimah Puddleduck.
The show runs from 13 March to 29 April.
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 |
