Returning to music's roots, Busi Mhlongo

RELATED LINKS: Stages Calling kicks off Market's birthday party THIRTY is a good age to be - no longer a youth, but not yet a wrinkly. The Market Theatre began its year-long 30th birthday celebrations with the opening of Stages Calling, a photographic exhibition of its many plays. Read more Market Theatre poised for dramatic comeback ALTHOUGH the fortunes of the Market Theatre have flagged in recent years, the city's best-known theatre and legendary launch pad of many of the country's famous "struggle productions" is poised for a dramatic comeback. Read more Newtown: your guide AT the turn of the 20th century, the Newtown precinct was originally known as the Brickfields, where the city's bricks were made. Today it is the cultural heart of Jozi. Read more

Giving a fresh take on gospel, the Bala family will be at the Market Theatre The classics meet jazz, with Sibongile Khumalo performing at the Market Theatre

Market Theatre bangs the drum on its 30th birthday A musical smorgasbord has been lined up to celebrate the Market Theatre's 30th birthday. And Pieter Dirk Uys has written a play especially for the occasion. May 22, 2006 By Ndaba Dlamini A DELECTABLE array of musicians is set to wow audiences during the Market Theatre's celebration of 30 years as "the country's premier cultural venue" in early June this year. The sizzling group Freshlyground, Simphiwe Dana, the jazz legends Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo and Gloria Bosman, and others will set the Market Theatre alight for three weeks, starting on 12 June. "We are tremendously excited by celebrating 30 years as South Africa's premier cultural venue - and what better way to mark this historic moment in our history than with music, that universal language that South Africans love so much," says John Kani, an honorary patron of the Market Theatre. Kani's sentiments are reiterated by the Market Theatre's managing director, Sibongieni Mkhize, who says "music is a thread that has run through the theatre since its early days and so we are really excited about the line-up of artists and ensembles that will be taking to our stage in June". The co-ordinator of the musical programme, Irfaan Gillan of the Chissa Entertainment Group, says the programme offers many once-off collaborative performances as well as showcases some newer artists. "This is a celebration and we want to offer the public, who have supported the Market Theatre through its 30 years, a chance to really experience something new and uplifting." Earlier this year, the Market launched a photographic exhibition, Stages Calling, to begin its year-long 30th birthday party. "The purpose of the commemoration is to celebrate the Market Theatre's successes of the past 30 years and to launch the theatre's new vision," said Mkhize, at the opening of the exhibition. The music programme line-up is: Freshlyground and Simphiwe Dana Friday, 2 June and Saturday, 3 June. Opening the celebration is the sensational Cape Town Afro-fusion act, Freshlyground, joined on stage by the award-winning contemporary jazz sensation, Simphiwe Dana. Tickets are R130. Pieter Dirk Uys - Pieter-Dirk: Eish! Tuesday, 6 June and Wednesday, 7 June On the theatrical side there is a rare chance to see the inimitable Pieter Dirk Uys perform in a venue that he called home from the time it opened its doors in 1976 to 1990 in a show specially written to commemorate the complex's 30th birthday. For this show, tickets are R100. Hugh Masekela Thursday, 8 June and Saturday, 10 June. The legendary Hugh Masekela gives his first performance back in South Africa after three sell-out, back-to-back tours of Europe, the USA and the Middle East. Tickets are R130. Sibongile Khumalo, Gloria Bosman and The Afro Tenors Tuesday, 13 June; Wednesday, 14 June and Thursday, 15 June The classics meet jazz as the multi award-winning singers Sibongile Khumalo and Gloria Bosman join forces in a once off collaboration with The Afro Tenors, Given Nabele, Lucky Sibande and Agos Moahi. Tickets are R130. Drakensberg Boys Choir Friday, 16 June and Saturday, 17 June To celebrate the Youth Day weekend the Drakensberg Boys Choir performs at the Market for the first time ever. Tickets are R100. Johannesburg Festival Orchestra with Prince Lengoasa, Angela Kerrison and Nicholas Nicolaidis Tuesday, 20 June Under the baton of Richard Cock the festival orchestra performs with South Africa's own "Louis Armstrong", Prince Lengoasa, accompanied by soloist Angela Kerrison and tenor Nicholas Nicolaidis. Tickets are R100. The Bala Family featuring Zwai Bala and Loyiso Bala Wednesday, 21 June In the first live performance by the group, the brainchild of former TKZee member Zwai Bala, the talented Bala family gives a fresh take on gospel. It features Zwai and Loyiso together with other family members. The group recently released a debut album, Genesis. Tickets are R100. Busi Mhlongo and Jabu Khanyile Thursday, 22 June; Friday, 23 June and Saturday, 24 June Three weeks of celebration come to an end with what promises to be a brilliant collaboration between two of South Africa's most startlingly evocative and mesmerising performers, together for a once-in-a-lifetime live show. Both Mhlongo and Khanyile offer globally accessible, deeply rooted traditional music. Tickets are R130. All shows are at the Main Theatre and start at 8pm. For more information, contact the Market Theatre publicity department on 011 832 1641. 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