JULY

HEREUNDER:

• Moj of the Antarctic: An African Odyssey
• Critique - A Handful of Keys - Pieter Toerien Theatre, Montecasino
• CHA CHA HEELS: Taking drag from the doldrums to centre stage!
• Michael Flatley's LORD OF THE DANCE at Montecasino
• DUIGAN & RICHARDS PIANO DUO in Bloemfontein
• Programme of events to December 2008: Music in Sandton Central
• What is on at the Wits Theatres until December 2008
  

PRODUCTION:

Moj of the Antarctic: An African Odyssey
VENUE: Wits Theatre, University of Johannesburg:
DATES: 17,18,19th July
TIMES: 19h30

Mojisola Adebayo and the Antarctic Collective present directly from Oval House Theatre in London, Mojisola Adebayo, the only African woman to have performed on Antarctica.

Mojisola launches a Southern African tour of her one-woman play Moj of the Antarctic. Moj of the Antarctic is inspired by the wonderful true life story of Ellen Craft, a 19th century African-American slave woman who successfully escaped to freedom by disguising herself as a white man. Moj of the Antarctic extends Ellen’s amazing biography into a flight of theatrical fantasy where upon arrival in Victorian London, she finds work as a sailor on a whaling ship bound for the Southern Seas. Life on the ship is tough in more ways than one: the white sailor’s idea of fun is playing black face minstrels. Finally the ship arrives in Antarctic waters, ripe for gruesome whaling, and Moj becomes the first Black woman to step foot on Antarctica!

Guided by an African Griot, mystic and storyteller, through the ancestral voices of great Black writers such as Frederick Douglass, Frances Harper and Phillis Wheatley, Moj of the Antarctic explores the ancient connection between Africa and Antarctica, and the modern impact of climate change on these sister continents. This innovative total theatre piece incorporates video, text, dance, music, storytelling, song and stunning original photography all shot on location in Antarctica.

“She’s as subtle and supple as a whole ensemble” Time Out London Critics’ Choice
“Virtuosic storytelling… told with real theatrical grace” Total Theatre
“Stunning performer” – The Guardian (on Dirty Reality 2 by Black Mime Theatre at Nottingham Playhouse)

Tickets: R50.00 R30.00 for students
Box office: Tickets available at Computicket and at the door
Venue: Wits Theatre, University of Johannesburg:
Performing Arts Administration 24 Station Street Braamfontein
Access: disabled access and parking available
Parking in Senate House
Mojisola Adebayo

Mojisola is a freelance performer, writer, director and workshop leader. She has an MA in Physical Theatre (University of London) and has undertaken extensive training with Augusto Boal, Black Mime Theatre and others. Her career has spanned a wide range of areas from Street Rap to Theatre of the Oppressed, from Pantomime to Physical Theatre, from promenade plays to large scale site specific events, from collaborations with dancers to performance poetry, from popular TV to clown activism.

All of Mojisola’s work is concerned with power, identity and change. She has had the pleasure of working with diverse companies all over the world including America, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Finland, Ireland, India, Israel, Norway, Palestine, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Syria, the UK and the USA and of course… Antarctica!

Some of her most exciting and invigorating creative experiences have been

· writing and directing Palestinian actors in the West Bank (Ashtar Theatre)
· teaching theatre for social change to community workers in Cape Town (CAP)
· touring as a deviser / performer with the only Black physical theatre company in Europe of its day – Black Mime Theatre
· constructing plays with slum dweller arts-activists in Ahmedabad (Vidya / Pan)
· Directing over thirty productions with Cardboard Citizens, Clean Break and London Bubble to name a few, most recently Tales From the Emerald City (ShowHow) which toured UK theatres in 2005 including Hampstead Theatre, Oval House, Contact Theatre in Manchester and Oxford Playhouse.

Whilst living in Ireland, Mojisola was on the panel of anti-racism trainers for the Equality Authority of Ireland and was Ireland’s first Black Artistic Director at Dublin Youth Theatre. Currently, Mojisola is an Associate Artist at Pan Centre for Intercultural Arts with whom she is working on a new book - Theatre for Development. She also plays the role of Nina, in the first Black family on Irish Television, in the popular soap Fair City (RTE 1).

For more information contact:
British Council
Janine Raftopoulos
Marketing and Communications Manager
Cell: 072 742 1959
Tell: 011 718 4332
Email: Janine.raftopoulos@britishcouncil.org.za

KEY MEN OF NOTES

Critique by Mixael de Kock

For six years now a young gay South African pianist has been entertaining audiences with dazzling displays of piano virtuosity and hilarious impersonations. He has had crowds in fits of laughter with his quick wit and sharp remarks revolving around stories from the world of music and stories-within-the-music.
Jozie-boy Roelof Colyn is the trooper who, with Jonathan Roxmouth, makes up the cast of the acclaimed piano-driven cabaret comedy, A Handful of Keys. And, these two highly versatile men with their two grand pianos placed on a virtually bare stage with minimal props, give a non-stop performance filled with fun, frolics, mirth and hilarity.

Ian von Memerty originally wrote this show that went on to become one of South Africa’s best-loved musical offerings. After 14 years this “four-hander” has travelled on sell-out tours to Australia and to London, has been seen by 250 000 people and has garnered no fewer than nine awards. The show is even better now than before and it is a feather in the cap of Von Memerty that, in the direction of subsequent castings, he hasn’t attempted to recreate himself or Brian Schimmel.

Instead, he has developed the individual personalities of each new performer and within their capabilities and individual strengths. That is why the show remains fresh and exciting. Sitting in the theatre I felt as if I was seeing the production for the first time round!

But then, it is a classy show and, therefore, must be a resounding success each time it is staged. Also, together with new performers comes creative renewal and this stylish offering continues to charm old as well as new friends. The show also attracts audiences who, perhaps, have never set foot in the theatre before. It is the sort of show that caters for the connoisseur as well as far the lay man: It is both intelligent and downright funny - all at the same time and entertains from its brilliant start to an extraordinarily frenetic finish.

Colyn says that he is not an actor nor a singer – and, least of all an acrobat. But, he indulges in all three these activities, effortlessly moving from crooning to clowning and, eventually, doing cart wheels across the stage!

And then there is the hilarious routine with roller chairs. It all happens so fast and with such incredible split-second timing that it is almost impossible to believe that both performers nimbly continue with their exquisite piano playing during the mayhem! Co-star, Jonathan Roxmouth, actually hurt his ankle in an accident on stage just before the opening but, other than for the obvious bandage, did not for one moment let on that anything was wrong and kept the energy flowing throughout!

Colyn with his confident stage presence and Roxmouth, suave beyond his 21 years and blessed with a superb voice, make the ideal couple. While the one is “gay” and the other “straight” both camp it up much better and, in the process, they create a warm rapport with their audience.

They are relaxed and at ease on stage as they effortlessly exchange clever banter, either with each other or with the audience. Their interaction and chemistry is infectious as they take turns in performing, alternately backing each other on the piano. For two hours the talented duo keeps up the pace and concentration and manages to hold the audience’s attention to the very end, leaving the crowd begging for more.

The music ranges from the great composers, Bach, Beethoven, Bartok and the Beatles through soul kings Ray Charles and Fats Waller, to include such “queens” of show biz as Freddie Mercury. In sending up the women greats in music they bring the house down with their impersonations of Alicia Keys, Norah Jones and Nina Simone. Jonathan excels in taking off both Victor Borge and Elton John while Roelof’s mimicking of Liberace has the audience rolling in the aisles.

There is also a South African medley that includes such foot stomping favourites as the Click Song, Pata Pata and Mama Tembu’s Getting Married. The pair has a great time stabbing at public figures and it is in the unparalleled second half of this show that they deliver their highlight.

In the short space of 12 minutes they tour the audience through almost 200 Broadway hit songs, from the early 1900’s to snippets from recent shows such as Mamma Mia and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

The show ends with four “false endings” - a bit like a Tchaikovsky finale – and, naturally, the audience gives the two deserving stars four standing ovations!

This show is a theatrical “handful”. Don’t miss out on the opportunity of seeing two stylish and brilliant artistes, faultlessly delivering hundreds of lines and thousands of bars in a dazzling display of both musical and comedic styles. Truly key men of notes!

A Handful of Keys, Pieter Toerien's Montecasino Theatre, in Fourways, till August 16. Book at theatre or Computicket on 011-511-1818. Performances: Tuesday to Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 5pm and 8pm, Sunday at 3pm. © 18 July 2003; Mixael de Kock and Gayspeak


CHA CHA HEELS
Taking drag from the doldrums to centre stage

Take 7 talented Drag Queens stir in four male dancers. Combine this with a renowned producer, a gifted costume designer and choreographers and you have the perfect recipe for a Drag Extravaganza that will change the face of this genre forever.

Since RuPaul’s popularisation of the genre in the mid-‘90s, drag shows – traditionally limited to cabaret-type venues – have become increasingly popular with mainstream audiences. On stage at the Tesson Theatre at the Civic Theatre in Johannesburg, Cha Cha Heels endeavours to expand the market and put drag firmly where it belongs: centre stage.

The latest production by Bryan Bester and Kurt van der Muller, Cha Cha Heels brings together a cast of 7 of the Country’s leading Drag Artists with 4 male dancers creating a Mini-Drag Extravaganza never before seen in a South African Theatre.

Cha Cha Heels features, Ines Beau Rivage, Kitana Sluticia Klitorus, Charne Churchill, Betty Butterlegs, Foxy Brown, Chitta Revera and Raven Darkchild.

While the repertoire spans numerous decades and divas from both stage and screen, much effort has gone into keeping the show thoroughly up to date. Rihanna, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera and Nelly Furtado join Shirley Bassey, Donna Summer, Eartha Kitt and Gloria Gaynor for a collection of performances you are guaranteed to remember. Combined with costumes by Kurt van der Muller and choreography by Robin McBroom, Phillida Le Roux and Duane Joaquim not to mention four additional male dancers Warrick,Chad,Tebogo and Riaan Cha Cha Heels is set to be the drag show of 2008.

Cha Cha Heels opens at the Tesson Theatre at the Johannesburg Civic Theatre on 18 July 2008 and is on-stage until 10 August 2008. Shows run Wednesdays to Saturdays at 20:00, with a Sunday afternoon matinee performance. Tickets are available from Computicket.

About Bryan Bester - Producer & Director
Bryan Bester began his career dancing! He ran his own dance company, Sex Machine Dancers, for ten years before moving to Sun City, where he danced in Spellbound and numerous local and international extravaganzas over a period of eight years. To his credit, Bryan has produced and directed numerous productions, including O La La and Skin Tight at the Wild Coast Sun and Caesars Casino, and Dazzle at the Wild Coast Sun and Caesars Casino. He conceptualized, directed and produced Living with Legends at Carousel Casino. Bryan also regularly designs and directs productions for corporate functions. Cha Cha Heels provides audiences a taste of just what Bryan Bester’s flair and expertise are made of.

About Kurt van der Muller – Assistant Producer & Costume Designer
Kurt began his dancing career at the age of 15 in the Ballroom and Latin American genre. He has competed at both Amateur and Professional level, nationally and internationally. He qualified as a designer in 1989 at the Gordon Flack Davison Academy of Design and has channelled this expertise into the field of Costume Design, most recently working on the hit series Strictly Come Dancing on SABC2. As a drag artist, he has performed all over South Africa (his alter ego Ines Beau Rivage winning The Weakest Link Drag Charity Special), as well as in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Las Vegas. He is the driving force behind popular drag show group, The Glitter Sisters. From a design point of view, Kurt played an integral part in the conceptualization of Cha Cha Heels.

About Robin McBroom - Choreographer
Robin McBroom started his career in 1989 as a drama student at the Natal Technicon in Kwa-Zulu Natal, after which a successful 14-year career in dance followed. Robin performed in three Sun City Extravaganzas as dance captain before travelling to London and Italy, where he performed for the French company, The Dolle Dollies. On his return, Robin choreographed for The Carousel Entertainment World and the original Caesars Casino, and performed in numerous shows like Oklahoma and A Chorus Line. Whilst freelancing, Robin met Kurt van der Muller and has been the co-choreographer of The Glitter Sisters ever since. He currently occupies a senior position with M.A.C Cosmetics.

For more information on the show please contactBryan Bester, Sally Smith or Deon Schlebusch on:
Tel: (011) 467 2361 or 467 2494

Email: bryan@bigtalk.co.za, sally@bigtalk.co.za and deon@bigtalk.co.za


Michael Flatley's
LORD of the DANCE


OWING TO POPULAR DEMAND ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES NOW ON SALE!


The ever popular and critically acclaimed dance troupe will extend their current almost sold out tour at THE TEATRO AT MONTECASINO. Additional performances from the 19th to the 24th of August are now on sale at Computicket.

The American troupe will be show casing the brilliant footwork that has made the Lord of the Dance a sellout show continentally. With over forty dancers delivering an eloquent and stunning interpretation of one of Ireland’s most famous legends, the breathtaking choreography and awesome set design will have audience on the edge of their seats.

Written, devised, produced by Michael Flatley, Lord of the Dance premiered at The Point Theatre in Dublin in 1996, within eight weeks of its inception. The audience went wild. By the end of the evening, the show had received several standing ovations and such rave reviews that it was to become the most talked about, most written about and most critically acclaimed show in musical history.

Michael Flatley, while remaining the producer, director and choreographer of his four global touring companies, has made way for a team of high-calibre and uniquely trained young dancers.

Additional performances are as follows:
19 – 22 August, 20:00
23 August, 14:00 & 20:00
24 August, 13:30 & 18:00
Get your tickets now, and make sure you don’t miss out!

TOUR ITENERARY

THE TEATRO, MONTECASINO
August 7th to 24th 2008

THE GRAND ARENA, GRAND WEST CASINO & ENTERTAINMENT WORLD, CAPE TOWN
3, 4 & 5 September 2008

BOOKING EXCLUSIVELY AT COMPUTICKET

Computicket internet Site http://www.computicket.com/
Computicket Call Centre 083 915 8000

For more information on Lord of the Dance go to http://www.lordofthedance.com/

For news on more exciting events go to http://www.bigconcerts.co.za/

For further information contact

BUZ Publicity
BRIDGET VAN OERLE or ANELE SIGIDI
011 673 4995/9272
083 263 6991
Fax 011 388 4404
info@buz.co.za
PO BOX 1149 Auckland Park 2006:



DUIGAN & RICHARDS PIANO DUO
24 July 2008
Odeion, Bloemfontein
19:30

Two celebrated SA pianists, two Steinway grand pianos and four hands are the ingredients you need for a memorable piano duo concert!

Christopher Duigan is widely recognised as one of South Africa’s foremost concert pianists. He is maintaining a busy performing career since his professional debut with the Cape Town Symphony Orchestra in 1991. Studies at the Universityof Natal with Isabella Stengel, the University of Cape Town (graduating with M.Mus.) with Lamar Crowson and Albie vanSchalkwyk lead to scholarships to the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where he studied with Brazilianvirtuoso Arnaldo Cohen.

He has performed extensively with all leading South African orchestras. Christopher is also an ensemble musician andaccompanist and regularly partners sopranos Angela Gilbert, Bronwen Forbay and Zanne Stapelberg.He has received the UNISA Overseas Scholarship Competition (1994), 1st prize in the Adolph Hallis Piano Competition(1996), awards for the best South African pianist in the UNISA International Piano Competition (1996) and the Cape TownSymphony’s Joseph Lan Award for his outstanding performance of the Bartók Piano Concerto No. 3 (1994).

International performances include those in London at St Martins in the Field, St James’- Piccadilly, South Africa House and at theEdinburgh Festival 2001 and 2003.Based in KwaZulu-Natal, he is committed to promoting classical music locally and further afield. As concert promoter andimpresario he is the principal organiser of the widely acclaimed MUSIC REVIVAL, established in 1997.

Jill Richards’ passion for contemporary music started while she was a student at the University of Cape Town and has led toher being South Africa’s foremost performer of new piano music today. Jill has long been associated with new music groups,workshops and festivals - ranging from the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (broadcast by the BBC) to SouthAfrican events such as the annual New Music Indaba, where she performs regularly.
She has been widely broadcast, not only in South Africa and the UK, but also in the US and Europe, and has released fourCDs, with the fifth to be released in 2008.Jill’s versatility means that she is equally at home with the standard repertoire, both as soloist and chamber musician. Her piano duo partners include Christopher Duigan, Kevin Volans and Michael Blake, and she has also worked with jazz composers Surendran Reddy and Denzil Weale.

PROGRAMME:
Brahms - Variations on a Theme by HaydnBrahms - Sonata for two pianos in F minor
Mozart - Sonata for two pianos in D major, K448.
ADMISSION:R70 (adults)R40 (pensioners, students, learners)
Tickets available at PACOFS, tel. 051 - 447 7772

Music in Sandton Central
Programme July – Sept. 2008.
The concerts are held every Friday except religious and public holidays.
Time: 12h30 for 12h45 – 13h45, Cost: R20, coffee and a biscuit included.

18th July Sempre Viva Trio – Caius Oprea (Violin) Polina Burdokova (Cello) Kerryn Wiesniewsky (Piano) / (or Duo)
25th July Helen Vosloo (Flute) and Malcolm Nay (Piano) play an all French Programme, Faure, Devienne, Debussy, Honneger and Taffanel. (The artistes are depicted in the photograph to the right)
1st August Miro Chakaryan (Violin) and Annalien Ball (Piano).
8th August Ventura Rosenthal, Harp Trio with Flute and Viola.
15 August Anneke Lamont (Piano Trio)
22nd August Etienne Malan (Clarinet) and Annika Burke (Piano)
29th August Cecilia Engelbrecht - Double Bass in a Quartet with Vladimir (Viola) and Toni Ivanova (Cello) and Viara Markovitch (Violin)
5th September Jacobus Swart and Miro Chakaryan – Piano and Violin
12th September Matthew Reid (Cape Town-Flautist) with Pieter van Zyl (Piano)
19th September Jean du Plessis (Baritone) and Michael Watt (Piano)
26th September Carel Henn (Cello) and Elize Kruger (Piano)
24th October Srdjan Cuca (violin) with Annalien Ball (Piano)
31st October Jean du Plessis (Baritone) and Hester Beyers (Piano)
14th November Min Jin Kim, Korean Violinist – coming back sometime in Nov and said she and Ian Brown Piano) would play for us again.
5th December Il Trio Rosso – Irene Tsoniff, Peta-Ann Holdcroft and Susan Harrop- Allin. - A Christmas Programme.
12th December Jacobus Swart and Ivo Ivanov – Christmas Concert Final

he organisers reserve the right to alter or change programmes due to circumstances beyond their control.

For further information call: Pat Dunbar 011-807-0297, or email: ip.dunbar@telkomsa.net
Daphne Kuhn- Old Mutual Theatre 011-883-8606, Brenda Human 011-269-3392

WITS THEATRES
What’s On
July, August & September 2008

SMALL STAKES
Wits Downstairs Theatre
23 – 26 July @ 19h00 A dance evening presenting works by young choreographers with styles ranging from contemporary dance to physical theatre, and a site specific performance to satisfy the curious. Jane O’Connell, Zoey Lapinsky, Levinia Jones and the Matchbox Theatre Company produce works of varying themes such as chance encounters, living pathways, linear circles and broken dreams. The event is conceived and co-ordinated by JAM T Productions, and aims to generate new platforms for young choreographers to present their works.

SOUND US OUT
The Atrium
29 July @ 19h00
SOUND US OUT, the now biennial display of exciting new compositional talent of the Music Division of the University of the Witwatersrand; WitsMusic will also have the privilege of the WITS CHOIR performing some student music. The concert is generously sponsored by Distell.

WITS THEATRE TURNS TWENTY-FIVE!
Wits Theatre
31 August @ 18h00
The official celebration for this landmark anniversary will take place on Sunday 31 August 2008, when Wits celebrities past, present and future will gather to reminisce. A brave few will be encouraged to ‘strut their stuff’ appearing again on the Wits Theatre stage for our entertainment. Old friends looking younger and slimmer will adorn the walls in a photographic exhibition spanning 25 years of theatre in the making. A design exhibition, auction and a jolly good bun fight will round off the celebration.

LIFE IN BALANCE
Wits Theatre
Wed 30 - Thurs 31 July, 19h00 – 20h30
Helping South Africans Find the Balance ‘Life in Balance’ is just one of the topics to be addressed by Indian Guru Sunandaji while she visits South Africa in July / August 2008. Sunandaji is a mother, grandmother, philosopher, teacher and world-renowned speaker.

TAP ATTACK
Wits Theatre
2 August @ 15h00 & 20h00
They're back! The magnificent foot musicians who ‘WOW' audiences with their diverse repertoire. It's tap dancing at its finest! From the highly acclaimed ‘The Race' to the genteel rhythms of World Champion Golden Girls, Tap Attack is not to be missed! – presented by Tap Talk Rhythm Company

CLOCKWISE, violinist Marc Uys and harpist Jacqueline Kerrod.
The Atrium
9 August @ 19h30
A concert which forms part of an extensive South African tour by the ground-breaking, New York- based duo, Clockwise, during which they will introduce no less than 10 new works commissioned from South African composers Braam Du Toit, Robbert Fokkens, Paul Hanmer, Hendrik Hofmeyr, Philip Miller, Neo Muyanga, Michael Rennie, Matthijsvan Dijk, Peter Louis van Dijk and Timon Wapenaar.

SOIRÉE DE FRANCOPHONY
Wits Great Hall
10 August @ 16h00
Soirée de Francophony is a calendar highlight celebrating National Women’s Day. The performance is a celebration of French composers and Francophone music, staged by the Rand Symphony Orchestra and Requiem For The Living (RFTL). It celebrates female success in symphonic conducting, composition and solo performance. Under the baton of rising and celebrated artiste Rexleigh Bunyard, the concert programme features the world première of the excerpt In Paradisum of her RFTL with vocalisation by a host of South Africa’s premiere female classical soloists, Diaspora.
The programme also includes works of French composers Satie, Chaminade, Saint-Saëns and Chabrier.

DANCE REVOLUTION
Wits Great Hall
13 August @ 19h00
Dance Web presents “ DANCE REVOLUTION” – by the dancers, for the dancers; directed by Craig & Mandy Bullock The show aims to raise funds for fifty dancers to perform in Denmark in October this year. Denmark is this year’s host to the STREET DANCE WORLD CUP, where more than thirty countries participate in this prestigious competition.

The Martienssen Prize 2008 exhibition will open on Tuesday 15 July 2008 at 17:30 for 18:00 in the Wits Art Galleries’ future location in University Corner. This prestigious annual art exhibition showcases selected work produced during the mid-year break by senior Wits Fine Art students and will be opened by Professor Tawana Kupe, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities.

Dates: 15 to 22 July 2008
Gallery hours: Mon – Fri 10:00 – 16:00
Enquiries: 011 717- 4632 or 717-4654

TAIWAN FILM WEEK; DOCUMENTARY FILMS
4 – 8 August
Wits Downstairs Theatre
Portraits Taiwan is a series that embodies the Taiwanese spirit and the very best of Taiwan by uniquely documenting Taiwan’s success through its people. The six personalities, including Lin Hwai-min, King Liu, Chen Wun Yu, Henry Lee, Dharma Master Cheng Yen and Chang Hui Mei, featured in the series are extremely well respected, accomplished individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their respective fields, successfully placing Taiwan onto the world map. PORTRAITS TAIWAN is a co-production initiative between Discovery Networks Asia and the Government Information Office of the Republic of China (Taiwan).

NEW MUSIC INDABA 2008: BREAKING THE MOULD
SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER
11h00: MESSIAEN & BEYOND
Jill Richards (piano) & Waldo Alexander (violin)
Works by Messiaen, Oorebeek and Faroese composers
Venue: Atrium
13h00: KINGO HYMNS AND UHADI BOW SONGS
Works by Faroese and South African composers
Venue: Amphitheatre
15h00: MESSIAEN CENTENARY CONCERT
The Chamber Music Company
Works: Messiaen Quartet for the End of Time
8 New South African Miniatures
Venue: Atrium
18h00: EDGES
Arnold Marinessen (percussion)
Christina Oorebeek + Arnold Marinessen
Venue: Amphitheatre

Details are subject to change
ENQUIRIES 011 717 1376
www.wits.ac.za/witstheatre