The Playhouse Company, an agency of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, is proud to present its latest Christmas Season line-up of productions at eThekwini’s famous Playhouse over the coming weeks. This includes a proud mix of African, Eastern and Western Song, Dance, Drama and Comedy, that is sure to engage audiences across the board. This is evidenced in this year’s seasonal line-up of titles such as Ihubo, Mbongeni in Concert, It’s Beautiful at The Ballet, Eastern Dance and Comedy Explosion, Soirée, and Christmas Carols Concert.
“Every year, when curating our Christmas Season programme, we make it a priority to add value to the lives of as broad a spectrum of our audience as possible,” says Ms Lynda Bukhosini, The Playhouse Company Chief Executive and Artistic Director. “We strive to maintain the highest possible performance and production standards, while fulfilling those aspects of our mandate that support the initiatives of our funders – in the fields of Nation-building, Skills-sharing, and Community-development.”
“To this end we encourage divergent communities to explore each other’s cultures, thus building empathy and understanding between all South Africans. As KwaZulu-Natal’s flagship performing arts body, we try to present the widest range of high-end productions, as is evidenced in the programme we have curated for the coming season,” Ms Bukhosini explains. “With newly commissioned in-house productions such as Mbuso Khoza’s iconic Ihubo, and Eastern Dance and Comedy Explosion, with its dazzling introduction to the wonders of Bollywood and Indian Classical dance, tempered with levity and fun, we showcase some of our KZN artists.”
“We also draw from the broader talent pool, featured on the national stage, by hosting renowned touring productions, such as Paul Slabolepszy’s Fordsburg’s Finest, and SANDT’s It’s Beautiful at The Ballet, both of which have earned extravagant praise and admiration from audiences and critics across the country”.
A brief precis of each production appears at the bottom of this release. To access full production details, log onto the Playhouse Company’s website at https://playhousecompany.com/ . All Playhouse performance dates, times and bookings available now through Webtickets. Playhouse patrons who park at the nearby Albany Parking Garage or the Royal Hotel qualify for a discount.
Soirée
This enticing programme of vocal and choral items by Handel, Mnomiya and others is performed by eThekwini’s multi-award-winning Clermont Community Choir, accompanied at the piano by Dr David Smith. 27 November
Fordsburg’s Finest
With its message of Homecoming, Healing and Hope, this celebrated two-hander ranks amongst the highest peaks in the Slabolepszy oeuvre. The powerful piece, with an uncanny ability to entertain while probing the real issues of life, is directed by SA heavyweight, Bobby Heaney, and features new-generation star Chi Mhende opposite Paul Slab, the man himself. Guaranteed to reveal why audiences all around the country have clamoured for tickets.
Mbongeni in Concert
SA’s cultural icon is sure to pull the crowds in this celebration of Mbaqanga music, featuring the best of Ngema’s chart topping numbers from the legendary Sarafina soundtrack, as well as many of the maestro’s mega hits from his prolific back catalogue. This live extravaganza comprises a powerhouse line-up of musicians, singers, and dancers – with Ngema himself as the lead artist. One performance only, 10 December
Eastern Dance & Comedy Explosion
This glittering new Playhouse production combines the formidable eThekwini talent line-up of the popular Nateshwar Dance Academy, and Kathak dancer Manesh Maharaj, ringing the changes on the magic of Bollywood, and classical Indian dance, spiced with the levity of celebrity star of stage and screen, Jailoshini Naidoo. Performances on 22 and 23 December.
Ihubo
Mbuso Khoza, proud son of KZN culture, joins forces with iJadu le Afrika Ensemble in this magnificent new Playhouse production which details the origins of this ancient Nguni musical genre, and its impact on posterity. Date: 17 December
It’s Beautiful at the Ballet
Presented in association with South African National Dance Trust, this celebration of dancers showcases the work of SA choreographers Veronica Paeper, Adele Blank, Sean Bovim and Dale Hurst, performing to the live accompaniment of the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Eddie Clayton. 22 & 23 December,
Christmas Carols Concert
Renowned for their performances in famous Playhouse productions of masterpieces such as Handel’s Messiah and Haydn’s Creation, the acclaimed Playhouse Chorale is conducted by the multi-talented maestro Juan Burgers, classically trained concert pianist, in this programme of the world’s best loved Christmas Carols. The audience is welcome to sing along at this festive event on 23 December at the Playhouse.
