At the Theatre with Daniel Dercksen   

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In the spotlight

Abnormal Loads has been described in the national press as a breathtaking amalgamation of ghost story, love drama, historical epic and dark comedy. With a narrative that whisks audiences through two centuries of South African history, Abnormal loads presents a theatrical world in which the past runs in tandem with the present and events shift seamlessly from the grandeur of a battlefield in 1879 to the intimacy of the bedroom in 2011. Coppen's acclaimed production features a multi-talented cast comprising of some of the country's finest talents, including Allison Cassels, Mothusi Magano (of Tsotsi and Plein Street fame) and Jenna Dunster (of Isidingo). Once again, Coppen has collaborated across disciplines and mediums to bring his new work to life.  Movement, sound, music, multi-media and shadow combine to create breathtaking theatrical experience. When thirty-year-old loner Vincent Liversage meets sixteen-year-old Katrien Joubert (the rebellious daughter of the local NG Kerk dominie) an unusual friendship is forged and soon the two hatch a plan to escape the oppressive town of their birth.  However, to obtain freedom they must first confront and challenge their divided family histories. You can see Abnormal Loads at the Durban Playhouse Drama theatre from March 16 to 31 and at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg from 13 April to May 20.

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Curtain up

Don't Dress for Dinner is a nifty comedy farce about double adultery and gourmet cooking that will have you crying with laughter and begging for more! In a stylish private game lodge somewhere near the Kruger Park, Bernie is hoping to entertain his chic Johannesburg celebrity mistress, Suzy, for the weekend. He has arranged for a cordon bleu cook to furnish gourmet delights, is in the process of packing off his wife, Jackie to her mother's for the weekend, and has even invited along his best friend Rob as a suitable alibi. It's foolproof. What can possibly go wrong…? Of course, everything does! Featuring Tim Wells,  Bryan Hiles, Clare Mortimer, Jailoshini Naidoo, Janna Ramos-Violante and Nhlakanipho Manqele. Directed by Steven Stead. Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in Durban from February 9 to 26 with performances 7.30pm Tues-Sat, 2.30pm Sat and 5pm Sunday. Book at Computicket.

Absolucy is the divine comic songstress Lucy Holgate who entertaines with her range of toe-tapping hits while poignantly drawing on the lonely double life of an alcoholic cabaret who takes us on a musical journey of her life and relationship with alcohol, highlighted with important friends and family along the way. At the Kalk Bay Theatre from February 8 to March 3 @ 8.30 pm. You can have dinner at the theatre from 7pm. For further information and all bookings visit  www.kbt.co.za 

Gilan Gork's "mind blowing" show Beyond the Mind demonstrates his unique abilities in an entertaining and dynamic way, as he bends metal with his mind, reads thoughts and even predicts events before they happen. He inspires his audience to recognise the real potential within us all. "I have no super-natural powers. I am simply tapping into abilities that we all already possess. I believe that anyone can learn to do what I do. My passion is in enhancing your experience. To pull you into the mind, where everything is possible, and then back into reality with inspired perspectives." At the Theatre on the Square in Sandton from February 7 to 11. Performances will take place from Tuesdays - Fridays at 8.15 and Saturdays at 6pm and 8.30pm.  Bookings can be made by calling the theatre on tel. 011-883-8606 or Strictly Tickets on 082 553 5903, or book online @ www.theatreonthesquare.

New shows in Cape Town
At the 6^th Cape Town International Summer Music Festival on February 9 @ 8pm at the City Hall young German violinist Mirijam Contzen is the soloist in Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto, conducted by Yasuo Shinozaki. The programme also includes The Impressario Overture by Mozart and Tchaikovsky's "Manfred". On February 11 @ 8pm at the Artscape Theatre the CPO's two youth ensembles will perform popular shorter orchestral works. For more details: www.cpo.org.za. Book at Computicket

Coming to the Masque Theatre, Muizenberg, is another stage adaptation of this iconic movie The Breakfast Club, directed for MADS by Raymond Rudolph. Five high school students, with nothing in common, are forced to spend nine hours together while in detention in the school library. Within this confined space, inevitably verbal, emotional and physical sparring ensues. A cast of young actors interprets the students' diverse personalities under the eyes of a senior teacher and a self-professed all-seeing janitor. The cast includes Alastair Duff, Samantha Jane Tunnah, Dean Howarth, Wayne Ronne, Anton Schafer and Kelly Kowalski At the Masque Theatre in Muizenberg from Friday 10 February until Saturday 18 February (excluding Sunday to Wednesday.) Week nights are at 8pm and Saturdays at 2.30 and 6.30pm. To book phone Masque Theatre Bookings on 021 788 1898.

The Suidoosterfees is packed with innovative stage productions and offers entertainment for the entire family from February 14 to 19. Visit the website for more information and programme details

Dance lovers will be delighted to know that the outstanding Cuban dance company, Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba from Havana, will grace the stages at Spier Amphitheatre, Stellenbosch, from 10 to 12 February and at the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg from 17 to 19 February. A authentic expression of the unique blend which identifies Cuban culture, it combine, in an original way, elements of flamenco, ballet and contemporary dance with Spanish and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Book at Computicket

New shows in Johannesburg
The Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra's first symphony season of the year runs from February 8 to 15 March, with concerts taking place on Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Linder Auditorium in Parktown, Johannesburg, with selected programmes repeated on Sunday afternoons at Unisa's ZK Matthews Hall. Visit the website

A melting pot of traditions and relative morality set the scene for one of South Africa's most poignant theatrical works, Shwele Bawo, A Grave Injustice. Written and performed by Motshabi Tyelele and directed by Lynn Maree, this award-winning piece that deals with issues of women abuse in South Africa, runs at the Market Theatre from 12 February to 18 March. Visit the website

Now playing

Sacred Elephant is a startling and moving one-man show featuring Jeremy Crutchley that passionately reveals the soul of the earth's largest land-living mammal. Poet Heathcote Williams Sacred Elephant is a powerful alchemy of verse using fact and feeling to demolish the myths that keep us complacent about the fate of one of the most intelligent and profoundly skilled of all the world's creatures. Heathcote Williams, poet, playwright and actor, has made a significant contribution, especially for his extended poems on environmental subjects such as Whale Nation, Falling for a Dolphin, Sacred Elephant and Autogeddon. It is directed by Geoffrey Hyland. At the Intimate Theatre on Hiddingh Campus, 57 Orange Street until February 18,  Tuesday to Saturday at 20:30. Bookings via 0214807129 or via littlebookings@gmail.com

The Bard meets Bruce Lee in this high-octane new production of Shakespeare's The Comedy of Errors inspired by the world of classic 1970s Kung Fu cinema.  Two pairs of twins, separated at birth, unwittingly find themselves in the same city, unleashing a series of uproarious misunderstandings, in this most farcical and youthful of Shakespeare's comedies. Maynardville open air theatre until February 18 @ 20:15. Book at Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421 7695.

Two Ballets is delightful double bill from the Cape Town City Ballet: Solitaire is described as "a kind of game for one", in which a girl tries repeatedly to join in the activities of her friends, but always finds herself alone. Danced to the music of British composer, Sir Malcolm Arnold, this ballet will be taught and staged by the Artistic Director of the Royal Academy of Dance, Lynn Wallis. The quirky Graduation Ball was created in 1940 by the Russian choreographer, David Lichine, for the Ballets Russes de Monte Carlo. Using music by Johan Strauss II arranged by Antal Duráti, the ballet is set in a Viennese boarding school, where the young girls put on a ball with the cadets of the city's military academy. At the Maynardville Open-Air Theatre is situated in Maynardville Park, Wynberg. Every Sunday from until 19 February at 20h15. Monday, 20 February at 20h15. Tuesday, 21 February at 20h15. Ticket Price: R110-R130.  Book at Computicket or Dial-A-Seat 021 421 7695

Statements After an Arrest under the Immorality Act is set in apartheid South Africa, where relationships across the colour bar were a criminal offence, Athol Fugard's play is a compelling and deeply moving love story in which the physically and emotionally naked lovers expose not only their bodies but also their deepest longings for personal and emotional freedom. With Malefane Mosuhli, Bo Petersen and Jeroen Kranenburg. Directed by Kim Kerfoot. At the Fugard Studio until February 18 @ 8pm Mon-Sat. Booking at Computicket and the Fugard Theatre box office on 021 461 4554.

Coming up

Cape Town
Cape Town Concert Series Subscriptions are on sale for the five-concert season of the Cape Town Concert Series from February to June.  Included in the line-up are the some splendid performers, with Avigail Bushakevitz closing the season.  The series, which blends the familiar with the adventurous, opens with the brilliant young German violinist, Mirjam Contzen, accompanied by Brian Wallick, in a concert that features sonatas by Mendelssohn, Debussy and Schumann and Ravel.   Contzen has played with Joshua Bell, who will feature in the Concert Series in the second season. Contzen's concert will take place on Saturday, February 18. 
The following month, on March 24, Mozart with a Twist will intrigue as Magda de Vries and Frank Mallows return to the Concert Series as Duo FourIV Two.   These innovative musicians will include transcriptions and new interpretations of works by Mozart.  The Amici Quartet, with special guest cellist Marian Lewin, will appear by special request on April 28, while Spencer Myer, a favourite of South African audiences since he won the Unisa prize in 2004, will give a recital on May 10.  The season will climax on June 9 with the popular Avigail Bushakevitz and her pianist brother and frequent partner Ammiel Bushakevitz , who will play Bartok, Strauss, Schubert and Lutoslavski. All concerts take place at the Baxter Concert Hall  at 20:00. Subscribers benefit from a 15 per cent discount for the season and can contact Louise Howlett on 021 439 7663. Season tickets are R530; student season tickets R265. Computicket bookings for individual seats opens on 1 February. Tickets cost R125/R110.  Visit our website on www.ctconcerts.co.za for more information.

Johannesburg
Dance lovers will be delighted to know that the outstanding Cuban dance company, Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba from Havana, will grace the  the Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, Johannesburg from 17 to 19 February. A authentic expression of the unique blend which identifies Cuban culture, it combine, in an original way, elements of flamenco, ballet and contemporary dance with Spanish and Afro-Cuban rhythms. Book at Computicket

Produced in association with Harley-Davidson, and for the first time in South Africa, American Anthems is the Spectacular Rock Musical based around the search for a legendary rock star that disappeared in the early 90's at the height of his fame. The show encapsulates the most Iconic American music featuring artists such as Bruce Springsteen, Bon Jovi, Eagles, Elvis, Bryan Adams, Michael Bolton, featuring such songs as Walking in Memphis, We Built This City, Bat out of Hell, Born to Run, America, St Elmo's Fire, Sweet Child of Mine, Proud Mary, and many more. At the Mandela Theatre at the Joburg Theatre from February 21 until March 11.  Visit the website

Durban
From Coward to Brel Godfrey Johnson  returns to Durban. "From Coward to Brel." The songs of Noel Coward and Jacques Brel. Johnson will perform highlights from his Fleur du Cap nominated shows, The Shadow of Brel and Flirting with Coward, both directed by Sanjin Muftic. Johnson has been hailed the most exciting interpreter of Brel and Coward that South Africa has heard in over a decade. Rhumbelow Theatre.  February 17, 25 @ 20h00. February 19 @ 18h30. Tickets: R 100-00 a ticket. Venue opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.  Bring food picnic baskets. Braais will be available should you wish to cook some meat). Limited secure parking available Booking is essential. Bar Available (no alcohol may not be brought on to the premises). Book at Computicket or Phone H 2057602 - Cell 0824998636.  Website: www.rhumbelow.za.net

The Johnson Jukebox "The Johnson Jukebox". The only show in South Africa where the audience can choose the entire programme. Every night is different. Songs by Leanard Cohen, Madonna, Depeche Mode, Tears For Fears, Godfrey Johnson, Tom Lehar, Billy Joel and many many more. All done in Johnson's unique style and filled with outrageous humour.Johnson has performed over 20 one man shows and has appeared at every arts festival in South Africa as well as performing in Montreal, Amsterdam and London. He has starred in numerous films, television programmes and musicals , most recently David Moore's, "Once Upon a Road Trip" and Robert Silke's "The Satry of Springbok Heights". He also directed the musical "The Cape Town Show" in 2010 and 2011. Rhumbelow Theatre.  February 18, 24 @ 20h00. February 26 @ 18h30. Tickets: R 100-00 a ticket. Venue opens 90 minutes before show for picnic dinner.  Bring food picnic baskets. Braais will be available should you wish to cook some meat). Limited secure parking available Booking is essential. Bar Available (no alcohol may not be brought on to the premises). Book at Computicket or Phone H 2057602 - Cell 0824998636.  Website: www.rhumbelow.za.net

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