Latest news with #NationalArtsFestival
IOL News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
031 Theatre Festival set to delight audiences with sneak previews
The 031 Theatre Festival gives audience a sneak-peak of productions before they head of to participate at the National Arts Festival. Image: Supplied. Durban is set to come alive with the vibrant energy of the stage as the much-anticipated 031 Theatre Festival returns. Spearheaded by Lisa Bobbert and Aaron Mcilroy of Macbob Productions and Michael Broderick from Theatresmiths, the festival serves as a precursor to the 2025 National Arts Festival in Makhanda, offering theatre-goers a unique opportunity to preview a diverse array of engaging productions. The line-up features a selection of innovative plays, comedies, and cabarets designed to entertain and inspire. Productions include Erika Breytenbach's one-woman comedy drama, "I can buy myself Flowers!", which features Natalie Jackson, an estate agent in her fifties, who entertains as she reflects on the ups and downs of relationships, children, professional life and her women's friendships. Ben Voss's heartfelt comedy, "Becoming Benno", and Bobbert's tribute cabaret to Ethel Merman, where she performs beloved songs from Merman's extensive repertoire. The festival also features Patrick Kenny's engaging game of humour in "Comedy Games", alongside McIlroy's humorous one-man show, "ADHD!", and finally, the entertaining romantic comedy "Date Night". Where: Seabrooke's Theatre, Durban High School, Musgrave. When: Friday, June 6, to Sunday, June 8. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ "Thumbelina" will stage at the Playhouse later this month. Image: Supplied. Upcoming show: "Thumbelina" This is the story about a small girl and her adventures to find a place to call home, based on the fairytale by H.C. Andersen. Where: Playhouse Drama Theatre, Durban Central. When: June 14 -15.
TimesLIVE
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Comedian Thato Mabelane dies
Comedian Thato Mabelane has died. Thato's friend Dr Estelle Wiid confirmed the news to TshisaLIVE, revealing she succumbed to cancer in the early hours on Monday. Estelle said the comedian was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago but it metastasized to the brain. A memorial ceremony in her honour is set to take place on June 1 at Chapmans Peak second viewing point in Cape Town from 2pm. Thato was a comedian, HR specialist and champion rower. In 2015, Thato became the first African woman to row across the Atlantic from Gran Canaria to northwestern Africa in a purpose-built ocean rowing boat called Avalon in 43 days. Thato competed in the World Masters Regatta in Gauteng last month, winning two gold medals and a silver. She was well-known in the comedy industry and respected by her colleagues. Thato staged a one-woman comedy act, 3rd Generation Coconut, at the 2022 National Arts Festival.
Time Out
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Award-winning The Last Country comes to The Market Theatre
Experience the moving theatre play that has been captivating audiences around South Africa, The Last Country, at The Market Theatre this May. For eight years, the play has been performed to sold-out venues in Durban, including theatres, hostels, schools, universities, churches, taxi ranks, and community halls. It even played at the 2024 National Arts Festival. The play has now made its way to Johannesburg. It draws attention to the difficulties faced by migrant women after they reach the city, giving us a peek of the realities of how they are often mistreated - a reality we often choose to turn a blind eye to. It is based on the lives of four women: Ofrah from the DRC, MaThwala from Ndwedwe in KwaZulu-Natal, Aamiina from Somalia, and Aneni from Zimbabwe. Mpume Mthombeni, Faniswa Yisa, Andile Vilakazi and Nompilo Maphumulo play these characters. The women share their painful experiences that forced them to leave their homes, including poverty, war, and injustice. Coming to Durban to seek a better life, the women face the realities of living in a foreign land which has its own struggles. They are often victims of xenophobia and are often forced to embrace injustice. They also deal with the complexity of language barriers, find themselves living in unimaginable conditions, and fight for crumbs while trying to make the best of whatever situation they find themselves in. The play even shows the struggles that women from rural areas within South Africa face when they migrate to the cities to make a living. With many migrants living in the different cities within South Africa, the play plays a vital role in shaping attitudes toward them. It offers clues into what everyone can do to make a positive change and how our cities can be friendlier. The play's opening took place on Friday, 16 May at The Market Theatre's Mannie Manim. The room was packed to capacity as people of different races came together to watch the play that moved the audience, with some even crying during the play. The heartwarming and captivating play raises the importance of ubuntu, kindness and justice, and is worth watching. Catch it at The Market Theatre from 15 May until 1 June 2025.
The Herald Scotland
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Edinburgh Festival Fringe chief seeks tourist tax boost
It is hoped some of the cash may also help meet Fringe promoters and producers meet some of the costs of creating 'pop-up' venues each summer, support free street events and pay for new infrastructure to boost mobile phone coverage in the city centre. Read in full: Edinburgh Festival Fringe success is 'taken for granted' Read more: Tony Lankester, newly-appointed chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society, the charity which oversees the festival, said it had secured a 'seat at the table' with the council for talks on how visitor levy income should be spent. He suggested the city should find a way of ensuring that all income raised from participants in the Fringe was reinvested in the event. (Image: PA) Mr Lankester, who previously ran the National Arts Festival in South Africa, warned the Fringe Society would be 'watching pretty carefully' to ensure that the council did not simply use income raised to replace its existing arts and culture budgets. Councillors voted in January to start the roll-out of the visitor levy for stays in the city from 24 July 2026, just days before next year's Fringe is due to get underway. However, under the council's current timetable, accommodation operators will have to apply the five per cent to all bookings made on or after 1 October this year. The council has predicted that the new levy, which is payable for a maximum of five consecutive nights, will generate up to £50m a year once it is up and running. It has pledged to use the levy to 'sustain Edinburgh's status as one of the world's greatest cultural and heritage cities.' Mr Lankester said: 'When discussions are happening on the visitor levy, the Fringe's voice is really important. 'We are not looking to the visitor levy as a way of feathering our nest or benefiting hugely financially from it. 'We might make an ask for certain projects, such as around our street events, but by and large our seat at the table will be to lobby for investment in the kind of things that are genuinely beneficial to the whole event. 'From the figures I have seen, around £1.1m is expected to be raised directly from participants in the Fringe. 'At the very least, we would like to see that £1.1m come back to the Fringe in a way that enhances their experience, such as a rebate for performers.' Under the council's proposals – which will affect hotels, self-catering properties and short-term lets – 35 per cent of the funds raised will be ringfenced for 'culture, heritage and events.' However detailed spending proposals are not expected to be published by the council until later this year. To support our arts coverage and follow along with our Arts Correspondent, subscribe to a year of The Herald for only £20. "The Herald will be at the heart of debates about Scotland's cultural life, holding key decision-makers to account, fighting for a fair deal for the arts, and championing the brightest new talents in theatre, music, visual art, comedy, film, television and more." Mr Lankester added: 'We will be making a submission to the council, which will be crafted in full consultation with the venues. We will be asking them for ideas and what they want us to lobby for. 'The visitor levy is not meant to replace the council's existing arts and culture budget. We will be watching that pretty carefully.' Mr Lankester said he believed a 'silent majority' of Edinburgh's residents were 'proud of the Fringe and love the fact it is there ever year. He said: 'They participate in the Fringe, they engage with it, and they will talk about it to their friends and family as something they are proud of. There are people who don't like it. We need to be pragmatic about that, understand why they don't like it and see what we can do to mitigate that. 'I would love for 100 per cent of people who live in Edinburgh to love the Fringe. Is that realistic? Probably not. 'But if there are genuine concerns about the Fringe and it is negatively impacting on someone's life I want to know about that and be able to understand what we can do differently.'
The Independent
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society appoints new chief executive
The former head of a South African arts festival has been appointed chief executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society. Tony Lankester joins the society from Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, London, where he was chief executive for five years. The former journalist previously spent 12 years running National Arts Festival South Africa, one of the world's largest annual arts events. Mr Lankester has also presented a podcast, delivered a TedX talk on the power of the arts, and guest lectured on branding and arts marketing at Rhodes University's Journalism School. He replaces Shona McCarthy, who announced her decision to step down as chief executive in October last year. He said: 'Edinburgh Festival Fringe occupies a rare and special place in the hearts and minds of artists the world over and it has played a formative role in so many stellar careers and millions of life-changing moments for audiences. 'Staying true to that legacy, while being asked to help shape and guide its future, is a privilege. The arts environment is hugely challenging at the moment and the world a difficult and noisy place. 'Now, more than ever, there is a need for what the Fringe is and for what it can be – for artists, audiences, producers, venues, and the people of Edinburgh. 'Shona has been an inspirational, principled and passionate leader and advocate for the Fringe during some of the toughest years in its history, navigating some extraordinary challenges with diplomacy, empathy, focus and determination. 'She hands it over in great shape, and I hope to do her hard work justice.' Benny Higgins, chairman of the society, said: 'I am delighted that Tony will be joining the Fringe society this spring. 'Tony brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles, and his insights from both a cultural and commercial background will ensure the Fringe society can meet the needs of the wider Fringe community. 'As the Fringe builds towards its 80th anniversary year, Tony's leadership will be key in ensuring the long-term sustainability of the Fringe society and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.' Mr Lankester will take on the role in early April.
