Theatre on the Square, Nelson Mandela Square at Sandton City
Celebrating its 18th year in Sandton!
Daphne Kuhn is proud to present
AUTO & GENERAL THEATRE ON THE SQUARE'S
LINE-UP for 2014
Warm your soul with a feast of local entertainment, loads of music, magic, laughter and drama - all on Nelson Mandela Square in Sandton City
| COOKING WITH ELISA: 22 July - 2 August |
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The Argentine Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship and Proyecto 34°S present
COOKING WITH ELISA
22 July – 2 August
By LUCÍA LARAGIONE (Argentina)
Directed by the 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre
PRINCESS ZINZI MHLONGO
Starring Naledi & Fleur de Cap winner PATRICIA BOYER and LURDES LAICE
© suzy bernstein |
On an estate in the Argentine countryside, two women in a kitchen cook French delicacies for the demanding Madame and Monsieur. As they pluck, slice, skin, snap, carve, chop, roast, boil and bleed all manner of country creatures for the cuisine, an insidious struggle for power between the domineering and cruel cook and the naïve young country girl slowly unfurls into a devastating drama.
COOKING WITH ELISA is a compelling piece of theatre that will leave audiences with a twist in the gut and somewhat less appetite for their dinner...
 Patricia Boyer and Lurdes Laice © Oscar Gutierrez
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 | BOOK NOW FOR THIS SHOW | Strictly Tickets - 082 553 5901 |
| I HAVE LIFE - ALISON, 20 YEARS ON: 6 - 30 August |
DAPHNE KUHN and the WOMEN'S FESTIVAL
present a celebration
THE WOMEN’S FESTIVAL
at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square in Sandton for August
I HAVE LIFE: ALISON, 20 YEARS ON…
written and directed by MARALIN VANRENEN
adapted from the book by MARIANNE THAMM
starring SUANNE BRAUN, CLAYTON BOYD, ZAC HENDRIKZ, SHALEEN TOBIN and DAVID DE BEER
Performance times: Tuesday to Friday at 19:30 and Saturdays at 18:00 and 20:30.
The stage adaptation of I HAVE LIFE, ALISON’S JOURNEY by Marianne Thamm, is an inspirational story where one woman’s real life experience to beat her attackers and become the victor, and not the victim, is vividly told. Alison inspires us all to reach deep into ourselves to find our own miracle no matter what the odds.
This year marks 20 years of democracy and, significantly, also 20 years since the well-publicised case of Alison hit the headlines. You might remember that Alison was raped, disembowelled and her throat slit by Theuns Kruger and Frans du Toit. She was then left for dead on a filthy rubbish dump outside Port Elizabeth. As her attackers left the scene Theuns asked ‘Dink jy sy is dood?’ (‘Do you think she’s dead’). Frans replied ‘Niemand kan dit oorleef nie’ (‘No one could survive this’).
Twenty years on, we quote respected journalist Rebecca Davis:
“Most high-profile females in media reports are (still) murder victims…” The press is dominated by reports of Oscar Pistorius, Shrien Dewani and soon to be joined by globally recognized artist and photographer, Zwelethu Mthethwa, who is charged with beating to death 23 year old Nokuphila Khumalo. Add to these high profile cases the overall gender violence statistics plus the fact that Alison’s attackers are up for parole this year and all South African women are bound to ask, how free are we really?
With the purpose of inspiring a change of attitude toward women award winning writer and director, Maralin Vanrenen, is bringing Alison’s story to the stage in an adaptation of Marianne Thamm’s best-selling book. Not only a story of physical survival against all odds, Alison’s story is a symbol of positivity and a refusal to remain a perpetual victim of the two thugs who could have taken her life.
“If we can encourage men and women that the choice is theirs to change this spiral of abuse towards women and children. And if we can encourage the authorities to apply the most stringent of rules before they even think of releasing criminals like these back into society, we will have moved mountains…It can be done.” says Vanrenen.
The play will feature Suanne Braun who has recently completed filming SURVIVOR with Pierce Brosnan and Emma Thompson. The cast also includes Clayton Boyd, Zac Hendrikz, Shaleen Tobin and David de Beer, skilled theatre talents who will play the other roles in the piece. The Auto and General Theatre on the Square is proud to host this challenging and innovative production. It will open on the 6th of August in anticipation of Women’s Day and to honour all the heroines who came before and after Alison.
SPECIAL EVENTS ON WOMEN’S DAY 9TH OF AUGUST
Saturday, 9th August at 11:00
Marianne Thamm - In Conversation with ALISON
Saturday, 9th August at 15:00
Marianne Thamm - In Conversation with PJ Powers discussing her new book HERE I AM
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| BOOK NOW FOR THIS SHOW | Strictly Tickets - 082 553 5901 |
| WOMEN'S MONTH |
FRIDAY LUNCH HOUR CLASSICAL CONCERTS IN AUGUST
The theatre is delighted to present a special line up with some of South Africa’s leading female musicians for the month of August. Concerts take place every Friday at 1pm and unreserved tickets are available at the theatre. Ticket Price: R40.
Friday, 1 August
JACQUI MARTENS (violin) and HANLIE MARTENS (piano)
Friday, 8 August
THE LEWANDOWSKI CHOIR
Friday, 15 August
Opera diva AUKSE TRINKUNAS accompanied by PAUL FERREIRA (piano)
Friday, 22 August
THE DOUBLE ENSEMBLE which includes DALINE WILSON, MERRYL MONNARD, KATE MOORE, CHRISTI-LOUISE SWANEPOEL, LESLEY STANSELL WESS BEUKES and CHRISTOPHER BISHOP
Friday, 29 August
LAURA KIRSTEN (piano) and SANDILE MABASO singing various arias about love – in celebration of woman.
SUNDAYS @ THE SQUARE IN AUGUST
Sunday 10th August at 15:00
JITTERY CITIZENS
Improvised Comedy with top female comic actors and TONY BENTEL on the piano
Sunday 10th August at 19:00
BAROQUE TO BROADWAY – exploring the different facets of womanhood and love through music with ANNEKE LAMONT (piano) MERRYL MONARD (flute) MARINA BOTHA (soprano) & TINUS SPIES (tenor)
Sunday 17th August at 15:00
Sempre Opera present CONVERSATIONS WITH AUKSE TRINKUNAS (Mezzo soprano)
Sunday 24th August - 15h00 and 18h30
The South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind will be hosting their GALA VARIETY CONCERT. The sought-after annual event has drawn together many of the finest entertainers for a music and comedy extravaganza. The star-studded line-up will be truly historic, with more leading performers this year than ever before. Some of the ladies include Judy Page, Annabel Linder, Fiona Ramsay, Samantha Peo, Carly Graeme, Cat Simone, Bongi Mthombeni, Brenda Sakellarides, Kiruna Devar, Helen Desbois and Dawn Lindberg.
Sunday, 31st August at 15:00
IRENE STEPHANOU’S classic Greek/SA comedy
MEZE, MIRA AND MAKE-UP
starring TARYN PAPADOPOULOS LOUCH directed by RENOS NICOS SPANOUDES
MEZE, MIRA AND MAKEUP is a hilarious one-woman account that is both poignant and passionate and encapsulates the agonies of an adolescent Greek girl growing up against the grain.
Bookings can be made by calling the theatre’s box-office on tel. 011 883-8606, via Strictly Tickets on tel. 082 553 5901 or on-line: www.StrictlyTickets.com
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| BOOK NOW FOR THIS SHOW | Strictly Tickets - 082 553 5901 |
| Guide-Dogs Gala Variety Concert |
Leading Stars for Guide-Dogs Variety Gala Concert
Sunday 24th August
at 15:00 and 18:30 
The South African Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind will be hosting their Gala Variety Concert at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square on Sunday 24 August. There will be two shows on that day at 15h00 and 18h30.
The sought-after annual event has drawn together many of the finest entertainers for a music and comedy extravaganza.
The star-studded line-up will be truly historic at the theatre, with more than two dozen leading performers participating.
The fundraising event is aimed to help a blind person attain freedom through mobility and orientation with a working dog.
The stars of the show have kindly given of their time and talents free of charge and the entire proceeds will benefit S.A Guide-Dogs Association for the Blind. No fees or commissions are being paid whatsoever.
To add to the generous spirit, Daphne Kuhn is proud to host the event at the Auto & General Theatre on the Square, with their amenities, staff and services also provided pro bono.
Producing the sensational concerts will be Chet Diepraam, joined by Claire Pacariz. “Using the same winning concepts of the Leading Ladies and Leading Men extravaganzas at the same theatre, we will treat Joburg audiences to the most remarkable line-up of entertainment variety never before seen on local stages,” adds Chet. “The finest available, some established and some new, performing their signature, show-stopper numbers, for one day only! It’s to be a concert that the discerning Jo’burg public dare not miss!"
Confirmed stars include:
Samantha Peo (Award winning performing artist for roles including Chicago, Cabaret and Aspects of Love)
Keith Smith (Hello Dolly, Aspects of Love, Egoli)
Kate Normington (Mama Mia, Phantom of the Opera, Menopause the Musical, Hairspray and most recently Two in the Bush)
Carly Graeme (Mamma Mia, We Will Rock You, Starlight Express, Boys in the Photograph)
Mark Banks (One of SA’s most respected comedians, Comedy Choice Lifetime Achievement Award)
Michael de Pinna (Master of Ceremonies, funny man, of Yebo Gogo fame, singer, screen and stage actor, Twilight of the Golds)
Cat Simone (local and international singer and pianist whose shows include Cat on a Hot Black Steinway, Cat’s American Songbook and tributes to Barbra Streisand and Ella Fitzgerald)
Timothy Moloi (Velvet voiced star that performs with big orchestras, recently the genie in Aladdin)
Cito (Front man of Wonderboom, also lead in Queen at the Ballet and Jesus Christ Superstar)
Brenda Sakellarides (The Sound of Music, King and I, Menopause, and director of Youth Ballet)
Kiruna Devar (Lead in Sweet Charity and star of Leading Ladies concert, top achiever at the NSA)
Fiona Ramsay (Iconic actress and singer,with film credits that include Hotel Rwanda, Bang Bang Club)
Tony Bentel (pianist and entertainer extraordinaire, also of Doo Bee Boobies fame)
Helen Desbois (SAMA nominee and MTN Radio Award winner, We Will Rock You)
Bongi Mthombeni (Idols SA finalist and Panto star, session musician and conductor)
Holly Diamond, aka Neil Holland (One of The Dreemz - drag trio, better than Celine Dion herself)
Live music with the dynamic Sandton Jazz Sextet, featuring Andre Behnke (piano), Nippy Cripwell (Double Bass), Tony Yoko (Drums), Pam Mortimer (Alto saxophone and Flugelhorn), Albert Burger (Guitar) and Philip Stapelberg (Harmonica).
There will also be special guest artist appearances by legends of SA stage and music
Annabel Linder, Judy Page, and Des & Dawn Lindberg.
Daphne Kuhn, director of The Auto & General Theatre, enthused “We are excited to host some of SA’s finest and most known artists,
all rallying together for this fundraiser for the SA Guide-Dogs for the Blind.”
Parking is available at the Nelson Mandela Square or Sandton City Parkades.
There will be two shows only: 15:00 or 18:30.
There will also be raffle, with a new car as first prize.
BOOKINGS: Tickets for the spectacular variety concert are R250 and are available by calling Strictly Tickets on 082-553-5901 or online www.strictlytickets.com
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| BOOK NOW FOR THIS SHOW | Strictly Tickets - 082 553 5901 |
SHARED HISTORY – ARTS ALIVE
2 – 6 September
| BASH: 8 – 27 September |
BASH
8 – 27 September
by Neil Labute
Directed by MEGAN WILLSON
"Atrocity is the new black." - Neil Labute on BASH
Neil Labute's critically lauded BASH presents a disturbing set of portrayals of middle class life in three short one-act plays.
They're presented by the kind of people you meet every day - ordinary - except for the creeping horror of what they have to
say - a business man; a pair of lovers back from a night on the town;a young mother.
Daphne Kuhn proudly will be present The Wider Ground Drama Collective’s dark and discomforting production with JAMES ALEXANDER, ASHLEIGH HARVEY, DANIEL JANKS & JESSICA FRIEDAN.
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| THE GIFTED FOLKS MUSIC GROUP: 21 September |
Introducing the Gifted Folks music group! A musical ensemble of talented classical crossover singers, song writers and instrumentalists, finely selected for their amazing natural gifts. With Christian sacred music background, the group beautifully blends different music genres such as Opera, Church-music, Pop and African-folk, performed in a sophisticated classical style. This uniqueness amazes the audience with a never before lived experience.
Comprising of vocally talented singers accompanied with fine instruments like violin, viola, cello, guitars, flutes, piano, drums and rattles, the arrangement of the Gifted Folks, through its selected crossover repertoire will bring to you a renewed version of memorable songs such as Brindisi (“La Traviata”, Guiseppe Verdi) and Habanera (“Carmen”, Georges Bizet) to name a few operatic airs; popular songs like The Prayer by David Foster and most commonly known as a duet between the famous Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion; and great African tunes such as Malaika, a Swahili song popularized by international artists such as South-African Miriam Makeba; and Pauni Na Ngai Ya Talo, a Rumba Church-music song by Congolese Christian-song writer/singer Paul Balenza.
Come and be seduced by the multicultural lyrics through polyphonic performances in English, French, German, Latin, Italian, Swahili and Zulu. Come and be mesmerized with the new poetic style; whether you are a fan of classic music, or you prefer the modernized music style similar to the Rhythms & Blues, this group of young experienced musicians, gathered as the Gifted Folks, will drive you during its 90 minutes performance, to a very new experience you will be insisting to be widen in South Africa.
Gifted Musicians
Gifted Vocalists:
Soprano: Isabelle Makola, Larissa Ngoy, Sheila Kilambwe
Mezzo-Soprano: Isabelle Makola, Larissa Ngoy, Michael Mbunzama, Nica Kabuya, Sheila Kilambwe
Contralto: Isabelle Makola, Larissa Ngoy, Michael Mbunzama
Tenor: Daniel Kankenga, Serge Sabwa, Thommy Kumbu
Baritone: Michel Kalombo, Serge Sabwa
Bass: Forian Balagizi
Gifted Instrumentalists:
Piano/Synthesizer: Daniel Kankenga (DK), Paul Diobo
Flute: Bertrand DeLaleu, Camille Hall
Cello: Aurelia Diore, Michael Viljoen
Violin: Dorota Swart
Violist: Andrea
Percussion: Yves Laterre
Guitar Solo: Alain Ifomi
Guitar Accompaniment: Alain Ifomi, Thommy Kumbu
Guitar Bass: Nestor Nkongo
Synthesizer special effects: Reddy Buazo, Daniel Kankenga
Sound engineers: Fofo Kaje, Herve Nzambe
Conductors: Paul Diobo, Isabelle Makola
Gifted Song Writers:
Daniel Kankenga
Paul Diobo
Thommy Kumbu
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| BOOK NOW FOR THIS SHOW | Strictly Tickets - 082 553 5901 |
| MIX TAPE: 30 September – 19 October |
MIX TAPE
30 September – 19 October
by Vanessa Frost
Directed by: Terri Ella
with Mortimer Williams, Kristy Suttner, Vanessa Frost
Three unlikely friends and the mix tapes that defined them – young love, jealousy, angst and embarrassing hairstyles set to a familiar 90's soundtrack. MIX TAPE is a hilarious musical journey featuring three of South Africa’s hottest comedy and musical talents. Where were you when that song was playing?
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| BOOK NOW FOR THIS SHOW | Strictly Tickets - 082 553 5901 |
| FUNNIER THEN THEM: 20 – 25 October |
FUNNIER THEN THEM
20 – 25 October
Comedy at its best for one week only
with the Deep Fried Man, Chris Forrest and Warren Robertson
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| BOOK NOW FOR THIS SHOW | Strictly Tickets - 082 553 5901 |
| DOOBIE BOOBIES: 28 October - 15 November |
DOOBIE BOOBIES
28th October – 15th November
BILLING ITSELF as “The Return of the Infamous”, Doo Bee Boobies might not be what you expect, particularly if you didn’t see the earlier and rather looser version a few years ago. It’s a musical drag show and features old queens that you might know from TV soapies. And like traditional drag, it features mime, rude innuendoes and crass reflections on femaleness. But Doo Bee Boobies is considerably more than the sum of its parts.
It’s a very particularly honed level of slapstick humour that sidesteps cliché with brilliance while it will leave you rolling in the aisles. Indeed, you may see more of Robert Whitehead (Isidingo’s Barker Haines) than you ever imagined you might want to, but you will also see in all six characters in this mixed bag of spoofs, a generosity of collaborative energy, an understanding of performance culture from the inside out and a playfulness and irreverence that never slips into untidy thinking.
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| FOREVER PLAID : 18 November – 20 December |
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FOREVER PLAID
18 November – 20 December
FOREVER PLAID is an off-Broadway musical revue written by Stuart Ross in New York in 1990 and now performed internationally. The show is a revue of the close-harmony "guy groups" that reached the height of their popularity during the 1950s. Personifying the clean-cut genre are the Plaids. This quartet of high-school chums' dreams of recording an album ended in death in a collision with a bus filled with Catholic schoolgirls on their way to see the Beatles' American debut on The Ed Sullivan Show. The play begins with the Plaids returning from the afterlife for one final chance at musical glory.
The songs they sing during the course of the musical include: "Crazy 'Bout Ya, Baby"; "Scotland the Brave"; "Shangri-La"; and "Love is many a-splendored Thing" with Rowan Bakker as Musical Director, talented cast and protégées from Oakfields College
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FRIDAY LUNCH HOUR CLASSICAL CONCERTS
EXCITING NEW FRIDAY LINE-UP FOR AUTUMN
The theatre is delighted to present its unique and uplifting musical programme for Autumn. It prides itself on being the only venue in Gauteng to host such regular weekly daytime concerts.
In 2014, leading South African classical musicians, established and up-and coming, will again be presented – as well as special international guest performers from England, the Netherlands, Israel, Austria, Bulgaria and Italy!
Concerts take place every Friday at 1pm & tickets are available at the theatre from 12.30.
Tickets are R40. - The price includes coffee and biscuits.
The theatre would like to thank Immuno-Vet Services for its support and BASA for its supporting grant.
PROGRAMME
25 July
LAST TANGO IN AFRICA
with Jacobus Swart and special guest.
Friday, 1 August
JACQUI MARTENS (violin) and HANLIE MARTENS (piano)
Friday, 8 August
THE LEWANDOWSKI CHOIR
Friday, 15 August
Opera diva AUKSE TRINKUNAS accompanied by PAUL FERREIRA (piano)
Friday, 22 August
THE DOUBLE ENSEMBLE which includes DALINE WILSON, MERRYL MONNARD, KATE MOORE, CHRISTI-LOUISE SWANEPOEL, LESLEY STANSELL WESS BEUKES and CHRISTOPHER BISHOP
Friday, 29 August
LAURA KIRSTEN (piano) and SANDILE MABASO singing various arias about love – in celebration of woman.
We reserve the right to alter or change the programmes without prior notice.
For further media info. call Daphne Kuhn or Mika Stefano on tel. 011-883-8606
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THE THEATRE ON THE SQUARE AT SANDTON'S NELSON MANDELA SQUARE IS THE PERFECT VENUE FOR FESTIVE SEASON SHOWS / FUNCTIONS / CORPORATE ENTERTAINMENT/ PRODUCT LAUNCHES AND PRESENTATIONS
The Theatre on the Square at Sandton's Nelson Mandela Square is the perfect entertainment venue!
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THEATRE TIMES AND SPECIAL OFFERS
20:15 Tues - Fri and 18:00 & 20:30 on Saturdays
DINNER/SHOW PACKAGES - R320 +/- plus at leading restaurants on the Nelson Mandela Square - Lekgotla Restaurant, Montego Bay, The Butcher Shop and Grill and Wangthai. This includes a three course meal as well as the theatre tickets.
THE HIRE OF THEATRE (200 seats)
for corporate functions, presentations etc including all technical facilities, use of auditorium, foyer for function etc: R6,000 exclusive per day.
HIRE OF THEATRE FOR A CORPORATE FUNCTION - R6,000.00 per day excluding VAT
HIRE OF THEATRE FOR A FUNCTION AND TO INCLUDE SHOW (catering can be arranged)
for 200 people: R110 x 200 according to the show
HIRE OF THEATRE FOR A FUNCTION AND TO INCLUDE SHOW (catering can be arranged) for 200 people: R110 x 200 according to the show
FUNDRAISERS - we offer you a special discount - R90 x 200 seats - you mark up the price
The usual Ticket price range is listed below BUT PLEASE check above under each production listing for more detail:
NORMAL TICKET PRICE - R120.00 - R200.00
STUDENTS / SENIORS - R80.00 - R100.00
SCHOOL GROUPS - R50.00
GROUP BOOKINGS - Less 10% for 10 or more
FRIENDS OF THE THEATRE: R250 / R350 per year
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP: R8,000.00 p.a. plus VAT
FUNDRAISERS - For Sold Out houses (200 tickets)
R100 x 200 You mark up the ticket price!
ENQUIRIES: CALL DAPHNE KUHN (Owner/Producer) on tel 011-883-8606
BOOKINGS:
- Online: www.strictlytickets.com;
- Call the Box Office on tel 011 883 8606
- Call the StrictlyTickets Call Centre on 082 553 5901 or
- for further information call Daphne Kuhn on 083 377 4969
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Celebrated singer, cultural activist, poet and lyricist Vidya Shah recreates the gramophone era, vividly calling to mind the great Indian Diva's of the past with her rich and captivating voice in this acclaimed celebration of female performers of early 20th Century India. Gentle anecdotes and the odd flickering image are accompanied by a rich repertoire of songs saluting the significant contribution of these fine female artists. 
Through monolgues that transcend time, space and politics, 9 Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo details the lives of 9 Iraqi women in the decades between the two gulf wars examining what it means to be a woman in a country overshadowed by war. Described by The New Yorker as "an example of how art can remake the world," this work is an unusually timely meditation on the ancient, the modern and the feminine in a war torn world. Daughter of an Iraqi father and an American mother, playwright Heather Raffo has received numerous awards for this work which has enjoyed sold out seasons internationally. 
