THE OLD MUTUAL 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 Old Mutual Theatre on the Square at Sandton's Nelson Mandela Square is the perfect entertainment venue!
PRODUCTION LINE-UP FOR 2010
DAPHNE KUHN is proud to present an exciting line-up of THEATRE PRODUCTIONS for 2010,
in addition to MUSIC IN SANDTON CENTRAL,
the Classical Lunch hour Concert Programme every Friday @ 12:45 |
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| SON OF THE WIND : :26th – 31st JULY – 7 performances only! |
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By MISTY BRODIAEA
San culture on stage at Sandton’s Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, Sandton, in a multi-national, multimedia theatre production!
A unique “must-see’ international touring show!
 Tales from South Africa’s often forgotten indigenous community – the San people – will be shared on stage in ‘Son of the Wind’ at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square from the 28th July to the 31st July – for one week only!
The South African San Institute (SASI) is spearheading the production which will feature amateur actors drawn from the !Xun and Khwe San tribes from Platfontein. SASI is a non-governmental organisation with an interest in preserving the San culture. The !Xun and Khwe cast members and other actors have been training and rehearsing ‘Son of the Wind’ for at over six months and are ready to hit the road with their talents. Interestingly, the ‘Son of the Wind’ is told in a fair amount of the indigenous !Xun language.
“This project is a different medium from what society expects to see from the San. With the production of this play the San can show that they have much more to offer the world, and that they too, have a place in the modern context,” says Meryl-Joy Schippers of the theatre production.
The Cast of ‘Son of the Wind’ are originally from Angola, Namibia and South Africa. It includes Benjamin Masseka from Angola and Riekert Moyo, Elsabé Chifuko and Wentzel Katjara from Namibia. The South African cast members are Wesleigh Maritz and Tommy Katjara. The amateur actors carry fascinating histories and life experiences.
All cast members save Wesleigh Maritz, use English their third language. As not all the actors speak English well, especially older members of the ensemble, this show’s director has worked via a translator.
“Son of the Wind’ is the result of committed research and a collaboration of creatives drawn from various continents.
Misty Brodiaea, the show’s writer and stage director, is a graduate of the Theatre School at DePaul University which is one of the top three acting conservatories in America. She came to South Africa a for a two-year volunteer stint with the United States Peace Corps in 2007. This year she returns to work with SASI and tour with the production. Brodiaea brings with her more than 10 years of experience working in theatre and television as an actor, writer and director in Europe and America. She also served as artistic director of Go Time Productions in Amsterdam where she premiered her writer-director skills with ‘Eli’s Lullaby’.
Meryl-Joy Schippers, who has served as SASI director since 2002, is meanwhile excited that the creative process has “flowed from the heart” of the San community. She has worked with SASI since 1999 but her work with vulnerable communities stretches to a prior experience as an educator in underprivileged areas of the Cape Flats in Cape Town. She has also worked as a health researcher with the Medical Research Council.
Riekert Moyo, who stars as Dala in the show, and Tommy Katjara both matriculated from the !XunKhwesa High School in Platfontein. Moyo went on to work for the SABC as a voice actor for the popular children’s television programme ‘Takalani Sesame’. He believes that his participation in ‘Son of the Wind’ is important because it “tells the important stories of ancestors that are not told in other places”. Benjamin Masseka meanwhile works in the security industry with Protea Coin Security and served as a soldier from 1990 until 1995. And Wesleigh Maritz works at BMW in Kimberley as a sales executive. ‘Son of the Wind’ has also incorporates filming by director Craig Foster. Craig and his brother Damon run Foster Brother Films and are widely regarded as South Africa’s leading documentary filmmakers. They have almost 20 years of experience in the film industry and have earned 50 international awards. Their film ‘The Great Dance’, which follows three San men on a perilous hunt through the Kalahari, was the winner of Best Film award at the recent Encounters documentary film festival.
The multi-national team of ‘Son of the Wind’ also has roots in the United Kingdom in the form of its lighting and set designer Jez Cox. He studied fine art and photography at the Art College in the UK and then spent three years in London where he studied all aspects of technical theatre and design interpretation at The Central School of Speech and Drama. The latter is the UK’s premier theatre school for scenery design and technical theatre. Cox’s work experience includes the design and production of events for the British Royal family, Bloomberg, Pirelli, and Cartier. When he moved to Amsterdam in late 2000 he built a name for himself within the Dutch theatre and events scene and has worked with organisations such as the Dutch National Ballet company, the Netherlands Opera, the Holland Symphony and smaller companies with which he has toured the world.
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JENNY CRUYS -WILLIAMS' BOOK WEEK 2nd - 7th August |
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Watch the press for details of talks and workshops with leading writers presented by JENNY CRUYS-WILLIAMS!
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WOMAN'S FESTIVAL OF THEATRE
Two brilliant actress and three brilliant plays to be performed to mark
National Woman's Day for 3 weeks only! |
| ORIGINAL SKIN: 9th - 21st August |
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written by and performed by PHILLIPPA YAA DE VILLIERS
and directed by VANESSA COOKE
Original director: ROBERT COLEMAN
This not-to-be-missed true story about love, loss and survival, takes the audience on a journey through racial identity struggles from the 60's until the present.
The production presents a moving personal story, filled with warmth and humour about growing up in apartheid South Africa on the "wrong side of the fence"! |  |
| WOMAN ALONE by DARIO FO and
THE HUMAN VOICE by JEAN COCTEAU: 24th -28th August |
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Double Bill of outstanding classic European Theatre
A mother and daughter collaboration starring LUCY WYLDE and directed by INGRID WYLDE. James Cairns' adaptation of Dario Fo's WOMAN ALONE together with Jean Cocteau's one woman masterpiece, THE HUMAN VOICE is skillfully brought to life by Blue Sky Productions.
Two different women | two different plays. Dario Fo's brilliantly satirical black comedy, A WOMAN ALONE is about a housewife held prisoner in her very own home. Cocteau's algebra of verbal codes, THE HUMAN VOICE runs the gamut of female emotion.
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| MITCH ALBOM's
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE: :31st August - 2nd October |
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by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom
based on the international bestselling book by Mitch Albom
starring GRAHAM HOPKINS and ASHER STOLTZ
and directed by ALAN SWERDLOW
TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE is an autobiographical story of Mitch Albom (an accomplished, journalist) and his relationship with his former college professor, Morrie Schwartz. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie's appearance on a television news programme and learns that his old professor is battling with an illness. Mitch is reunited with Morrie -and what starts as a simple visit, turns into a pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life!
This inspirational play is a must-see!
"You'll laugh! You'll cry" - Variety
Unforgettable…No not matter how well you tell the story, the play makes it more vivid,
more shattering , more humorous!" - New York Magazine
"The evening has an aura of celebration. Just what the doctor ordered!" - The Journal News
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| LENA FARUGIA' s internationally acclaimed WE AND THEM: :5th - 23rd October |
 | starring LENA FARUGIA and ROBERT DAVIES
WE AND THEM, the fascinating story of Mrs. Wallis Simpson was written by writer/actress Lena Farugia who starred in the role of the Duchess to critical acclaim during the play's original run in South Africa. In 2009, the play had a successful 6 week limited run at London's Finborough Theatre. After an absence of many years from the South African stage, Lena will again perform the role of the Duchess at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square. The play has been invited to perform in Los Angeles and New York for 2011!
"Amusing and deeply poignant" - What's On , London
"Farugia is magnificent" - The Star
"Farugia's performance is breathtakingly powerful" - Cape Argus
"Theatrically brilliant… It makes for remarkable theatre!" - The Sunday Express
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| uNIK: 26th October - 6th November |
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NIK RABINOWITZ IS BACK BY HUGE PUBLIC DEMAND!
FOR TWO WEEKS ONLY, in his comedy
There is hope, because well-known award-winning stand-up comedian of year 2008/2009 NIK RABINOWITZ, returns to the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square with a comedy show that will leave you shouting "YES WE CAN!" Even if we can't!
Directed by BRENT PALMER and co-written by TOM EATON, this is a must-see for lovers of comedy!
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| THE MATT PACK: :16th November - 31st December |
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A Swinging Celebration for the Christmas season
starring MATTHEW STEWARDSON and rotating guest artists including CRAIG URBANI, PABI MALOI, BRANDON AURET AND EMMANUEL KASTIS and band.
For those who are familiar with the era that saw the birth of "swing", the title will come as no surprise to you. It was of course "The Rat Pack" that welcomed in the era of swing with sophistication and style, taking Las Vegas by storm.
Now, Matthew Stewardson and guests will take the magic further with his newly devised show - THE MATT PACK. Musical tributes will be made to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr, Dean Martin and more with a dynamic live band and guest appearances by many of South Africa's best loved musical theatre performers. Matthew Stewardson and Craig Urbani need no introduction! Craig shot to fame playing Buddy in the original South African production of the Buddy Holly Story - later to great acclaim on the West End.
The production opens for a 6 week season from the 16th November.
Good music, laughter and the best musicians in the country should make this a smash hit before it opens in November for the Christmas season! |
CLASSICAL MUSIC CONCERTS ON FRIDAYS AT THE
OLD MUTUAL THEATRE ON THE SQUARE
The Old Mutual Theatre on the Square is delighted and proud to announce that the lunch-hour classical music concerts will continue as usual every Friday at 12h45 for 1pm.
The concerts will now be run and produced independently by the theatre. For a glorious, stress-free musical treat on Fridays, come to the theatre at lunchtime, where a dynamic line-up of concerts by South Africa's finest classical musicians is being devised. A platform will be given to new and exciting young talents, repertoires and recitals by established performing artists, instrumentalists, opera singers and visiting international musicians.
During this year an exciting programme will include a winter and summer season of chamber music concerts in association the JPO (Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra). In addition there will be a choice of quality fare for all tastes from classical to contemporary. All this and more, in the intimate environment of the theatre with its warm ambience, accessible and safe parking - and its surrounding restaurants and coffee bars for lunch, as well as visits to art galleries, shops and the library on the Nelson Mandela Square.
To encourage supporting of the arts and audience development at the theatre, there will be a ticket draw each week. Two lucky winners at each concert will receive complimentary tickets for an evening theatre performance at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square.
Forthcoming Friday Lunch Hour Concerts at 12.45 for 1pm
- JPO Winter Chamber Music Season - 30th July - 3rd September
- Friday 30th July - Malané Hofmeyr-Burger (flute), Penelope Ives (bassoon), Annika Burke (piano)
- Friday 6th August - IN CINQ: Dorota Swart, Ginger Neff, Andrea Erasmus, Sonja Bass, Morné van Heerden
- Friday 13th August - Francois du Toit (piano)
- Friday 20th August - Viara Markova (violin), Dorota Swart (violin), Vladimir Ivanov (viola) and Toni Ivanova (Cello)
- Friday 27th August - Abel Pareira with the Highveld Horns
- Friday 3rd September - Malane Hofmeyr-Burger, Irene Tsoniff, Marjan Vonk, Peta Ann Holdcroft
- Friday 10th September – Piano and violin recital with Zanta Hofmeyer and Malcolm Nay
- JPO Summer Chamber Music Season - 8th October - 12th November
For further information on Lunch hour concerts at
The Old Mutual Theatre on the Square
call Daphne, Sue or Mika at the theatre on 011 883 8606
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THEATRE TIMES AND SPECIAL OFFERS
8.15pm Tues - Fri and 5.30 & 8.30 on Saturdays
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.
DINNER/SHOW PACKAGES with Lekgotla, Butcher Shop and Grill, Montego Bay, and
Wangthai Restaurant- from R320 including a show and a three course meal- the perfect arrangement for parties, functions and corporate events;
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
FUNDRAISERS - we offer you a special discount - R100 x 200 seats - you mark up the price
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
LIFE MEMBERSHIP: R1,500.00
FRIENDS OF THE THEATRE: R200 / R250 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!
Children's Theatre: R50
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.
ENQUIRIES: CALL DAPHNE KUHN (Owner/Producer) on tel 011-883-8606
BOOKINGS: Call the Theatre on tel. 011-883-8606 or book on line - www.theatreonthesquare.co.za or www.strictlytickets.com or call Strictly Tickets on 073-725-7381
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