Music is the name of the game at the Joburg Promusica Theatre this season, with rock and roll, cabaret, cello and African rhythms.

Shaky Russell performs 'Let's Twist Again' with an awesome 10-piece cast from the United States

TO mark the beginning of summer, Joburg Promusica has lined up a variety of exciting shows and activities in the lead up to the festive season.

For starters, there is Let's Twist Again with Shaky Russell and an awesome 10-piece cast from the United States. They will bring the legends of rock and roll to life on 9 and 10 October.

Let's Twist Again, with its cast of energetic performers and musicians, pays tribute to the pioneers of rock and roll, including Sir Cliff Richard, The Beatles, Buddy Holly, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Roy Orbison and Chubby Checker.

Shows start at 8pm, and tickets are R95 each.

Next up is the Vivaldi Cello Concert, with renowned cellist Susan Salm and the Joburg Promusica African Youth Ensemble.

Salm has been soloist with various orchestras in the United States and Europe, including the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, the Berlin Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony and the BBC Orchestra. She also participates in recitals and music festivals in the United States and other countries.

The Vivaldi Cello Concert is on Sunday, 19 October at 3pm. Tickets are R35.

Then, on 28 October, Amanda Strydom presents her one-woman cabaret, State of the Heart. It's a remarkable, timeless piece that gives a glimpse into the history of South Africa from the 1920s to the late 1970s.

Strydom wrote the award-winning show back in 1993; she won a Dalro Award for it in 1994, and released a CD of the songs in 1995. Some years later, in 1997, she performed State of the Heart in the Belgian city of Brussels.

And now it will be recorded at the Promusica Theatre - Strydom and Kosie Smit, the head of Kosie's House of Theatre, are capturing all her solo shows on DVD, starting with this production.

The singer and actress seamlessly plays a cast of characters, including Dolly Parton and the entire orchestra from the Baviaanskloof. The show starts at 8pm and the tickets cost R60.

On 1 November, Se'kei:denz will have the audience tapping their toes and swaying their hips to a unique selection of hip-hop and original, Middle Eastern and traditional African rhythm and song in Forged by Fire.

Soloist, Susan Salm performs in the Vivaldi Cello Concert, with the Joburg Promusica African Youth Ensemble on 19 October

The band will be supported by the Rouh el Sahara Belly Dance Studio and fire dancer Saul from Unflamed on Poi. With an array of more than 30 percussion instruments, Se'kei:denz will lead the audience through an exciting interactive participation session.

Tickets are R100 for adults and R50 for children between six and 12 years.

Finally, Joburg Promusica will host a golf day at the Glenvista Country Club on 18 November to raise funds for the company's tuition schemes.

As part of its community development ethos, Joburg Promusica provides free tuition to underprivileged children, who are given lessons in playing various instruments to give them an income-generating skill.

"We are hoping that by hosting this golf day, we will be able to raise funds to buy musical instruments as well to provide transport for our tuition scheme students," said the company's marketing and communications manager, Prisha Singh.

Tickets for the shows are available through Computicket, on 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, or through the Computicket website.

For further information, contact Prisha Singh on 011 674 1357 or visit the Joburg Promusica website. The Joburg Promusica Theatre is at 100 Christiaan de Wet Road in Florida Park, Roodepoort, western Johannesburg.

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