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It is wall-to-wall football for the next couple of weeks across the country, but Joburg's theatres are adding some culture to the mix.
FOR those looking to switch from soccer for a little bit, Joburg theatres have an exciting lineup of shows that will kick out both the winter blues and boredom.
The football musical, The Boys in the Photograph, is playing at the Joburg Theatre Complex
First stop is the Joburg Theatre Complex on Loveday Street in Braamfontein, where The Boys in the Photograph is continuing to attract large crowds. The show is on at the Nelson Mandela Theatre until 11 July.
Originally called The Beautiful Game - the title was taken from Pelé's autobiography My Life and the Beautiful Game - the musical centres on a group of youngsters growing up in Belfast in Northern Ireland in the late 1960s and early 1970s, at a time when religious intolerance and violence dominated people's lives.
"Of course, the football theme is very relevant here at this time, but we believe that the greater themes of two communities struggling to come to terms with terrible violence and past wrongs and work towards a shared future are more relevant still," said Ben Elton, who wrote the book and the lyrics for the musical.
The music was written by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Tickets are priced from R191 to R466 each at Computicket.
Also at the theatre complex at the Space.com is Soul Dancer, a dance festival. It ends on 3 July and has daily performances from 11am to 5.30pm.
The dance festival showcases 12 works: four are African contemporary; four are modern contemporary; and four are contemporary works by artists with diverse abilities. There are also workshops for each dance style facilitated by two Soul Dancer 2009 award winners, Cherice Mangiagalli and Patrick Mdlalose, and the award-winning choreographer and internationally renowned dance education practitioner, Gladys Agulhas.
"Soul Dancer structure has been changed this year as we replace street dance with modern contemporary works by artists with diverse abilities," says Joburg Theatre's community developer manager, Jabu Gwebu. "This segment [is] presented in collaboration with Agulhas Theatre Works, a non-profit, integrated, contemporary dance company promoting dance/movement for persons living with disability, including deaf and blind dancers.
"The theme is Tapping into new frontiers." All performances are free of charge. For more information call 011 877 6854/3.
People's Theatre
To keep the young ones out of mischief this winter school break, the People's Theatre at the Joburg Theatre Complex is staging the well-loved fairytale, Cinderella.
Catch Seussical Jr at the Children's Theatre
It is the story of a young girl who is treated badly by her stepmother and stepsisters. They make her do all the housework while they enjoy a life of leisure. However, with the help of her fairy godmother she makes it to the royal ball, where the prince falls in love with her. And in true fairytale fashion, they marry and live happily ever after.
The show is on until 8 August and performances are at 10.30am and 2.30pm every day. Tickets are R95 each at Computicket.
Still with children in mind, the National Children's Theatre presents Seussical Jr. The musical is based on a number of Dr Seuss's most famous books, including Horton Hears a Who, The Cat in the Hat and The Butter Battle Book. The overarching plot, however, centres on Horton, the elephant who tries to protect the people of Who-ville. They live on a tiny speck of dust, and only he can hear them.
"Join Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, Mayzie la Bird, the citizens of Who-ville, and - of course - the Cat in the Hat for a musical trip into the wonderful wacky world of Dr Seuss," urges the theatre's spokesperson, Sydwell Koopedi. "Travel back to your childhood to the land of the Whos and the jungle of Nool, and rediscover the delightfully zany characters created by one of the most beloved storytellers of all time."
The show is directed and staged by Joyce Levinsohn, with the support of the National Arts Council, the Department of Arts and Culture, and the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund.
It is on at the National Children's Theatre, 3 Junction Avenue, Parktown, until 17 July. Tickets are R70 each for children and R80 each for adults. Booking can be done at Computicket or at the theatre on 011 484 1584.
Montecasino
Then, up north, at Montecasino's Main Theatre, Allan Committie is Defending the Caveman until 1 August. This record-breaking comedy hit explains why men never ask for directions and why women need more cupboard space.
Allan Committie will make you laugh at Montecasino's Main Theatre
Show times are 8pm during the week, 5pm and 8pm on Saturdays and 3pm on Sunday. Tickets are R135 each at Computicket.
Also at Montecasino, at the Studio Theatre, Jonathan Roxmouth, a Naledi and Fleur Du Cap winner, and Louis Zurnamer, the multi-award nominee of Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, have teamed up in Hats Off.
The two share a stage with nothing but a piano and their offbeat sense of humour in a show that is brimming with catchy tunes, tongue-in-cheek chemistry and great humour. Performances are at 8.15pm during the week and 3.15pm on Sundays. Tickets are R125 each at Computicket.
In the Joburg CBD, the Market Theatre is showcasing House of the Holy Afro, a live nightclub show featuring nine local singer-dancers. It is guaranteed to keep the audience on the dance floor.
This late night show caters for the multi-cultural pulse of 21st century Africa, with genres it explores including township gospel, Afro hip-hop and house music. The show starts at 11pm every night from Tuesday to Sunday until 11 July, at the Market's Laboratory Theatre in Newtown.
For more information call the theatre on 011 832 1641. Tickets are R100 each at the theatre's box office or at Computicket.
But before the House, to get you in the mood to party, catch the Market Theatre SA Music Festival at the Main Theatre until 10 July. The music festival is a party of diverse and unique culture of the South African music industry. It features a wide variety of music varying from Afro pop to jazz, South African hip-hop to Afrikaans rock, and indie.
Performances are by some of the country's most celebrated artists, including The Parlotones, Sibongile Khumalo, Thandiswa Mazwai, HHP, Jozi, Karen Zoid, Lira and Ringo Madlingozi.
Shows start at 8pm daily, except on Mondays. Tickets are R150 each at Computicket or the theatre's box office, and include entrance to House of the Holy Afro at 11pm. For more information, call the theatre on 011 832 1641.
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