Tapping into Celtic dance

ARTISTS and festivalgoers are trekking back from the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, which means that Joburg is getting a surge of creativity with the Wits 969 Festival and other events. At the Auto & General Theatre on the Square, Mark Banks and Still Banksrupt bow out tonight, to be replaced from Tuesday by Seven Deadly Sins, with Durban actors Aaron McIlroy and Lisa Bobbert.

At the Soweto Theatre from Wednesday, Masote’s Dream tells the story of Matlhaela Michael Masote, who founded the first black orchestra in the apartheid years.

On Tuesday, the Teatro at Montecasino will resound to tapping of Celtic toes as Lord of the Dance, Dangerous Games takes over. Michael Flatley will make guest appearances until the end of July.

Also at Montecasino, Little Shop of Horrors is at Pieter Toerien’s Montecasino Theatre with Marion Holm Vir Beginners telling stories in Afrikaans in the Studio.

At the Joburg Theatre, Sister Act is getting into its stride.

At the Market Theatre, The Something Prince explores the world of interdisciplinary artist Sue Pam-Grant.

At the newly built Laager Theatre, Can Themba’s Crepuscule tells the story of Themba’s real-life love affair with a white woman, Jean Hart, during the 1950s.

For the children there’s still Shrek the Musical Jr at the People’s Theatre and The Adventures of Oliver Twist at the National Children’s Theatre. ● Jenny de Klerk is editor of Artslink.co.za