’Tis the season to be jolly
SING, WATCH, EXPERIENCE FESTIVE FUN Your guide to get into the spirit.
If you can’t start December with a healthy dose of Christmas carols, what can you start it with? The Jacaranda FM and Spar Carols by Candlelight is the highlight of Gauteng’s festive calendar. It’s coming to Joburg on December 2 at a new venue, St Stithians College, and in Pretoria on December 5 at Loftus Versfeld.
The annual event is a treat for the whole family, featuring a stellar cast.
Lloyd Cele, Louise Carver, Ross from Prime Circle, Danny K, Majozi, Kelly Khumalo, Cara Frew and Claire Johnston will bring the cheer at St Stithians. Charlize Berg, Elvis Blue, Jo Black, Juanita du Plessis, Karen Zoid, Refentse and Joe Niemand will be singing at Loftus Versfeld.
The Mzansi Youth Choir will be anchoring both shows.
JacarandaFM DJs will also be celebrating the mark of the festive season in full force – broadcasting live from both events.
The Spar kiddies entertainment area will have the little ones entertained with play areas, games, crafts, buskers, movies and more.
Entry is free but in spreading the love to where it is needed most, people who attend are encouraged to bring toys, which will be delivered to selected charities.
Candles will also be on sale at R30, songbooks at R10 and a songbook and candle bundle package at R35. All proceeds will go to Jacaranda FM Good Morning Angels. Gates at both events will open at 4pm and singing starts at 7pm. If singing carols gets you in the festive mood, the fun doesn’t stop there. In fact, you shouldn’t miss these events around the city:
Audiences can experience an early festive season gift when When Dori(s) Takes Her Place opens for a short season, from December 7 to 10.
Sonia Radebe, winner of the 2016 Sophie Mgcina Emerging Voice Award, will direct and choreograph this personal piece about the role of women in family structures, communities and national influence.
Radebe is also the 2017 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance.
“Radebe is one of the best dancers and choreographers this country has ever seen,” says James Ngcobo, the artistic director at the Market Theatre. “The Sophie Mgcina Emerging Voice Award recognises her fierceness, feistiness and passion for movement.”
In When Dori(s) Takes Her Place, Radebe joins forces with the 2014 Sophie Mgcina Emerging Voice Award recipient and award-winning dancer, Lulu Mlangeni.
These two leading women in dance will come together and perform for the first time at the Mannie Manim Theatre as a duo production, joining a list of past winners who have premiered their productions at the Market Theatre under the banner of the Sophie Mgcina Emerging Voice Award.
Radebe and Mlangeni will debut a unique staging of a personal piece that combines traditional and contemporary moves.
The piece will carry precision and thrills that are characteristic of both their artistic signatures and styles.
Thando Lobese will create the costumes and Mandla Mtshali will enhance the production with lighting. The show will feature original music created by Nhlanhla Mahlangu and Waldo Luc Alexander
The Sophie Mgcina Emerging Voice Award is named in honour of the illustrious South African actress and teacher. During her celebrated career, she made a lasting impression in 1980 when she performed in the premiere of The Long Journey of Poppie Nongena, the play adapted from Elsa Joubert’s book Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena. Not only did she
play two lead-
ing roles, but she also composed and directed the music for the production. The production went to New York and then to the Edinburgh Festival in 1983, followed by a world tour in 1984. In New York, Mgcina was given an Obie Award for best achievement and was nominated for the Laurence Olivier Award for best supporting actress. The sustained excellence of Sophie Mgcina’s extensive body of work in South Africa and internationally earned her the reputation of being a doyenne of SA’s performing arts. It is fitting that the Market Theatre Foundation’s Sophie Mgcina Emerging Voice Award also honours emerging SA artist who are writing their own names in lights. For bookings for When Dori(s) Takes Her Place, contact Anthony Ezeoke on 011-832-1641 ext 203, Yusrah Bardien on 011-832-1641 ext 204, or webtickets.com. MONTECASINO
Crewworks brings a classic holiday tradition to life. Welcome on stage Jason Ralph playing Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of redemption, A Christmas Carol.
It promises to also be a sumptuous banquet for the eyes, ears and imagination. With an original score by Wessel Odendaal, animation by Naret Loots and direction by Elizma Badenhorst, this play is a sensory delight.
Introducing several ghosts and characters from his past, present and future, the play takes you on an emotional journey from the old Scrooge’s tight-fisted, miserly ways, to the new Scrooge, spreading goodwill and cheer.
This outing is bound to become a family tradition. For more information visit tsogosun.com/ montecasino
PRETORIA ASSOCIATION OF THE ARTS
If the stage lights aren’t for you, consider the Association of Arts Pretoria’s annual Christmas Exhibition. The gallery walls will be decorated with ceramic plates by artists who are not necessarily ceramic artists. Plates by Angus Taylor, Rina Stutzer, Philip Badenhorst, Diek Grobler, Andre Naude, Gordon Froud, Helena Hugo, Dylan Graham and several others will be seen. Works in glass (like paperweights, bottles and jewellery) and other articles in ceramic and porcelain can also be viewed.
The exhibition will be opened by Samuel Isaacs on December 3 and runs until December 15.
For more information visit