MUSHO! – PANSA’s tenth annual celebration of one- and two-person theatre will take place at the Catalina Theatre at Wilson’s Wharf in Durban from 14 to 19 January.
This festival, applauding the first decade of Musho!, will have a slightly different format this year: the favourites from the past ten years are being invited to take to the Musho! stage in a celebratory affirmation of the craft of one- and two-hander theatre.
The Performing Arts Network of South Africa (PANSA) will jump into the new year with vigour by staging a busy festival of 14 productions, which will showcase smaller theatrical works, all featuring either one or two actors.
Each production is staged for one performance only in a packed programme from Wednesday, 14 until Sunday, 18 January, ending with a master-class for theatre practitioners on Monday morning, 19 January.
“We are delighted that Musho! has made it to 10 years. It is great when something in Durban ‘sticks’ – and the support we have had over the past 10 years from both actors and audiences has been fantastic. We are also excited to have old friends back at the festival this year,” said festival director, Emma Durden.
“It feels like a ‘favourite favourite’ selection this year – and we look forward to bumper audiences and a hotly-contested ‘audience favourite’ vote in the line-up.
“We have lots of familiar Durban faces, with Gcina Mhlophe (who is to open the festival), Ewok, Mary Steward and Marc Kay all bringing new work to the festival, as well as some of the young up-and-coming artists on the Durban scene, such as Wiseman Mncube and the South Coast-based Emuhle Artists.
“There is a bit of something for everyone at the festival – comedy, drama, spoken word, story-telling and a great version of The Enormous Turnip by Bryan Hiles and Daisy Spencer for the kids,” added Durden.
Embedded in the festival are two sessions of Musho! with a Twist – showcasing work which has been created through the Twist Development initiative, which is sponsored by the NLDTF (National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund). These will take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoon, presented as two compact double bills.
There is a Monday morning theatre practitioners’ masterclass, which will focus on creating theatre for young people and working with schools.
Talented young deaf performer, Sibo Masondo, is to perform an extract from Eenie Meanie Greenie GROW!, an eco-comedy devised and directed by veteran theatre-maker Gisele Turner.
Gisele will talk about creating work for young people, and Yvette Hardie from Assitej South Africa will provide input on working with schools and with the Department of Basic Education. (Entry is free but booking is essential. Contact 031 201 4750.)
All shows are R50 each, with concession tickets going for R30. There are all-day Saturday and Sunday tickets for R100. Tickets for Musho! with a Twist and the Saturday and Sunday 4pm shows are on a pay-what-you-can donation basis.
Booking are through Computicket: phone 0861 915 8000, or book online at www.computicket.com.
