Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp comes to Durban

WHEN we think of magic, Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is one of the first stories that comes to mind. Aladdin is a classic rags-to-riches tale with a young hero, a beautiful princess and an evil villain, and is made complete with genies, wishes and magic. The story is one of the best-known and most retold fairy tales of all time.

This timeless story has been translated and adapted many times since its first publication in 1704. Its continued retellings are a testament to the story’s ability to inspire and entertain generations, and now, Durban’s own Astrid Productions is bringing to South African Theatre stages a revitalised and epic telling of this classic.

Based on an original text by Producer Anjil Naidoo, Aladdin has been reimagined for the stage by an international team of award-winning theatre artists and a cast of 20 of South Africa’s best young and established actors and dancers.

Director and dramaturge Glenn Hayden, playwright Lakhinandan Boruah, composer Pranashan Singh, choreographers Bertwin D’Souza and Shampa GopiKrishna, and Disrupt Media have combined forces with Astrid Productions to bring to the stage a new production of truly epic proportions for South African family audiences and the world.

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“Aladdin is so much more than a boy-meets-girl story with bad guys and magic,” said Director Glenn Hayden.
“When researching the original story, we found that there was so much room to adapt it for a 21st-Century, post-pandemic audience to remind us that the basic themes of hope, dreams, love, respect and caring for each other are still qualities that we humans must retain to live full and happy lives. Add the amazing artistry and vision of an incredible creative team, and you have a thrilling production full of colour, music, dance and a damn fine story that reminds us that the magic is in us all,” said Hayden.

This new and extravagant production of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp is the brainchild of producer Anjil Naidoo. Determined to showcase the abundance of South African talent, Anjil wrote an original text of the Aladdin story and set about putting together a creative team of theatre professionals that would bring her vision to the stage.

Anjil says that, as a woman with a life-long passion for the arts, it is with immense pride that she has entered the world of theatre production.

“The skills I have acquired in business have led me to an understanding of what’s required to deliver a world-class spectacle. I am excited for South African audiences to see the hard work that has gone into bringing the beloved classic of Aladdin and his Wonderful Lamp to life. This is especially exciting at a time when the arts are in such immense need of revival after the difficult times we have all experienced. I can’t wait for everyone to come out and enjoy the show!” she said.

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Following the birth of her dream, the search was on to put together the best cast possible who would bring Aladdin alive. The stars are Vash Singh and Yasmin Hankel, in the title roles of Aladdin and Princess Almas, who are supported by the magical talents of Belinda Henwood, Rowan Bartlett, Darren King, Tshediso Kabulu, Sanele Sibiya and an ensemble of extraordinary dancers.

Details for the upcoming show:
Dates: September 29 – October 9.
Venue: The Globe at Suncoast.
Ticketing info: Tickets available at Ticketpro