Tale of unlikely friendship

Goodlife Reporter

FINALLY the theatre season in Durban has begun. After a successful Hilton Arts Festival, Thinkskin’s production of Callum’s Will is coming to Durban. It opens at the Seabrooke’s Theatre, DHS, at 7.30pm tomorrow and runs until February 10.

The show is written and directed by award-winning Durban actress Janna Ramos-Violante and stars Darren King and Clinton Small.

The two characters come from completely different backgrounds in London’s early 1990s.

Callum, played by King, is a cultured man in his mid-forties, an ex-ballet dancer whose career was cut short by a tragic accident that has left him in a wheelchair.

Disconnected from his friends and previous life, he is unable to cope and is forced to seek assistance in the unlikely form of Will – a boy in his mid-twenties from the wrong side of the tracks, played by Small.

He is the result of growing up in mass unemployment and a country of state benefits.

Surrounded by friends who have accepted their lot in life, Will is not bereft of hope and dreams, something his eccentric late mother left as a seed and is about to germinate.

The beautiful and intimate story of Callum’s Will takes the audience on an almost filmic experience as the unlikely relationship of the two male characters evolves from an awkward first encounter to a deep and lasting friendship, which neither expects or understands.

Sometimes in life, friendships choose us.

The story takes the audience on a journey of laughter and sometimes tears, but is essentially full of hope as it offers a quiet window into the tiny intricacies of human behaviour and interaction we never really get the opportunity to observe.

Tickets are R80 and bookings can be made on 083 250 2690. Shows are Tuesdays to Sundays at 7.30pm.

Also opening tomorrow night is Surf’s Up at the Barnyard Theatre at Gateway. It continues until March 3.

You will find a beach hut bar that is stocked to capacity with exotic cocktails, featuring a rocking 10-piece cast that will take you on a musical journey that is warm, wet and wild.

Surf’s Up will sail you to exotic musical destinations like Jamaica, where you can dance the night away to the sounds of Bob Marley and UB40. Then they head to California for the harmonic sound of The Beach Boys, and then it’s on to Miami with bikini girls Katy Perry and Sheryl Crow.

Let’s not forget the South African beach party where the sun always shines to the rhythm and magic of Mango Groove songs Move Up and Bang A Drum and Toto’s hit song Africa.

Heading up the male and female vocals will be two performers originally from Durban – Jae, who has enjoyed much success as an individual artist, and Clinton Philander, who has become a Barnyard regular.

Joining them on vocals are Joe Zachues, Richard Stirton and Liza Louw, while the band will consist of Calli Thomson (keyboards), Regardt de Bruin (guitar), Kelly Joubert (bass guitar), Dylan van der Linde (drums) and Kirsty Madgin (saxophone).

Tickets are R140 from Wednesday to Saturday, with discounted specials of R105 a person every Tuesday night and R95 a person for the Sunday matinee show.

For bookings and inquiries, phone The Barnyard Theatre on 031 566 3045.