Busy year for theatre with varied line-up

Thanduxolo Zulu

Thanduxolo Zulu

Published Jan 28, 2014

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THE Stable Theatre is hitting 2014 running, having announced last week a packed calendar for the year so far.

Stable Theatre manager Thanduxolo Zulu ( pictured) said they have already confirmed a host of music, dance and drama productions with others in the pipeline.

Since their R4 million upgrade in mid-2011 the theatre facility has evolved from practically a ghost town establishment to one that is buzzing with activity.

This was confirmed by Zulu who said that since the revamp many arts agents and artists have been making use of the space.

“In the past three years we’ve been fully booked with in-house productions, those we do in association with stakeholders, and outside hire events. This year is going to be as busy,” he said.

According to a press release upcoming productions will include Masonwabe, a lunch-hour programme performed by female dancers (from February 15); Indlamu dancers (from February 6); a one-day Maskandi festival (on February 15 ); an Isicathamiya competition (on February 22); Animal Farm (February 24 to 28 ); an ingoma competition (March 1); the annual Phambili Festival (March 3), presented by Stable Theatre in association with Twist Theatre Development Project; and two dramas, titled All Gone (March 14 to 16) and Last Supper (March 28 to 30).

“With the Masonwabe lunch-hour programme we are aiming to entertain the many unemployed who surround the theatre (on Johannes Nkosi Street (old Alice Street) and those workers who often take a lunch hour but have nothing to do or nowhere to go. With the Maskandi and Isicathamiya programmes, the Stable Theatre is geared towards ensuring that we keep these traditions alive in the arts. And particularly with our Maskandi programme we are aiming to put more female artists on stage,” he explained.

“Animal Farm is a production we are doing in association with Wushwini Arts Cenre. It will be showcased by Jerry Pooe and we are targeting schools with this one in a mission to help improve the pass rate.

“The Phambili Festival has also grown substantially over the past two years. This year we are hoping to have more of the rural arts development groups involved on the programme,” explained Zulu.

He thanked the eThekwini Municipality, the KZN Department of Arts and Culture, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, the National Arts Council and the KZN Performing Arts Trust for their continued assistance, enabling the mentioned progress.

The Stable Theatre – which late theatre activist Kessie Govender opened in the mid-1970s – marked the first independent, black-owned theatre in the country.

 

•  Further details of the productions will be made in the press at a later stage.

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