NEWS

SHIRLEY TO USA



"When I went to my first lesson at the age of 53, never having painted before and being dismally inept of comparison with the rest of the class, I never, for one moment, thought that ten years down the line "people out there" would actually get enjoyment from my work."

So says Shirley Howells who has been invited to have a solo exhibition in Birmingham, Michigan, in June this year at Moore's Gallery Inc.

Boykie Moore, the principal of Moore's Gallery who also owns several other art outlets has visited Africa on a regular basis to buy artworks for his Detroit Gallery and has bought several paintings with an African flavour from Shirley.

Shirley started painting in 1987, going to Pinetown Tech for a year under the guidance of Rita Wilkes. The following year, John Smith became her instructor: "a demanding teacher who made me very aware that once one stopped stretching, exploring, learning and became self-satisfied the only promise was death of one's art," says Shirley.

John instilled in her a deep love of vibrant colour which is evident in her still life paintings and charming small landscapes. Shirley's portraiture and character studies are also a delight.

TRUTH OMISSIONS

Peter Dirk-Uys will be back at the Playhouse from March 4 to 9 for six performances only of "his satirical and horribly hilarious" Truth Omissions, that recently took London by storm.

With South Africa currently reeling under the onslaught of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, it would seem that nothing could be less funny.

But, Uys says, there are issues which have been left out, realities of the past that must also be addressed and "with a good, solid dose of humour".

"While we have heard the tragic tales of loss and bereavement, mostly at the hands of soldiers and policemen, brutal guardians of the apartheid order, too little has been said about those in command who gave the orders", he says.

"These are the truth omissions hidden behind amnesties and pardons, drawing multiple pensions and starring themselves as Rambo in self-penned versions of South Africa's history".

Uys claims to reveal tinpot gods in their true colours, "ambitious, charming, amusing, familiar, fearsome, fearful and frighteningly funny!"

JO'BURG FOLLIES

Described as the "The Best of Jo'burg Follies - 10 years of hilarious mayhem!, Jo'burg Follies 5 will be presented at the Playhouse Drama from February 7 to 23 with previews on February 5 and 6.

This is the fifth and final in the Follies series written by Kevin Feather and Malcolm Terrey, and starts the outrageous Follies duo, with Odile Rault, who has also appeared in Follies 1, 2 and 3, and Jason Kennett.

Lovers of this delicious series that sends-up the most `send-uppable' celebrities in the local and international public eye, will once again enjoy the madcap antics of this highly-talented and disciplined team of showbiz satirists.

This time, due to the demand by Follies fans for favourite characters from past editions, Malcolm Terry and Kevin Feather have decided to celebrate Jo'burg Follies' 10th birthday by reviving the best of past Follies.

On the `firing line' are Bles Bridges, Sonja Herholdt, Zola Budd, the Golden Girls and the Chippendales. There's also a ballet sketch and Julio Iglesias and Elana Meyer don't escape, either!

Added attractions are Felicia Mabuza-Suttle and Dali Tambo.

The show moves on to the Hexagon Theatre in Pietermaritzburg for a short run from February 25 until March 1.

LANDSCAPE PRAYERS

The popular band, Landscape Prayers, will launch a second album Bush Tele-graph at the beginning of February.

The ensemble combines the elements of baroque, classical, celtic, bluegrass, folk, western swing and rock music into their own unique hybrid sound and are committed to wayward exploration and individual musical advancement.