MUSIC

KAT AND THE KINGS

David Kramer and Taliep Petersen's award-winning musical, Kat and the Kings, opens at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on April 2 to run until May 4.

Kat and the Kings

has played to capacity houses and critical acclaim countrywide. It won the regional and national FNB Vita Award for the best musical produc-tion for 1996 with the cast winning the award for best performance in a musical. Salie Daniels, who appeared in Durban in the original Great Pretenders two years ago, plays the 55-year-old Kat Diamond along with Jody Abrahams as the memory of Kat as a young man.

The others in the cast are Luqmaan Adams, Emraan Adams, Ricardo Buchenroder and Junaid Booysen.

ORIGINAL

The show features 15 original songs - described as having "a '50's rock 'n roll feel to them - all written by Kramer and Petersen and promising highly energetic and vibey entertainment."

A number of organisations have pur-chased performances as fundraisers. There are two 20h00 performances: April 4 (Sir Liege Primary - phone 0324: 99383) and April 5 (The Parish of Sydenham - phone 29- 0523). The 18h00 show on April 6 belongs to the Howick Sunfield Home (phone 764-1927).

To support these charities, contact the organisers direct.

SMASH-HIT RETURNS

Booking is open for Paul Slabolepszy's comedy, Heel Against the Head, which returns to the Playhouse Drama for another run during rugby season this May and June.

This production, now in its third year, won a FNB Vita Award for best comedy.

OUTREACH PROGRAMME

To uplift and enrich the country's disadvantaged youth through exposure to global artistic (particularly music) cultures the Drakensberg Boys' Choir School and the Natal Philharmonic Orchestra unite for a schools' outreach programme in the Thukela region at the end of April during the school's Music in the Mountains programme.

This outreach is meant to awaken interest in the symphony orchestra by offering regular first-hand contact with its instru-ments, its players, and its performances.

Other aims are to encourage awareness and creativity in painting, sculpture, craft and handwork; widen horizons and crea-tivity regarding dance and drama through exposure to excellent performances; foster a love of choral music through hearing top quality performances and offer workshops in all the suitable artistic disciplines under the guidance of experts. DREAM

The outreach programme aims to involve children from grades 4 to 12.

"Our dream is that by the year 2000 we would like to have enriched and exposed all the underprivileged children of our area to global artistic cultures" says organiser Craig du Preez.

Any further enquiries can be directed to Ron‚l Henning or Craig du Preez on (036) 468-1260/469- 1012. e-mail: DBSC@pixie.co.za or www.cws.co.za/dbcs

ANDY SHEPPARD

Andy Sheppard, British expert on the soprano and tenor saxophone, will visit South Africa with his band towards the end of the month by invitation of the British Council. This follows the successful tour of Keith Tippet last year. Andy and his band will conduct work-shops with music students and host public performances. Sheppard personi-fied the much-heralded '80s jazz revival in the UK and is respected for his improvisation skills and contemporary sound. You can see Andy Sheppard in Concert at the BAT Centre's Hall on April 26 at 19h00 and April 27 at 15h00.

PERCUSSION LESSONS

Practical lessons in hand-drumming and percussion techniques are being conducted at the BAT Centre by master percussionist Richard Ellis.

The comprehensive course covers every-thing from the philosophy of drumming to the use of everyday items as percus-sion instruments.

Ring 32-04 or Richard on 23-9171.

QUEEN AT OPERA

Queen at the Opera

returns to Durban on April 1 as the first show ever to play all five major theatres around the country.

Originally conceived by Geoffrey Sutherland when director of musicals for Napac, Queen at the Opera runs in the Playhouse Opera until May 11.

The production pulls out all the technical stops by way of sound, lighting and special effects. It abounds with energy and, of course, Freddie Mercury's music.

FOM GRANT

At the last Friends of Music concert presented by the students of the University of Durban-Westville's Opera School, the society was so impressed with the students' performance that it decided to give them R10 000 to help with registration fees, etc. Friends of Music also gave R3 000 to tenor Edwin Mahole Motihakoane (22) who was in straightened circumstances and had no money for living expenses, let alone tuition fees. This funding was made possible by a once-off grant from Durban Arts to Friends of Music.

Membership of the Friends of Music costs R25 a year and entitles members to a R3 reduction on the price of tickets.

Further details available from Friends of Music, PO Box 063, Musgrave 4062.

TOTAL EXPRESSION

A solo exhibition by visiting artist from Namibia, Yoba Valombola Jonathan will open at the BAT Centre's Democratic Gallery on April 4. The exhibition will run until May 2.