DRAMA

SUICIDES MEET

Next up at Kwasuka Theatre by way of evening entertainment is a one-hander, When Suicides Meet, featuring Philippa Savage that runs from July 26 to August 2 at 19h00.

Philippa Savage

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"It's not easy in this day and age to move people from their television sets and into the theatre", says the play's director and designer Shireen James, "but this is a visually dynamic and hard-hitting play".

Through imagery, movement, poetry and powerful dialogue, Philippa enters the psyche of well-known (both celebrated and criticised) poet Sylvia Plath in an attempt to identify the ambiguities with which all artists struggle.

QUESTION

The question posed is "Does one relin-quish the coat of conformism to expose oneself, warts and all, for the sake of artistic truth?"

This will be a very different and challen-ging role for versatile Philippa who is well-known for her roles in Pieter Scholtz's children's productions and is currently putting in a delightful perfor-mance in Samantha Seal. She has also appeared in Rainbow and Charlie's Aunt for the Playhouse Company as well as in numerous educational touring shows. Shireen adds that extensive research has gone into the uncovering of an often times inimical woman so it promises to be like no Plath play ever seen before.

Book at Computicket or at Kwasuka (563 Stamford Hill Road) between 08h30 and 12h00. Phone 309- 2236.

MELVIN AT TATHAM

Well-known popular jazz pianist Melvin Peters will give a piano recital on July 17 at 13h10 at the Tatham Art Gallery in Pietermaritzburg. Phone 0331: 42-1804.

JUST-SO STORIES

The charming amphitheatre at the Killie Campbell Museum, corner of Essenwood and Marriott Roads, becomes the venue for a production of five of Rudyard Kipling's Just So Stories from July 12 to 19 at 14h30 daily (except Sundays).

The stories have been adapted for the stage by Brenda Lauth and the cast includes Vita award winner Belinda Harward; well-known Durban actress Catherine Farren; Moira Harrity, renowned speech and drama teacher, and Brenda herself.

The stories include How the Camel got his Hump, The Crab that Played with the Sea and The Elephant's Child.

The production has completed a successful tour of schools in the greater Durban area. Tickets at the door.

Details from Brenda Lauth on 21-4310 (after 16h00).

COMEDY ROADSHOW

Three Durbanites now living and wor-king in Gauteng as full time stand-up comedians have achieved great success with The Durban Poison Comedy Road-show. After playing to sold-out houses in Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg and in Grahamstown, John Vlismas, Alyn Adams and Shaun Griggs return with Durban Poison: Schedule Two said to "offer a triple penetration attack on social issues from rugby to raving."

Durban Poison: Schedule Two

appears at the Bat Hall in Durban on July 1 only, before leaving for Grahamstown.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN

Running through the school holidays is the Playhouse Puppet Company's brand new show, Rumpelstiltskin.

Rumpelstitskin

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Based on the Brothers Grimm tale, Rumpelstiltskin features the designs of Greg King whose sets and puppets have delighted audiences in the Company's previous productions of Rainbow, Jack and the Beanstalk and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

Director Peter Court, who directed Rainbow, promises "a highly creative rendition of the age-old fairytale."

Marionette, rod, glove and shadow puppets will be used in unusual, imaginative and highly inventive ways. The five puppeteers - James Dobbin, Andrew Godbold, Greg King, Dudu Mngadi and Pillai Ngwenya - feature in performances alongside the puppets.

The show includes fire-breathers, fortune tellers and stilt-walkers milling around a royal banquet scene.

Show times are 10h30 and 12h30 from Tuesday to Friday. There are also performances on Saturday (14h30) and Sunday (15h00) with tickets at R16 for children (14 and under) and R20 for adults. Tickets for Sunday performances are R15 each.

LOOK NO HANS

St James Arts Group in collaboration with Pinetown Reps are presenting Look No Hans by John Chapman and Michael Pertwee from July 24 to 26 and again from July 31 to August 2.

The show runs in the St James's Hall, 115 Venice Road.

For booking details, phone Anne Crossley (afternoons) on 23-1160.