News

ZANSI'S TOPS

Recently opened in what was the inde-pendent Funky's is the inviting Zansi Restaurant, now part of the BAT Centre, which promises to be one of the most sought-after venues in town.

"The Centre is important as a promoter of art and culture and food is also a form of culture and art," says amiable and highly-efficient manager Rodrick Diaz who chose his menu as a "melting pot of all that was ever African".

While most items are based on primitive African dishes, Rodrick has "Wester-nised the Africanism" to appeal to a more average palate. Meals are served either on traditional meat platters created for Zansi by carvers in the Sodwana and Josini area or in little cast-iron pots (don't miss a dessert version!). A three-course meal for two with wine can cost you less than R135!

With a wide range of experience under his youthful belt, Rodrick has worked for Conservation Corporation Africa in executive lodges in the Kalahari, the Ngorongoro Crater and Siana Springs.

"But I suddenly found I'd had enough of the bush and needed stimulation and something more vibrant. It was also time to put down some roots!"

Born and educated in Pietermaritzburg, Rodrick graduated from the ML Sultan Technikon's hotel school before going on to work for Protea Hotels and Super-vision Food Services.

Zansi is reviving the Jazz on the Deck at BAT and will host regular live music.

To book phone 368-2029.

FUN IN MONTREAL

The annual Just for Laughs stand-up comedy festival in Montreal, Canada, is getting bigger and better and M-Net's It's A Funny Country - Even in Montreal brings the best comedians and laughs to M-Net screens in four half-hour pro-grammes, starting October 2 and 20h00.

Featured will be South African come-dians Shaun Griggs and Barbara Rubin, sponsored at the festival by M-Net.

A departure from previous seasons is that Griggs and Rubin also act as presen-ters and interviewers and do some very funny impromptu street performances.

JOHN & WILD MICE

The new director of the BAT Centre, John Ballam, believes that by 2004 BAT must be "positioned regionally, nationally and internationally as one of the champions of the African Renaissance."

His aim is to create a lean, effective administration that can respond quickly to market social and cultural forces and is equipped with a keen sense of organisational integrity to play an active role in the upliftment, education and develop-ment of the arts community.

John has spent eight and a half years in the teaching profession mainly in the fields of extensive in-service training and seminar co-ordination.

For two years he worked as a manage-ment consultant before being appointed project manager of Dram-AidE, an NGO involved in HIV/AIDS and lifeskills education in KZN. He also spent a year with Bradd Kietzmann & Assoc. consulting to corporate industrial theatre and soft skills training and video production.

Through BAT, John aims to "empower and foster the latent and as yet undis-covered indigenous artistic talent lying within KZN disadvantaged communities and to ensure that the Centre becomes a self-sustaining model community and, in the process, creates meaningful employment for artists."

His personal aims are no less distinct. "I'd like to be a highly skilled manager and transpersonal therapist, developing a robust spirituality that will provide a creative edge to all that I do."

He also hopes to publish poetry, articles and a book by 1999 and to spend more time fishing, painting and enjoying his hobby of studying wild mice!

And if he achieves all that, he's not doing too badly!

NEW FILING SYSTEM

Until recently, the Campbell Collections Museum staff have operated under difficulty, storing valuable objects d'art and books on wooden shelving reaching to the ceiling. Realising the impracticalities and poor efficiencies forced on his staff, museum director Professor Iain Edwards contracted Universal Storage Systems to design a system to solve the problems.

Previously the historical books and papers were filed in more than three rooms. Now the Universal mobile filing system covers 90sqm (less than a room).

Thus this traditional museum library has given way to a highly effective modern operation while losing nothing of its commitment to the care and respect of the documents and artefacts it houses.

MONEY WELL SPENT

Readers may remember the R10 000 cheque given to D'ARTS Editor Caroline Smart as part of the Arts & Culture Trust of the President's print publication award for 1997/98.

The magazine has benefited greatly. We now have a more modern and efficient guillotine and photostat machine so hopefully the adverts we have to cut and paste will look tidier and sharper.

A sophisticated flash attachment for the camera allows us to shoot inside under-lit rehearsal and performance areas and produce usable pictures for the media.

And D'ARTS now has an e-mail address which (when we've all learnt how to use it!) will save much time, effort and cost in sending and receiving press releases.

The address is csmart@iafrica.com - so, readers, send us your comments! Leader of the Nwabi Zulu 32-member dance team from Umbumbulu, Fana Sishi, said his group would deal with the R5 000 second prize in a similar fashion. "We rehearse in the back of my house," says Fana, whose father Bambatha Sishi, founded the group in the late 1930's.

Leader Mashelela Shozi of the 24-member Beacon Sweets and Chocolates team founded in 1989 said their third prize of R2 500 would also go towards improving the needs of the group. "Beacon helps us with money for attire and transport to places of performance," he says. "We'd like to perform more and encourage people to go back to their customs."

CRITERIA

All three groups are looking for new members. "The criteria is dancers who look as if they are enjoying what they do," says Mashelela. "They must also be strong and prepared to work hard and rehearse." "Yes, and they must have strong feet!" adds Fana Sishi.

Contact Brenda at Durban Arts on 23-1236 for more details.

VARIETY CONCERT

Well-known entertainers Colin Penn, Graham Rich, Zoe and Sally Slade as well as Suzanne Atwill, Bernie Odgers and others will perform a variety con-cert at Virginia Primary School Hall on October 2 at 19h00.

Proceeds of the evening will go to St Margaret's Church and the Durban & Coastal SPCA. Tickets R20 at Musik-land, Berea Centre. Phone 202-7755.

ART IN THE YARD

"Once regarded as the Cinderella suburb of Durban, Umbilo is fast becoming a haven for artists, musicians and actors with period homes being lovingly if somewhat brightly restored!"

So says East Coast Radio DJ, Di Brophy who is celebrating the Umbilo community spirit by organising Art in the Yard in her backyard in Umbilo on November 1.

"Lurking beneath the shrubbery you might find the prowling lions and scratching dogs that sculptor Carl Roberts produces from tree trunks and `found' wood while the cheery furniture of Angel Bright's Gerrie and Kevin Engelbrecht is enough to keep you in the shade for an inventive game of snakes and ladders," Di adds.

There will be hand-painted clothing, designer jewellery, a tea garden and several craft stalls.

Actors will provide entertain for children and in the later afternoon musos like Syd Kitchen and Tim Wells will present their garden concert from 16h30. Potjiekos will be served under the trees.

To exhibit or find out more about Art in the Yard, call Di on 204-9495.

MTUNZINI PRAWN

The Mtunzini Prawn Festival 1998 takes place from October 30 to November 1.

Following last year's successful trial event, this festival promises to be a highlight on the tourist calendar.

The programme has been expanded and all proceeds will go to a trust fund set up to benefit two important educational causes, the Zululand Remedial and the Conservation Outreach programmes.

Top Billing will cover the festival for national television and three top chefs from KZN's finest hotels, the Royal, the Edward and the Hilton will prepare prawn specialities, with Round Table selling fresh and grilled prawns.

The festival will include the launch of Professor van Jaarsveld's book on the history of Mtunzini at a celebrity ball on October 30, the theme of which is Africa Dream to link up with the shooting of the film I Dreamed of Africa, taking place in the Hluhluwe area.

More details from Karen Fish, Mtunzini Prawn Festival, PO Box 553, Mtunzini, 3867 or phone (0353) 40-2109.

HILTON FESTIVAL REPORT BACK

The annual Hilton Festival once again proved to be a huge crowd puller with people travelling from all over the country to attend. "The most popular productions on the Main Festival were Cadenza, Water Juggler, Man in Black and Planet Perth while on the Fringe, Trouble with Women, Life's a Pitch and Spicy Chicks were the big sellers," says Sue Clarence, joint organiser with Geoff Thompson.

Those who missed Cadenza needn't despair Sue and Geoff plan to bring Rory Rootenberg back to Hilton as soon as possible as well as Paul Slabolepszy's cricket cameo, Life's a Pitch. A KZN season of Andrew Buckland's Water Juggler is planned for early in the new year. Anyone interested in buying performances of this one man tour de force should contact Sue on 764-7518.

Already plans are underway for next year's festival which will be held from September 17 to 19, 1999. "We have already been approached by several major production companies keen to be part of this leading theatrical event," adds Sue.

The organisers have made it clear, however, that, before next festival, the technical facilities in the main theatre will be improved and, consequently, those in other venues will also benefit. "We are determined that the Hilton Festival will remain a showcase of top quality theatre from all over South Africa," says Sue.

DIWALI FESTIVAL A FIRST!

The charming front cover pic of this issue reminds us that Diwali 1998 is to be celebrated on October 19. Creating a first for South Africa and Durban, The Durban Diwali Festival on October 10 and 11 will offer a programme of activities to attract people to the Bay of Plenty Promenade. The festival is not intended as a religious event but rather as a celebration of the spirit of Diwali, its message of `sharing' and to showcase Indian culture.

The programme includes a float pro-cession, popular Garbi Chain Indian

stick dances, a dance-a-thon and a Bangra Bash. The KZNPO is expected to perform a sunset concert and there will be performances on an outdoor stage. There will be a fun fair, curry festival, fashion show and youth market as well as a festival of lights.

The public will also be able to expe-rience mendhi (decorating of hands with henna) and Gobi painting (painting of the face with dots).

The Durban Documentation Centre will host an interactive exhibition.

For details ring Reshma on 309-5917.

MICHAELHOUSE NEWS

If you happen to be in the Midlands, take in some of Michaelhouse events.

The Michaelhouse Jazz Band will play at the Hebron Haven Hotel outside Howick on October 4 at 12h00. Ellis Pearson and Bheki Mkwane present their highly popular Squawk at the Schlesinger Theatre on October 9 at 20h10.

The Matric Art exhibition will be on display in the theatre foyer from October 10 to 15.

Staff and pupils will present a variety show on October 21 at 19h30.

ARCHAFRICA

The KZN Institute for Architecture will host an international conference at ICC from October 18 to 23 alongside a Festival of Architecture.

The Carnival Opening Party takes place on October 18 when there will be a street carnival at the Playhouse and along Smith Street which will include the percussion groups Interitmo Drummers and THC.

The Spirit of the Architect competition runs from October 1 to 18 where artists and non-artists alike are invited to interpret the theme, Spirit of the Archi-tect, on masks which will then be dis-played at the NSA Gallery. Also at the NSA will be works by architectonic artists such as Jeremy Wafer, Lene Templehoff, Mary Greening, Tito Zungu and John Roome.

Installation exhibitions curated by the regional institutes will be on display at the BAT Centre and Tina Muwanga's photographic collection for her Ellipsis Guide to South African Architecture will be on display at the Durban Art Gallery.

For more details phone Nina Saunders on 202-5354.