DRAMA
AGNES OF GOD
American playwright John Pielmeier's powerful drama, Agnes of
God,
directed by Murray McGibbon, opens in the Sanlam Loft at the Playhouse on
March 23
FNB Award-winner Charmaine Weir-Smith will play Sister Agnes,
the 21- year old Catholic nun accused of giving birth to a child in the
convent and strangling it to death with its umbilical cord, none of which she
can remember. Charmaine won her FNB Vita best supporting actress award for
her performance as Ophelia in the Playhouse Drama Company's production of
Hamlet in 1994. She received a nomination the previous year for her
performance in The Young Visiters" (sic)
The Mother Superior is
being played by Shelagh Holliday who has received many nominations and awards
for her work on stage, in films and on television. Her last performance for
the Playhouse Company was in Deon Opperman's play, Women in the
Wings, in 1992
CONSIDERABLE
Johannesburg-based actress Theresa
Iglich who also has considerable stage, screen and TV experience and was last
seen at the Playhouse in Kabuki Medea, will play the shrewdly
rational and agnostic psychiatrist, Dr Martha Livingstone. The play was
toured by Pieter Toerien to the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre in 1984 when the
three roles were filled by Lena Farugia, Pearl Bailey and Sandra Duncan. The
film version starred Meg Tilley, Anne Bancroft and Jane Fonda
Tickets to
performances in the Playhouse Loft will cost R20 to R35
KADS NEWS
The Kloof Arts and Drama Society (KADS) has several productions planned
for
1996
Bubbling Under is due to run from May 9 to 11 and 16 to 18.
A farce is on the cards later in the year to run from September 5 to 7 and 12 to
14
Christmas on Broadway is the show planned for the festive
season to run from December 5 to 7 and 11 to 14
KADS is desperately
looking for people with marketing or publicity experience to help them with
advertising and advance notices
If you can help or need more information
about this active society, phone Martin White on 84-8576
YOUTH FESTIVAL
The National Creative Arts Youth Festival, the brainchild of theatre doyenne
Professor Elizabeth Sneddon, will take place from May 17 to 26. The Inaugural
Concert Ceremony, sponsored by the Durban Soroptomists Association, will be held
in the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on May 18 at 19h00
Professor Elizabeth
Sneddon
The short-term aim of the Festival is to develop in all young people the power to
think comprehensively and so free themselves from prejudices. It's about the ultimate
personal freedom which can only be achieved by the individual's effort to become a
thinker
PRODUCTIONS
Productions featured in the Festival are the KwaZulu Heritage Programme
(May 23), the Grand
Choral Festival Concert (May 25), a piano recital featuring Isabella Stengel and Ruth Gouveia
by the Friends of Music (May 21) and Love of Dance 1996 (May 25)
Competitions
include the prestigious Fine Arts competition and exhibition at the Durban Art Gallery. Then
there's the Tastic Rice Theme; Zulu Cultural Heritage; the Shakespeare Quiz (winners receive
two return air tickets to London); and the Inter-School Dance
Workshops are to be
arranged for folk dance and theme programme tutorials
DEADLINES
The deadline for work to be handed in for selection for the fine art
competition is April 24
at the Durban Art Gallery
Entries close on March 29 for the Tastic Theme competition
which can be communicated in terms of music, poetry, prose, drama, song and or
dance
Candidates may opt for their own choice or select one of the set themes:
Water, Wind, Fire or Animals
The closing date for entry
forms to the dance competitions is March 29
For details or entry
forms write to
The Secretary,
National Creative Arts Youth Festival, PO Box 3395, Durban, 4000. Phone 29-2060 or fax
29-4038