NEWS


TV ARTS
SABC 3 features a new TV arts pro- gramme, Arts Unlimited, which is transmitted on Thursdays at 22h10.
The programme will include a fort- nightly What's On insert

Produced by Allen Auld of the one-time Collage programme, Arts Unlimited promises to be more investigative than any of the previous arts programmes and contains profiles and documentaries on people and happenings of interest in the arts world on a national scale

OPENING
The BBC series, Opening Shot, will be transmitted at 15h30 on Sundays, and is an arts programme aimed at the young

The focus is on talented young people in the arts and the type of arts they enjoy with wide-ranging topics, taking into account the current fashion for fast- moving, image-orientated films

MANIA
Another SABC3 arts-orientated half-hour programme can be viewed on Saturdays at 18h30. This is Music Mania which concentrates on music videos and inserts giving latest buzz on the music industry and band recordings

The show is off-beat and vibey, avoiding stereotype studio shoots and locations


NEW ARTS CENTRE
The assurance of future audiences for theatre lies in educating the young in accepting the performing arts as a natural way of life.

Pieter Scholtz at Kwasuka Sukela
Professor Pieter Scholtz, recently retired as head of the speech and drama department at University of of Natal, aims to do just that with his proposed arts complex in lower Morningside, the Kwasuka Sukela Arts Centre

The title is taken from the Zulu expression meaning "Once Upon a Time", an apt title for a man who has written 21 plays for young people, most of which have been published.
The Centre is situated on the corner of Kent and Stamford Hill Roads and housed the Living Word Church for over 12 years

PROPERTY
Pieter Scholtz was considering a property in Percy Osborne Road when he was directed to Prof Ken Knight, circuit steward for the Methodist Church and responsible for leasing all the Methodist properties in Durban. "He stopped me in mid-sentence," says Pieter of their ensuing telephone conversation, "saying that it was remarkable that half an hour ago the tenants phoned and gave in their notice for this building. He brought me here immediately and it was quite magical. What a coincidence - almost divine providence!"
FOUNDATION
The foundation stone was laid by Mrs C Payne in November 1895 and it is another fortuitous coincidence that Pieter signed the lease in November last year, 100 years to the month!
However, there is much repair work to be done before the building can be turned into a theatre including replacing the roof and sections of floorboards, replastering and attending to damp

But eventually what will emerge will be a 140-seater theatre, well-raked on a solid centre section with side aisles. Seating will be spacious, giving people with long legs plenty of room! adjoins the stage which has a 5 metre wing space. The stage is 3 by 7 metres and a cyclorama will be installed

Sound and lighting boxes will be located at the back of the theatre and the Siemens lighting system has already been delivered as have the brass carriage lamps to be installed in the auditorium which will be decorated in purple and emerald green.
There will be a restaurant, pub and ticket office. The building has good ventilation and this will be aided by ceiling fans

The design is in the hands of Sally Adams and Tilly Ive who worked on Pieter Scholtz's project for the Point Waterfront

COURTYARD
There are plans to develop the courtyard outside into an open air amphitheatre under the spreading wild fig, fir and Natal mahogany trees. A wall down the two sides fronting Stamford Hill and Kent Roads will give added seclusion

It is hoped that Kwasuka Sukela will open in August providing an arts centre for young people hosting classes and workshops for children of different ages in drama, music-making and movement

"I want to start productions with children in the cast," adds Pieter, "and I will be using a lot of ex-students as directors."
Phone Pieter Scholtz on 81-1617

RECONSTRUCTION OF THE MONUMENT

The reconstruction of the Monument Theatre's auditorium is almost complete
Effectively grounded by an extensive reconstruction programme following the fire in 1994, the 1829 Settlers National Monument in Grahamstown is now in the countdown phase, preparing for the 1996 Standard Bank National Arts Festival from July cilities and the venues will be used far more extensively than in the past



The auditorium of the theatre now boasts superior acoustics, state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems as well as comfortable, contoured seats



In Hall A, a sprung wooden floor has replaced the original carpeting and the six translation booths have been turned into theatre boxes. Lecture theatre Hall B is now ready to be used as a multipurpose space



New facilities include a gallery under the stage in the basement area; a snack bar on the Fountain Foyer level overlooking Grahamstown; a designated reception area in the foyer and a visitors' lounge on the first floor



There will be an information centre on the ground floor furnished with about 80 chairs as well as a television set and video recorder



(N.B. For those readers thinking of going to the Festival as participants or visitors, don't leave it until the last minute. If you need advice or information, phone D'ARTS office on 261-6036.)

SHAKESPEARE FOR ALL
The Playhouse drama department has put together two professional touring productions of Shakespeare's plays



Directed and adapted by Brenda Radloff, 50 Minutes Presents: The Macbeth Special Report - a Programme of Edited Highlights is aimed at English second-language pupils in KZN and features a cast from Technikon Natal and the Playhouse Company's development projects



Directed and adapted by Stephen Gurney, Othello has a cast which includes Garth Anderso
Thabethe



This production strives to remove the play from its European context and place it under the domestic spotlight.
Book through Suzanne du Toit on 304-3631 Ext. 2187. The cost is R4 per pupil for the touring shows (min. R400 per performance for up to 100 pupils), and R6 per pupil for performances of Othello at the Playhouse Drama
Theatre




TOURING PUPPETS
The Playhouse Puppet Company's 1996 touring programme offers educational and entertaining shows on a variety of social issues:
Caring Kim, a highly-successful show revived due to public demand, teaches children to be kind to all living things;
Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf educates primary school children about child abuse; SAPPI's Continuing Adventures of Count Viron for primary school children focuses on pollution and the prevention of wastage



The Rainbow People's Puppet Show, an exciting hand and rod puppet cross-cultural creation, includes African, European, Indian and Malay folk tales. Tour bookings can be made by phoning Suzanne du Toit, Playhouse Drama, on (031) 304-3631. The cost is R4 per pupil (min. R400 per performance). The Rainbow Puppet Show costs R5 per pupil (min. cost R500 per performance)




NEWS15
MAHATMA MAKING
The Making of Mahatma, expected to be released in a few month's time, is the first movie - indeed the first project - to be completed between India and South Africa.

The film is costing ju South Africa (40%) through the SABC, the ex-House of Delegates and the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Science and Technology



Based on Fatima Meer's book, Apprenticeship of a Mahatma (she also wrote the film script in association with the director, Shyam Benegal), the film tells the story of the young Gandhi, fresh from law school, coming to South Africa on a legal brief and staying 21 years to confront the racism that attacked the dignity of Indian life, as well as that of many others



SPLENDID
The film is visually splendid if a little slow-moving and several scenes (possibly shot by a second unit) are rather unrealistic. But there is a good sense of period and sensitive use of lighting



Rajit Kapur as Gandhi is impressive and moving with his total commitment to Satyagraha (passive resistance). He is well-matched by Pallavi Joshi as Kasturba, his long-suffering wife



PERFORMANCES
There are good performances from Durban artists in supporting roles such as Charles Pillai, Suria Govender, Peter J Elliot, Essop Khan, Prean Naidoo, Amitha Anand and Himal (Jack) Devnarain. Special mention must be made of Jack Devnarain, a policeman in real-life, who is proving to be a very promising film actor



Hopefully this film will pave the way for more co-productions between South Africa and India





ALEX UPMARKET
ARTS & CRAFTS
PIETERMARITZBURG'S
MONTHLY FAMILY MARKET
SUN. MARCH 31
9am-4pm
`Art in the
Park' Site
Alexandra
Park, PMB


POINT EASTER FESTIVAL Sharon Katz and her Peace Train groupThe unifying theme of Masijabule - let's be happy is the aim of the third annual Point Easter Festival scheduled to take place from April 5 to 8. The Festival strives to provide a vehicle for the marketing of sport and entertainment in Durban while encouraging the participation of communities across the cultural spectrum



As part of the Recycling Forum's educational stand, a school plastic art mural competition will take place. The fence on the way to Kings Battery will be stuffed with colourful plastic bags as an example of what can be done at schools. More details from Jonathan Welch on 082 5688 209



The official opening ceremony will take place on April 5 when Sharon Katz and the Peace Train will perform, followed by the 101 Battalion Band and a fireworks display



Two stages will be available - the main stage hosting daytime community arts and the evening shows, with the children's stage providing entertainment for youngsters



To keep everyone up-to-date with what's going on, the Masijabule News and Beachwise outside broadcast will keep the information flowing. Students will have the chance of proving themselves budding DJ's at the Beachwise PA/Radio Studio



Journalism students of ML Sultan Technikon with their lecturer Graham Greer will produce a daily newspaper summing-up the day's events and providing forthcoming information. For more details of the Point Easter Festival contact Janice Duncan-Brown on (o) 262-6790 or (h) 28-2662. DECORATIVE ARTS The Decorative Arts Society holds monthly lectures in the Cecil Renaud Theatre on the Technikon Natal Berea campus in Mansfield Road at 12h00



The talks are usually repeated in the evening at 18h00 in the Royal Showgrounds in Pietermaritzburg



The next meeting of Decorative Arts will be held on March 19 when fine arts lecturer Eveline Eaton will discuss Bayeaux Tapestry. As a specimen of the craftsmanship of the 11th century, this art form is unique of its kind



The Pietermaritzburg talk this month, however, will be titled Auguste Rodin - the first modern sculptor? On March 21, there will be a study morning on the subject of Cezanne, also presented by Eveline Eaton. The date and venue has yet to be confirmed



Contact the Society on 700-4060



ORGAN RECITAL The City of Durban administration department holds regular free lunch-hour organ recitals in the City Hall. On March 12 at 13h00, organist John Harper will perform in a concert to celebrate the renovated City Hall organ



FABELLA FASHION The Frame Group, major cash sponsor for the 1996 National Quilt Festival, Seasons, to be held in the Durban City Hall from July 9 to 14 is offering a first prize of R1 000 in each category of their Fabella Fashion Show which is to take place at Clairwood Racecourse



Students, home-sewers and quilters are invited to submit an entry to reach Seasons, PO Box 412, Gillitts, 3603, not later than June 1



Entry forms to be submitted by April 1. Fees are R25 per garment



The categories are: Everyday Wearable; A Coat for all Seasons; and Wearable Art Fantasy



All entries must consist of a minimum of 30% Fabella Fabric and quilted, pieced or appliqued in any adult size



For more information phone Jilly Norris on Telefax: 764-6322