NEWS
EDUCATORS' VISIT
Last month 18 American educators visited Durban during their study visit of South Africa under the
auspices of the Fulbright-Hays Seminar Abroad Program, sponsored by the United States Department of Education.
The programme is titled Understanding the new South Africa: A Major Power in
Transition and the group was introduced to all the issues that make up South Africa today, with a strong
emphasis on language and cultural differences.
During their Durban visit, they were hosted by Durban Arts chairman, Mi Hhlatshwayo, and their
hectic schedule included visits to the Umnini Craft Centre, tickets to Umabatha and a braaivleis in
Umlazi.
RESPONSE
The common response from the Americans was the cosmopolitan and vibrant nature of Durban.
"This visit gave a new impetus to our cultural exchange programme," says Mi Hlatshwayo. "My
belief is that, as Durban Arts, we have now `arrived' as far as the restructuring is concerned. The challenge now
before Durban Arts is, like any other new structures, what do we deliver and who do we deliver to? Or what
constitutes our new South African society at large?
"The cultural exchange programme which is now being discussed and organised between Durban Arts
and the Fulbright-Hays participants will surely help us," adds Mi who envisages an
exchange of skills in culture tourism.
"We are exposing our own brand of new cultural lives to the international
community so whatever we gain from this Fulbright-Hays program will not just be a `once-off
experience' but a benefit that we will continue to gain. I am hoping that Durban Arts supporters can look forward
in confidence that we will host many of these cultural programmes and thus make a contribution to the economy of
our country."
THE LIMELIGHT
Lovers of supper theatre see a welcome new venue in Umhlanga Rocks when Themi Venturas
launches The Limelight at the old Umhlanga Country Club opposite the Cabana Beach Hotel.
A shortened version of his successful show West End Web, which played the
Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre recently and highlights top numbers from West End musicals, opens in the first week of
September to run for three months.
The cast is smaller but popular Vanessa Skaer is still in the show as are Collin Nhlumayo and the
Denise Britz dancers.
"The Limelight will not be run as a restaurant but as a true supper stage," says Themi. "People will
remember the days of the Bistro at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre where we had food that was cheap but good and
wholesome and it was thematically linked to the show."
STAYING ALIVE
Not content with one new venture, Themi has another show on the go - this time at the old Norwegian
Club, 214 St Thomas Road. Staying Alive is, as Themi wryly says: "Positively the very last and
final version of `Good Vibrations'!"
Staying Alive
opens the first week of November to run over the festive season.
Booking for The Limelight shows will be through Computicket or phone 21-9242.
IN MEMORIAM
During her life diminutive but redoub-table Rose Alper Magid made a great contribution to music,
and particularly opera, in Durban and her recent death at the age of 93 sees the passing of a gracious supporter of
the arts.
A lyrical soprano, Rose Alper was born in Cape Town and studied at the Royal Academy of Music
in London. She had an illustrious career in England as principal soloist of the Carl Rosa Company and was later to
be made an associate of the Company but her inter-national singing career was cut short with the outbreak of the
second world war when she returned to her family in South Africa.
During the 40s, local audiences had the pleasure of hearing her in operas produced by John Connel
in collabora-tion with African Consolidated Theatres and the National Opera Company.
ACTIVE
After retiring from stage Rose Alper took an active role in furthering the interest of opera, serving
on several committees such as the Nederburg opera prize awards. She was a life patron of Napac Opera and granted
the Rose Alper award for the most promising young singer at Napac.
"Rose was a truly remarkable woman, whose international career was only ended because of World
War II," says Robert Cross, past head of Napac. "She enriched the cultural life of Natal for many years in so many
ways - and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her."
NSA NEWS
An exhibition titled Borderlines by Lola Frost is running in the main NSA Gallery
and in the Mezzanine Gallery there's an exhibition by Madeleine Sclater. Both South African artists now living
abroad, they take their inspiration from their new environments