DRAMA

VINTAGE FUGARD



Jerry Pooe directs Athol Fugard's Nongogo currently running in the Play-house Sanlam Loft until October 13. [nongogo pic]

Starring Dieketseng Mnisi, Bheki Mkhwane, Letsoso Seutloali, Mzwandile Kamang and Nathi Kunene - all seen in recent productions at the Playhouse - feature in this story of Queenie (played by Mnisi), a former nongogo (prostitute) soliciting among the lines of gold mine workers queuing for their pay.

Jerry Pooe is a highly promising director and Nongogo is his biggest challenge to date. Sets are designed by Rod Smith.

SING FOR FATHERLAND



A setwork for matric higher grade and standard grade speech and drama students, We Shall Sing for the Fatherland by Zakes Mda, is being presented in the Square Space Theatre by the University of Natal's department of speech and drama until October 4.

Beki Nkala, the director, feels the play is highly relevant to the "new South Africa" as it deals with a post-revolutionary situation after indepen-dence in an unidentified country.

ENVIRONMENT FESTIVAL



Performance groups get together to present environmentally-friendly theatre performed by Johannes Cele and Group, Macbeth and Co, St Monica's, Shaun Grey and Theatricks, Take Five, Bheki Mbili and the Chosen Few. Performances are in the BAT Hall from October 18 to 20 at 14h00 and 19h30.



WERTENBAKER PLAY



Lynn Chemaly directs The Love of the Nightingale, by the acclaimed British female playwright Timberlake Werten-baker, for the department of drama studies of the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg. A project for honours acting students, it runs in the Hexagon Theatre from October 8 to 12 at 19h00.

First performed by the Royal Shakes-peare Company in 1988, it is rated a remarkable piece of theatre combining elements from Greek mythology and the history of drama of classical Greece.

"Wertenbaker brings into the play two ancient Greek myths which weave to-gether to tell a tale", says Lynn Chemaly. "She filters into this a male and female chorus who bring the audience back to their present day context and show how the stories might be insightful to us now.

"Timberlake Wertenbaker is a master of her art," Lynn adds. "With her unique style she has created a new language for the theatre which is intriguing and yet demands the attention, insight and imagination of her audience."

Napac presented The Love of a Nightin-gale in the Playhouse Loft a few years ago directed by Dr Mervyn McMurtry.

CRYSTAL AWARD



The 1996 Edinburgh Crystal Award, presented to the woman who has made the most outstanding contribution to the artistic life of the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, was given to Jana Cilliers for her superb performance in Master Class.



GOVENDER'S 1949



The Playhouse Company, in association with Shah Theatre Academy, presents Charles Pillai in Ronnie Govender's latest play, 1949: The Spirit of Cato Manor, in the Playhouse Studio Theatre until October 20.

Following seasons at the Grahamstown and Hilton Festivals and now at the Playhouse, requests to see this one-man play have come from India and Australia. The playwright's earlier one-man play, At the Edge was seen at the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Toronto Festivals as well as, nearer home, the Grahamstown Festival.

Ronnie Govender is director of the Playhouse and Charles runs a busy law practice while completing post-graduate studies in law.

1949

is a moving and fitting tribute to the indomitable spirit of Cato Manor and Charles Pillai puts in a very fine perfor-mance that is poignant and humorous.

FESTIVE PUPPET SHOW



The Playhouse Puppet Company presents Jack and the Beanstalk in the Play-house Sanlam Loft from November 23 to December 31.

Puppet master Greg King, who also plays the ferocious giant, has designed the puppets and sets. Peter Court, director of the company's recent produc-tion of Rainbow has constructed the puppets and Anthony Stonier again composes the soundtrack.

THEATRE CATS



If you want to introduce your child to the theatre at an early age (the best time!), the Playhouse Theatre Cats is for ages between six and 12 years. The next mee-ting is on October 26 in the Playhouse Alhambra Room from 10h30 and 13h00.