Zip Zap Circus brings you MOYA LIVE on stage at the Teatro @ Montecasino

Don’t stay alone in the dark at home, the Teatro at Montecasino is where the lights stay on.

Fresh from receiving standing ovations at the National Arts Festival, MOYA, the live show of the Zip Zap professional performing company, will travel to Johannesburg for a limited run at The Teatro at Montecasino from 4 to 7 August 2022 for 6 shows only, before the cast travels to Europe for a 3-month contract in France.

Don’t know what to expect, watch the MOYA trailer HERE

Prepare to be spellbound by this contemporary circus show, rooted in South African culture, and seen through the eyes of our youth. MOYA celebrates both unity and diversity, through its unique and artistic interpretation. The show highlights what Zip Zap Circus ultimately stands for: diversity, social cohesion, and empowerment through the circus arts.

 

It has been a long journey for the cast of MOYA. Even though the show was conceptualised in 2019 to tour internationally, plans were placed on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the concept was re-imagined as a movie. MOYA, the award-winning acrobatic art film, was released in 2021 to huge acclaim, and won several international awards. MOYA, the live show, was performed on stage for the first time in February 2022.

 

 

The cast shared their excitement about being able to perform to live audiences and being able to travel. They are all looking forward to enthralling audiences at The Teatro at Montecasino.

Ticket and show details for MOYA LIVE at the Teatro @ Montecasino

Exciting news is that Early Bird Specials have been introduced for MOYA show tickets as follows:

• Not so early bird (18-24 July 2022): 15% discount
• Sleeping Bird (25-31 July 2022): 10% discount
• From 1 August 2022: Regular Prices Apply

 

The show will run from Thursday 4^th to Sunday 7^th August 2022.

Bookings for the performances are now open and are available at Quicket, with ticket prices ranging from R190-R290. Depending on the time when you book the relevant discount will apply.

The show runs for 1h15 with no interval.

 

MOYA Live is proudly supported by the National Arts Council, the Department of Sports, Arts & Culture, the Embassy of Switzerland, Cav’ Platform a project of the Goethe-Institut, TotalEnergies Marketing South Africa, and the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).

 

Véronique Haller, Deputy Head of Mission, Embassy of Switzerland shared the following, “Not only are we supporting the arts through our association with Zip Zap Circus; we are also contributing to the creation of employment opportunities for the youth in South Africa,”

“We are excited to continue our support of Zip Zap Circus who continues to demonstrate the possibilities of experimental circus performance through an innovative approach to circus arts,” Sophie Boulé, Cultural Attaché and Deputy Director of the French Institute of South Africa (IFAS).

The Teatro at Montecasino Performance Dates:
Thursday, 4^th August               20h00
Friday, 5^th August                    20h00
Saturday, 6^th August               14h00 and 20h00
Sunday, 7^th August                 11h00 and 14h00

 

Scenes from MOYA. Photographs taken by Joan Ward

Are you ready for MOYA LIVE at the Teatro @ Montecasino? 

Spirited Mama

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The Annual Johannesburg International Comedy Festival returns with more laughs and good times: 9 Shows over 4 days, with more than 30 comedians 

It’s official! The much-anticipated Johannesburg International Comedy Festival (JICF) returns with another mouth-watering feast of comedy over four hilariously jam-packed days, promising to be one of the biggest celebrations of funny on the continent for 2020!

The largest independent international comedy festival in Africa, JICF, rolls out its fourth edition with over 30 local, continental and international comedians taking over The Mandela, Lesedi and Space.com Theatres at the Joburg Theatre precinct in Braamfontein, from Wednesday, 15 April to Saturday, 18 April 2020.

Audiences looking forward to great comedy from the best comedians that Africa and the globe have to offer or just wanting to experience a fun night out on the town are in for a massive treat this year.

Once again, South Africa will be strongly represented by some of its funniest men and women proudly flying the flag up high at this year’s edition. The Mzansi contingent for the 2020 instalment includes Jason Goliath, Celeste Ntuli, Mpho Popps, Kagiso Lediga, Joey Rasdien, Conrad Koch and Chester Missing, Tats Nkonzo, Rob van Vuuren, Robby Collins, Mojak Lehoko, Yaaseen Barnes, Thabiso Mhlongo, Lindy Johnson, Ebenaezer Dibakwane amongst others to be confirmed in due course.

Continental acts confirmed thus far are African giants Salvado (Uganda) and Alfred Kainga (Zimbabwe) who are set to impress Johannesburg audiences with their unique Afrocentric style of comedy.

Over the next few weeks, more shows and international comedy talents will be added to the festival line-up with every indication of another bumper comedy extravaganza in store.

“I am excited to reveal that the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival is back with a bang this year. We are thrilled to bring over 30 of the most exciting acts in SA, the continent and the globe to Johannesburg for a few days of exceptional comedy and memorable fun. We are looking to build on the successes of the previous editions and provide our audiences with another novel and unforgettable comedy experience,” says Takunda Bimha, Founder and Director for JICF.

“We are excited to collaborate with this year’s edition of the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival. Our role is to amplify a great offering the festival has to offer to millions of South Africans. Through this partnership,SABC 2 will be broadcasting the Johannesburg International Comedy festival stand up offering comprising of the best from the previous editions  which will take place every Saturday, over four weeks starting from the 11^th of April 2020. Through this partnership, premium comedy content will now be accessible to a wider audience, elevating the JICF to new heights.  SABC 2 is now a channel where JICF belongs.” – Dichaba Phalatse, SABC TV Network Marketing Manager.

JICF proudly brought to you by SABC2 in partnership with Department of Arts & Culture and Savanna.

The current line-up of festival shows to look forward to are:

• THIS IS SATAFRIKA

Wednesday, 15^th April 2020
Mandela Theatre

19:30pm

R250

Proudly brought to you by Kagiso Lediga, the grand opening show of the Festival will feature comedians, celebrities, pastors and other interesting Mzansi personalities. This show will be a comedy extravaganza of epic proportions and a hilarious take on all the funny goings on in South Africa today.

• TRIGGERED

Thursday, 16^th April 2020
Lesedi Theatre
19:30pm

R200

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hosted by Joey Rasdien featuring Lindy Johnson and international comedians (to be announced soon), these hilarious comedians have got some things to get off their chests. Expect them to bring the heat to the stage! Do not bring your mother-in-law along to this show….or maybe do!

 

• TRENDING COMICS

Friday, 17^th April 2020
Lesedi Theatre
19:30pm

R200

Hosted by Mpho Popps featuring Ebenaezer Dibakwane and a variety of  international comedians. These comedians are tearing it up on the streets right now! Don’t miss this show as you are guaranteed laughs for days and a damn good night out!

 

• STAND UP AFRICA

Saturday, 18^th April 2020
Lesedi Theatre

18:00pm

R200

Hosted by Tats Nkonzo featuring Thabiso Mhlongo, Salvado (Uganda), Alfred Kainga (Zimbabwe) as well as a number of continental comedians. Dubbed as a festival favourite, we bring you yet another mouth-watering line up showcasing some of the continent’s finest comedians. Loudly and proudly African we Stan!

 

• JICF ALL STARS

Saturday, 18^th April 2020
Mandela Theatre

20:00pm

R250

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hosted by Jason Goliath featuring Celeste Ntuli, Rob van Vuuren, Yaaseen Barnes and various international comedians to be announced soon. JICF All Stars is a specially curated line-up of the finest local and international headlining comedians that will be a fitting climax to this year’s festival. Fans can expect this to be a comedy show of the year contender!

 

• ONE NIGHT STANDS – Get up-close-and-personal with some of your favourite Mzansi comedians and their shows at this year’s festival: with more to be announced, the following have already been confirmed

Mojak Lehoko: presents Mojak & Friends

Space.Com Theatre

Saturday 18 April 2020 at 15.00pm

Chester Missing & Conrad Koch: How To End Racism

Lesedi Theatre

Saturday 18 April 2020 at 16:00pm

 

Robby Collins: Iyeza

Space.Com Theatre
Saturday 18 April 2020 at 16:30pm

The age restriction for all comedy shows is 16 years old.

“Our programming strategy for the past three festivals has proven to be a winning formula that’s landed well with our audiences. We are aiming for more of the same, if not even better this year. Particularly, I’m very proud of the local contingent that’s on our bill which combines some of the biggest names in South African comedy with the hottest comedy talent that’s coming out of the local scene today. With the array of world class continental and international talent that we will be announcing soon, this promises to be a truly vintage year for the Festival,” Bimha concludes.

The Johannesburg International Comedy Festival takes place at the Joburg Theatre, from Wednesday, 15 April to Saturday, 18 April 2020. For more information on the various show times, line-ups and comedians, visit www.jicf.co.za or www.webtickets.co.za . Tickets range from R150 to R250 and are now also available at www.joburgtheatre.com or by calling 0861 670 670.

With a variety to choose from, which comedian(s) are you most excited to see?

Spirited Mama

x

P.S. Remember the saying, “Laughter is the best medicine”… In a world of busyness, we can all do with some good old laughter!

ABOUT JOHANNESBURG INTERNATIONAL COMEDY SHOW

Established in 2015, the Johannesburg International Comedy Festival has become one of the biggest celebrations of stand-up comedy on the continent. It showcases the very best in local and international comedy talent performing to thousands of fans in multiple shows across the different venues at the world-class Joburg Theatre. The festival continues to have a strong working partnership with one of the biggest properties in Europe, the Montreux Comedy Festival in Switzerland which turns 31 this year!

 #JICF #FunnyAF

Paul Slabolepszy’s Suddenly The Storm returns for an explosive season at Montecasino

 Suddenly the Storm, Paul Slabolepszy’s highly acclaimed award-winning play, returns for a limited three-week season at The Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino from 12^th – 29^th March.

Launched initially to coincide with the 40^th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, Suddenly The Storm had its World Premiere at the Barney Simon at Jozi’s’s Market Theatre on the 7^th June 2016. A season at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town as well as Durban’s Playhouse followed, where the play continued running to capacity audiences and nightly standing ovations.

The play walked away with three Naledi Awards; Best New South African Script (Paul Slabolepszy), Best Theatre Set Design (Greg, King) and Best Lighting Design (Wesley France) as well as a Fleur Du Cap Award in Cape Town for Greg King’s Set Design.

Suddenly The Storm has been described as one of the most powerful South African plays since the birth of Democracy.

Set in contemporary South Africa, the play poses the question of whether the wounds of the past can ever really be healed.

Suddenly The Storm, a South African play

Suddenly The Storm features Renate Stuurman (as Namhla), Charmaine Weir-Smith (as Shanell) and Paul Slabolepszy (as Dwayne). Bobby Heaney directs.

The nail-biting story takes place in Johannesburg’s East Rand at the home of an ageing former policeman Dwayne Combrink and his much younger wife Shanell.

Combative, volatile, constantly on the verge of exploding, Dwayne and Shanell Combrink are two halves of a white South African working-class couple, living an uneasy truce as they struggle with the day-to-day trials of scraping together a living and dreaming competing dreams.

Beneath Dwayne’s angry, violent exterior lies the heartbreak that governs his attitude to life. Dwayne is a man in mourning. Shanell believes his current level of despair was sparked by the death of his childhood friend and recent work partner, Jonas, but the source of his mourning and anger lies much further back.

When the elegant and self-contained Namhla Gumede, born on 16 June 1976, arrives on their doorstep seeking answers to questions that have remained buried for 40 years, Dwayne and Shanell finally discover the truth.

What begins as a smouldering dark comedy, suddenly turns into a roller-coaster ride of startling revelations, of rage and recrimination, before the storm finally breaks.

This is theatre that throws up a whirlwind of mixed emotions – greed, love, loss and healing – touching on distinctly South African topics that make this country so rich and rewarding for those who can brave its storms.

The experience and proven track record of both Slabolepszy and Heaney coming together once again creates the perfect storm of talent – powerful acting, inspired writing and incisive direction – promising to make this production a truly memorable event.

Slabolepszy has never flinched from facing the harder truths. He uses the tool of story-telling to excavate underlying seams of racism, self-hatred, insecurity.

Says Director, Bobby Heaney; “Paul has the ability of making people laugh but then feel sick to the stomach when all is laid bare, yet it’s filled with hope, something we all need in these uncertain times.”

He continues;  “It’s a terribly moving play and the message of optimism comes at a time when we are all foundering. While it’s a very real play, so utterly real, it’s highly entertaining.”

Slabolepszy adds; “There are so many stories in South Africa, yet to be told. Suddenly The Storm is a story, a play, that springs from the heartland and it will always be relevant because it explores issues that are seldom visited beyond the walls of that sacred space which is The Theatre. Warm and uplifting, the play doesn’t shy away from the hurts and injustices of the past and looks at what we are as a nation; where we have come from and where we could go when love and compassion become the values that guide us”.

Paul Slabolepszy needs no introduction; award-winning actor, playwright, screenwriter and director, he’s done it all over an illustrious career spanning 50 years.

He has written more than thirty-five plays as well as radio, television and film scripts.

His many plays include Saturday Night at the Palace; Mooi Street Moves, Boo to the Moon, Making like America, Smallholding, Braait Laaities, Pale Natives, My Low-Fat Almost Italian Wedding, the multi-award-winning The Return of Elvis du Pisanie and Heel Against the Head (with the inimitable Bill Flynn as Tjokkie)

Says Jaco van Rensburg, Executive Producer of VR Theatrical; “What a privilege to be working with industry giants such as Paul Slab and Bobby Heaney.  Reviving this award-winning play is a dream come true for young theatre makers such as Wessel and I.  Presenting new work is hard in South Africa, but we deem this important in a growing industry such as ours.  We can’t wait to share this powerful play with Joburg audiences!”

Suddenly The Storm runs at The Pieter Toerien Theatre at Montecasino from Thursday 12^th March – Sunday 29^th March.

Performances are Tuesdays – Fridays at 20h00, Saturdays at 16h00 & 20h00 and Sundays at 15h00.

Ticket Prices range from R100 – R240 and Bookings can be made through Computicket .

SCHOOL PERFORMANCES

Suddenly The Storm is part of the 2020 School Curriculum, and the play is being mounted with this in mind.

Schools making block bookings of 10 or more, qualify for great group discounts and can arrange for an after-show Q & A with the cast, answering questions about the play as well as explaining the nuts-and-bolts of how a play is written.

Should your school wish to be a part of this exciting opportunity, contact Geraldine at Geraldine@montetheatre.co.za for more information on the great school rates and discounts.

Suddenly the Storm is published by Wits University Press and is available at Exclusive Books and other bookstores.

SPECIAL Q & A PERFORMANCES OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

On Saturday 21^st and 28^th March after the 16h00 performances, Paul and the cast will remain on stage for an audience Q&A / Talk-Back session to answer any and all questions the audience members might have about the play, the industry and the like.

The wealth of knowledge and experience by these renowned performers will be an unforgettable experience, so book soon to avoid disappointment. These two shows are set to be quick sell-outs!

Have you seen Suddenly The Storm?

Spirited Mama

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