Musho! the Performing Arts Network of South Africa’s (PANSA) tenth annual celebration of one and two person theatre will be held early in the new year, from 14 to 19 January at the Catalina Theatre in Wilson’s Wharf in Durban.
Photo: Sibo Masondo
The festival – applauding the first decade of Musho! – will have a slightly different format this year, with the favourites from the past ten years being invited to take to the Musho! stage in a celebratory affirmation of the craft of one and two-hander theatre.
PANSA jumps into the new year with vigour by staging a busy festival of 14 productions which showcase smaller theatrical works, all featuring either one or two actors. Each production is staged for one performance only in a packed programme from Wednesday 14 until Sunday 18 January, ending with a master-class for theatre practitioners on Monday morning 19 January.
“We are delighted that Musho! has made it to ten years! It’s great when something in Durban ‘sticks’ – and the support we have had over the past 10 years from both actors and audiences has been fantastic. We are also very excited to have old friends back at the festival this year. Inviting back past winners is our way of acknowledging the success that they had both at Musho! and further afield,” says festival director Emma Durden.
“It feels like a ‘favourite favourite’ selection this year – and we look forward to bumper audiences and a hotly contested ‘audience favourite’ vote with the line-up. We have lots of familiar Durban faces, with Gcina Mhlophe (who opens the festival), Ewok, Mary Steward and Marc Kay all bringing new works to the festival, as well as some of the young up-and-coming artists on the Durban scene, like Wiseman Mncube and the South-Coast based Emuhle Artists.
“There is a bit of something for everyone at the festival: comedy, drama, spoken word, story-telling… and a great version of The Enormous Turnip with Bryan Hiles and Daisy Spencer for kids.”
Embedded in the festival is two sessions of Musho! with a Twist – showcasing work which has been created through the Twist Development initiative which is sponsored by the NLDTF (National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund) which will take place on Saturday and Sunday afternoons presented as two compact double bills.
There is a Monday morning theatre practitioner’s masterclass, which focuses on creating theatre for young people and working with schools. Talented young deaf performer Sibo Masondo performs an extract from Eenie Meanie Greenie GROW! – an eco comedy devised and directed by veteran theatre maker Gisele Turner.
Gisele will talk about creating work for young people and Yvette Hardie from Assitej South Africa will provide input on working with schools and with the Department of Basic Education. Entry is free but booking is essential. Bookings can be made by phoning 031 2014 750.
All shows are R50 per ticket, with concession tickets going for R30. There are all-day Saturday and Sunday tickets for R100. Tickets for Musho! with a Twist and Saturday and Sunday 4pm shows are on a Pay What You Can donation basis.
Bookings can be done through Computicket by phoning 0861 915 8000 or visiting www.computicket.com.
For theatre practitioners to secure their places at the Master-Class on Monday at 10am until noon, please contact kzn@pansa.org.za or phone 031 2014 750.
For more information visit www.mushofestival.co.za or email kzn@pansa.org.za or alternatively call the Catalina theatre on 031 837 5999.