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Tuesday, March 19, 2013

News that will interest Coffee Lovers, Cyclists, Artists, Photographers, Walkers and more







#CommutingFriday: R10 cafés for cyclists
We've been rewarding those who use pedal power to get around at selected stores in support of #CommutingFriday - an initiative that promotes non-motorized transport. We're now rolling it out to more stores. Here's the deal: R10 for any solo café for cyclists on Friday mornings (7am to 9am) at Kloof Street and Prestwich Street in Cape Town; Parktown North and Greenside in Jozi; Florida Road, Lighthouse Mall, St Lucia, The Square, Westville Mall and SMG Rocks Umhlanga in KZN; and Stellenbosch. All you have to do is show us your helmet.


(Source - vida e caffe)

Coming Soon the Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk

A record number of walkers,23 804, entered last year's Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk.jpg
23 804 people entered last year's Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk.


‘Tag along’ to a real social network.

You wouldn’t dream of walking through one of the most scenic parts of KwaZulu-Natal without anyone to share it with, would you? This year’s Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk, on Sunday 26 May, is calling on you to get others to ‘Tag Along’ with you for the energetic day out. The highlight on the province’s events calendar brings together families and friends along Durban’s beachfront.

The Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk will again offer walkers the choice of four distances - 5km, 10km, 15km or 20km. All routes start on the promenade near uShaka Marine World and will finish at People’s Park at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Since it started in 2004 the event has grown to become the East Coast’s favourite way to catch up with each other while being active. Last year a record number of walkers, more than 23 000, tagged along.

Participating in the walk is something you’ll want to share, so get your nearest and dearest to ‘tag along’ and then tag it on Facebook and Twitter. Entries open on 2 April 2013. You can enter at Totalsports stores across KwaZulu-Natal or online at www.ecr.co.za. Listen out to East Coast Radio and watch press for more details.


(Source - Discovery East Coast Radio Big Walk)


Catalina Theatre - Call for Proposals for 2014

Catalina UnLtd is calling for proposals for productions to be staged at the Catalina Theatre, Wilson’s Wharf, Durban for 2014.

The productions may be full theatre productions, children’s shows, music performances, dance, comedy, and the like. The aim is to get an interesting, innovative and eclectic mix while still focussing on good, solid mainstream theatre.

Please send a brief proposal consisting of:
·         Name and contact details
·         Type of show (e.g. music performance)
·         Synopsis or basic story line of the show
·         Number of cast members/performers
·         Brief director & actor/performer bios
·         Who would the show appeal to

Please email catalinasagm@gmail.com for more information or to submit your proposal.

Make 2014 your year to get on stage.


Sophiatown: at the Catalina Theatre


14 -27 March 2013
Weekday performances at 11am, Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm.
Cost: R50 learners and teachers; R80 general public.

Call/sms/whatsapp: 031 201 4738 / 072 795 5965


The Catalina Unlimited presents the South African classic and Drama set work, “Sophiatown”.  Based on the final days of this vibrant and mixed community, this tragi-comedy with strong musical elements tells the story of Kofifi, Softown, Sophiatown… through a group of residents who call number 65 Gerty Street, home. 

Set within the historical context of South Africa 1955, when the National Party was swiftly, legally entrenching the Apartheid practice of separate development, with the Native Resettlement Act.  The play deals with the destruction of one of many suburbs that were seen as a threat to these policies.  Sophiatown, a freehold suburb, just outside of Johannesburg, was a thriving living space with a mixed population of blacks, so-called coloureds, Indians and Chinese.  White intellectuals, students and bohemians were drawn to the lifestyle – the fast life, the danger, the jazz and the style.  On the 9th of February 1955, 3 days early, the G-men (police) moved in with their trucks and moved the residents out, destroying their homes to ensure that they could not stay and giving them little time to carry out the planned protests and boycotts.  All were resettled in various “townships” during the 8 years it took the government to totally demolish the area and resurrect it as a whites only suburb, ironically called Triomf (Triumph).

The spirit of freedom, creativity and intellectual pursuit are evidenced in the South African luminaries who called this place home: Miriam Makeba, Dollar Brand, Don Mattera, Hugh Masekela, Spokes Mashiyane, Can Themba, Henry Nxumalo, Nat Nakasa, Father Trevor Huddleston, Dolly Rathebe, the Manhattan Brothers and so many more.  Home of Drum Magazine, Back of the Moon, Freedoms Square and Tsotsitaal! 

Jakes (Mr. Drum), a young journalist and member of the emerging black intellectual set, always after the sensational “story”, sums up the mood of this special place and the attraction it had for South Africans at the time, “Tap in the yard, toilet in the corner – but it was grand because it was Softown. Freehold! It was ours!”  Mingus the “American” who only goes for the best, a ruthless gangster who wants a moonlight ride.  Charlie, his trusty and faithful right hand man, he don’t say much, but he sure loves shoes.  Princess – the “princess of the slum” and gangster’s moll, she dreams of having a choice. Ruth, the adventurous Jewish girl from Yeoville, who answered the advert and seems so simple in her wants and needs…yet learns the Fahfee runners code for what purpose?  Mr Fahfee, “What’s the number today?”  - the bush telegraph, connected to Congress and with a special interest in Ruth.  Lulu the school girl, Dolly Rathebe is her idol and she doesn’t want fiction, she wants the truth!  And finally Mamariti, owner of 65 Gerty Street and Mamariti’s Diamond Shebeen, landlady and general entrepreneur – Sophiatown is her home, she’d rather die, than leave.

So majietas en matarras, magrizins and moemieshes, kom check on daar by die Catalina Theatre at Wilson’s Wharf, vannie 14 – 27 March. Weekday performances at 11am, Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 2pm. Cost: R50 learners and teachers; R80 general public.

Directed by Chantal Snyman (Frank; The Credit Crunch Christmas), with musical direction by Mandla “Buthi” Manzi and featuring: Thobani Mbhele (Jakes); Scelo Ngcobo (Mingus); Mandla Manzi (Charlie); Bongani Mbatha (Fahfee); Sam Hlope (Lulu); Bongiwe “Makhulu” Hlope (Mamariti), Nompumelelo “Mpumy” Ndlovu (Princess) and Lauren Jood (Ruth).



Catalina UnLtd’s LISTEN WITH YOUR EYES is going international!
       
Local Deaf Play invited to perform in France
First ever South African Deaf Play to perform in Europe
Catalina UnLtd proudly announces that Catalina’s Deaf production  ‘Listen with Your Eyes’ a comedy play, created and performed by Bo Tasker, Darren Rajbal and Ismael Mansoor  and directed by Alison Swannack, is going international.
 ‘Listen with your Eyes’  that took Catalina’s  Talking Hands, the first ever Deaf theatre Festival delivered in  South Africa, by storm last year, has been selected for Festival Clin d’Oeil (European Deaf Theatre Festival) in Reims, France.  The cast will be exposed to the world as this Deaf  Cultural Festival celebrates its 10th year in 2013.
The play “Listen with your Eyes” is the Deaf only comedy based in a science lab. The hearing scientist and his Deaf assistant find communication a big challenge and they set about designing a robot to interpret for them. While designing the robot the hearing scientist learns a lot about Deaf people’s communication needs but not without loads of humour!
Festival Clin d’Oeil was created in 2003 (European Year of Disabled Person) and this year will run from 5th to 7th July.  This multidisciplinary arts festival is aimed at highlighting the richness of the Deaf community. This unique festival has become a reference and an essential event to the global Deaf community as it opens  a space for artistic expression and communication which is accessible to both Deaf and Hearing people. In addition to the performance of ‘Listen with your Eyes’, the festival has also requested the performance of  Rainbow Magic’ for the street theatre aspect of the Festival, as well as two workshops for children.
This is the first time ever for the Deaf led and exclusive South African cast and director to perform on the international stage, which makes history for Catalina UnLtd and South Africa! 
The Artistic Director of Catalina UnLtd, Mr Themi Venturas, says, “We have embraced the Deaf community and deaf artists at Catalina, and it is gratifying to see this international recognition for their efforts.  The play is sure to be well received in France, and we are currently looking for funding and sponsors for our talented cast and director.”
The festival is paying 50% of the airfares for 4 people, Ismael Mansoor, Darren Rajbal, Bo Tasker and Alison Swannack and providing a small fee for the performances. “All we need to showcase South African Deaf theatre talent in Europe is to look for funding and sponsors.  A reasonable amount for these amazing South Africans to showcase their work on behalf of the city, the Province and the country ”notes Mr Venturas.  Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
A number of schools have requested to see the performance and if your school or organisation is interested in booking a performance, or for further information or to make a contribution please email Alison Swannack at listenwye@gmail.com or Francis Doherty-Bigara of Catalina Unltd at 031 201 4738/ 0727955965.You can also visit http://listenwye.wix.com/about or www.catalinatheatre.co.za

For more information on Festival d”Oeil  visit website www.clin-doeil.eu/2013

(Source - Catalina Theatre) 



Please RSVP 

(Source - imbizo Gallery) 

Sony Photography Get Together

(Source - Sony Gateway) 



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