News for Creatives, Theatre Lovers, Music Lovers and so much more

News for Creatives

Storytelling for Change is a 4-week course that will help you better connect with your audience, whether in a meeting with one person or in a presentation to hundreds of people.  To make this course widely accessible, it is free!
 
By the end of this 4-module course, you will better be able to:
 

• Tell personal stories that help you to connect with others in order to inspire change,
• Use a set of specific storytelling skills to tell powerful stories, and
• Appreciate the importance of how you present yourself and connect with others (i.e. your “presence”) in leading change initiatives.

 
Course content will consist of readings, online videos and discussions/activities.  Each week, you will receive the materials for the upcoming lab.  The materials will consist of two things:
 

• Lab prep (1-2 hours): To be completed before your lab group meets, and
• Lab guide (typically 2 hours): To be completed together with the rest of your lab group when you meet.

 
Upon completing each lab, the lab group leader for the week will be asked to fill out a simple feedback form to share the group’s progress.
 
Each week you will also be encouraged to practice your new storytelling skills and make sure you are able to transfer your knowledge into action.  Remember the age-old saying: “Words are mere bubbles of water, deeds are drops of gold.”
 
There are no in-person teachers or facilitators for this course.  You will work through the course with a group called your “lab group”.  PANSA KZN is looking for interested people to form the lab groups (minimum of two people and a maximum of six).  The course dates are from May 11 – June 14 2013, once a week.  The groups will meet at the PANSA KZN offices each week and will be provided with the materials to complete the course.  If you are interested, please reply to kzn@pansa.org.za by Friday 3 May, 12:00, with your name and contact details (email address and cell phone number).  We will be scheduling one lab group on a Tuesday afternoon from 13:00 to 15:00, and one group on a Thursday morning from 10:00 to 12:00.  Please also let us know which group you would like to join.


Testimonials: “This was so applicable and tangible.  It is something I can start applying now, and keep practicing in different areas of my life.” “Great for crafting and developing storieskzn@ in a way that make them more persuasive and touching.”
Do not miss out on this enriching opportunity!
 
The learning partner:
In developing this course, Acumen is excited to partner with The Ariel Group.  The Ariel Group has trained Acumen’s Global Fellows in storytelling for the past five years.  Drawing on the same exercises performers use, the Ariel Group training builds critical skills in the areas of leadership development, communication skills, team building, change management, and coaching and development.  More information can be found at http://www.arielgroup.com.

(Source - Pansa)



(Source - HealthBox)


Music News - Luna Paige for St Clements

One of South Africas top female vocalists Luna Paige will play at St. Clements this Saturday 4 May at 7.30pm.

Tickets R60 at the door. Tel 031 2022511

 

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM THE SHOW?

Since 2003 Luna has released 3 original English albums and 1 exceptional live Afrikaans CD & DVD. All 4 of these albums received rave reviews and have been featured and/or play listed on national radio stations, TV programs, glossy magazines and print media. 

Check out Luna's website www.lunapaige.com for more info and reviews on her albums and shows. 

Luna will be performing a collection of songs from these albums. She recently started dabbling in blues and country and will prepare some brand new (never released) songs! Luna also decided to work on some special cover songs by artists that inspire her and that were recommended by her fans.

Her performances are bound to impress and leave you proud of SA music, aching for more. 

(Source - St Clements) 

Theatre News

The African Passion Returns to Durban 

Dates: Fri 26th April at 7pm, Sat 27th April at 2pm and 7pm and FINAL show on Sun 28th April at 2pm

​Tickets: R100 per person

Venue:  Durban Christian Centre, (Thunder Dome) Mayville, Durban

Booking 0861 915 8000 (Computicket) to book or click here to book online http://online.computicket.com/web/event/the_african_passion or you can pay at the door.For block bookings, contact Ailsa Windsor on 083 250 2690 or editor.goingplacessa@gmail.com.

Catalina UnLtd in Durban, funded by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund is bringing the nation an exciting brand-new, original gospel opera-musical – The African Passion – which returns to Durban after touring the county.

The libretto is written by Themi Venturas and the music is composed by Phelelani Mnomiya (celebrated and award-winning gospel choral composer) Anthony Govender (of Destiny Music) and the Young Mbazo (grandchildren of world-renown accapella group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo).

Under the direction of Themi Venturas the show features Bonginkhosi ‘Faca’ Kulu as Jesus, Natalia da Rocha as his mother Mary, Sharon Dee as Mary Magdalene, Grant Jacobs as Simon Peter, Dewaldt Von Solms as Pontius Pilate, Caitlin Kilburn as Pilate’s wife, Blessing Xaba as Caiaphas, Aubrey Lodewyk as Annas and a host of other superb singers featuring the isicathamiya group Young Mbazo.

The cast of 21 are supplemented in each centre throughout SA by a 60-strong local choir. The African Passion plays out against a spectacular audio-visual background using the latest in modern AV technology in costumes designed by Nompumelelo Mkhize. Choreography is by Daisy Spencer and vocal direction by Desireé Govender.

For further info contact Radwinn (Tour Manager) at 0742727055 or follow our Facebook page www.facebook.com/AfricanPassion

(Source - Catalina Theatre) 

Art News

Visual Artists Needed for Hilton Festival

The Witness Hilton Arts Festival, KZN’s foremost annual arts and theatre festival, scheduled to take place from 12 – 15 September this year, is inviting visual artists to apply to participate. The visual arts component of the festival is an integral part of the programming mix, with hundreds of KZN, national and international visual artists exhibiting at the festival.

“The festival organisers greatly value the participation of all artists, old and new.  We are delighted to be able to supply a platform for local and visiting talented artists and we are constantly looking at ways to add interest and diversity to what has become a major aspect of this event,” says Festival Director, Sue Clarence.

“Owing to the ever-growing number of applicants vs the amount of appropriate indoor space available, it is necessary for there to be a selection process. Emphasis will be placed on variety and improved quality,” says Clarence.

The festival is inviting interested artists to apply. Artists should  please email:  theatre@hiltoncollege.com and include a short (one sentence) description of their art form; approximate measurements / range of measurements, of their art work; a website address, if possible and one ortwo photos, as attachments. 

Closing date is 4pm Thursday 16 May. Those artists, old and new, who have already contacted the Hilton College Theatre/Festival office, office, expressing an interest in this year’s festival, do not need to re-submit details. Applicants will be notified whether or not they have been successful, by no later than 20 May 2013, and will receive details regarding allocated space, costs, set-up times and arrangements, and indemnity.  Artists sharing a room will be put in touch with each other to discuss strategy. 

(Source - Publicity Matters) 

Finally we leave you with this Parody Piece by Timothy Sparks 

An Interview with a celebrity who became a Poet.

Rex Bond (41) starred in thirteen films made in the typically modern manner. Counting plot, theme subject and underscore all significant handmaidens to his vaunting imagination Bond gave up his career of hamming and CGI for the rather more uncertain life of Poet. Why?

Why did you leave the world of movies to become a Bard?

: The costumes mainly. I was tired of playing opposite ladies who look frozen. Haddock?

That is interesting. When did you decide it was time to change?

When I watched Scorsese’s ‘Age of Innocence,’ and decided I could not compete with Daniel Day Lewis.

You always told me the death of 35mms also played a part?

:  Not true. The average attention span is 0.057 seconds. I was tired of moving pictures.

How did you start writing?

: I looked at a South African magazine called You, read the back copy of pages of insignificant celebrities; and decided I did not want to sound like a piece that landed in a salad.

What was your first poem then?

: A sonnet translated from mixing words from a You short story and pushing them against the Cubist corners of words, found in my writing class.

Do you find a purpose in this creative way?

: Not sure what you mean?

Do any modern actors inspire you?

: Is Gustav Mahler an actor? No seriously I appreciate the dialogue of Oasis, the English rock band. It takes genius to speak as they do.

Do you mean the accents?

: I mean the impromptu dialogue, the sincere pleasure of living, the disregard of conventions.

Would you go to University?

: I don’t believe there are still Universities in this era. A pub is cheaper in the long run.

Most informative. Where is the muse going?

: Home hopefully. I want to amaze myself, to be known as the Trafalgar I mean the Niagara of Poets.

Parting Shot.

: The Youth.

We hope you enjoyed that bit of Parody by Timothy Sparks.

He is a freelance writer based in Durban.

Email:  tphwsparks@hotmail.com