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Friday, September 29, 2017

Top budget-friendly things to do in Cape Town


When living in Cape Town, you know that the best way to spend your time is not inside your home, watching old movies or cat videos, but outside and enjoying what the city has to offer instead! With summer right around the corner, why not take advantage of some of these great deals that are really enjoyable and budget-friendly too!
Here are some of our favourites:

·         Free city walking tour (free)

There are free tours around the city conducted daily with a friendly guide to teach you all about this beautiful city! Choose between the BoKaap, City Centre or District Six tours for a wonderful walk around Cape Town.




·         Iziko Museums (Range between free and R40)
Whether you fancy seeing some dinosaur bones and listening to the native sounds of blue whales, or being amazed by the local art that can be found in in the city, make sure to check out the various Iziko Museums around the city.




·         Tidal pools along the coast (free)
The tidal pools of Cape Town rival no other, and are as beautiful as they are fun to swim in! There are 14 around the city’s coast, and you’ll enjoy the scenery from the Indian or Atlantic oceans.



·         Summer concerts at De Waal Park (free)
Pack a picnic basket, grab your friends and head over to the free park concerts that happen in De Vaal Park to see some great local acts. Concerts take place every fortnight Sunday from December through till March annually.




·         Fish and Chips in Kalk Bay (R55 for hake and chips – A classic!)
Enjoy an authentic Cape Townian experience as you dig into some fish and chips along the Kalk Bay harbour. A favourite hangout, Kalky’s, has been bringing in the crowds for the longest time ever!


For more great ideas on how to enjoy Cape Town for under R60, have a look at these great ideas from Travelstart













Friday, September 22, 2017

Win Tickets To Essence Festival Music Concerts


Essence Festival Durban 2017 is almost upon us and they have lined up some wonderful music concerts during the festival this year.



Essence Festival Durban will bring together international performers and speakers to entertain and inspire, as well as a host of local artists and experts. The event is comprised of nightly music concerts and a daily Empowerment Experience, offering workshops and seminars across various sectors, including development of women and youth in business.

The Festival is on from 26 September – 1 October 2017 in Durban, South Africa at the ICC.

The good folks at Essence have given us double tickets for the shows to give to you.

Venue: Durban ICC Arena International Convention Centre ICC
Dates: Saturday 30 Sept 2017 Durban
Essence All-Star Music Concert featuring Jill Scott, Mi Casa, Nasty C and many more.

Answer this question and you could just win double tickets to the All-Star Music Concert:

This artist was introduced to the world by hip-hop mega-group “The Roots”; starred in the hit TV series "The number 1 ladies detective agency" shot in Botswana, and she will be headlining the Essence Festival All Star concert on the 30th of September at the Durban ICC. Tell us who she is and stand a chance to win a double ticket to this incredible show.  Tickets are available at Computicket

Send your answer, name, email and contact details to umhlangalife@gmail.com

Venue: Durban ICC Arena International Convention Centre ICC
Sunday, 1 Oct 2017 Bishop TD Jakes and Joyous Celebration headline Essence All-Star Gospel Concert



Answer this question and you could just win double tickets to the All-Star Gospel Concert:

Can you guess who these artists are:  one is a world renowned Bishop, the other are a popular Gospel Choir from SA. Together they collaborated to record a classic DVD live in the US last year and will be performing together again on the 1st of October at the Essence Festival, at the Durban ICC. Get the 2 names right of and stand a chance to win a double ticket to the Essence Gospel show on Sunday. Tickets are available at Computicket

Send your answer, name, email and contact details to umhlangalife@gmail.com

Ts and Cs Apply – Competition can close at any time.

For more info about the festival and concerts visit: www.essence.com/durban

Find them on Twitter @essencefest and @dbnexperience   |   Facebook – Durban Experience

#EssenceFestDBN    |   #EssenceFestDBN17



This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton 

Thursday, September 7, 2017

Win Tickets To The Dance Show Footloose


Directed for the first time by Daisy Spencer, the 17th annual Young Performers Production for this year is a reprise of Footloose which comes to the UKZN Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 8 – 17 September 2017.



Footloose tells the story of a tenacious and rebellious city teenager, Ren (played by Joshua Milne), who moves to a small town where rock music and dancing have been banned by the conservative Rev Shaw Moore (played by Arnie Field) and his wife (Sarah Heron) and the town council. Ren leads the young people of the town, including Rev Moore’s rebellious daughter Ariel (Leah Mari), in a protest against the town’s banning of the annual dance.

The stage adaptation of Footloose is by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie based on the original screenplay by Dean Pitchford with music by Tom Snow and lyrics by Dean Pitchford and additional music by Eric Carmen, Sammy Hagar, Kenny Logins and Jim Steinman.

Footloose has had two incarnations as a feature film: in 1984 a youthful Kevin Bacon was Ren playing against John Lithgow’s Rev Shaw Moore. Also in the cast were Lori Singer, Sarah Jessica Parker and Diane Wiest. The film was remade in 2011 and featured Kenny Wormald as Ren and Dennis Quaid as the Reverend. Also in the remake were Julianne Hough and Andie MacDowell. 

Footloose, the Musical was adapted for the stage from the film, and premiered in 1998 and became a Broadway and West End hit. It has been staged successfully globally since then. Footloose boasts some now-iconic musical numbers:  the theme song, Footloose,  which became a hit for Kenny Loggins; Holding out for a Hero, which was recorded by Welsh singer Bonnie Tyler for the first film; and Let’s Hear it for the Boy which became a number one song for singer Denise Williams. Other songs from the musical include On Any Sunday; The Girl Gets Around, Somebody’s Eyes, Heaven Help me and Learning to be Silent.

The 2017 Young Performers Project sees Daisy Spencer as both the director and choreographer working together with co-choreographer Jarryd Watson and Des Govender as vocal coach, Dawn Selby is MD, with live music from The Reals. Production supervisor is Themi Venturas.

“We are delighted to be reviving such a topical story as Footloose,” say Venturas. “When it was staged in 2014 we had a short run, and many performances were sold out, and we had a sense that people wanted more – so we are doing it again – staging it in a slightly different more contemporary way with the addition of Jarryd’s new choreographic ideas, new leads and a mostly new cast,” said Venturas.

The project ensures that the learners get a taste of working in the professional musical theatre arena. The cast of 25 were chosen at auditions – including learners travelling from the Skhethuxolo High School in Hammarsdale.  Rehearsals are in full swing, with the cast meeting every weekend until the opening night. The project promotes discipline, develops confidence, and gives an opportunity to make life-long friendships, and to learn a huge amount from the professionals.

The producers are grateful to RCL Foods through their Do More Foundation, Black Coffee, Snazzi Events and UKZN’s Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.

Previous YPP productions have been: Curtain Up;  One Voice; Grease; Oliver; Fiddler on the Roof; The Wiz; Annie; School of Rock, SA; Big River; Hairspray; Seussical; Legally Blonde, Can You Feel It?; Footloose; Soldiers in the City and last year, Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story.

Over the years the show has grown to be very popular with Durban audiences so early booking is recommended. Booking is through Computicket outlets at Shoprite Checkers, by phone on 0861 915 8000 or online at www.computicket.com.

Footloose the Musical is presented by arrangement with DALRO.

For further enquiries please call Riaan Timson on 082 696 3507


Venue: Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre UKZN
Dates: 8 – 17 Sept 2017.
Times: Tues – Sat 7pm; Sat and Sun at 2.30pm
Tickets: R100 (Tue – Wed) & R150 full price R130 OAP and scholars (Thur – Sun)


Schedule:
Friday 08 Sept @ 7pm    R75 (low-priced preview)
Sat 09 Sept @ 2.30pm  R150 (concession price R130)  
Sat 09 Sept @ 7pm  R150 (concession price R130)  OFFICIAL OPENING NIGHT
Sun 10 Sept @ 2.30pm  R150 (R130 concession price)

Tues 12 Sept @ 7pm  R100
Wed 13 Set @ 7pm R100
Thurs 14 Sept @ 7pm  R150 (R130 concession price)
Frid 15 Sept @ 7pm R150 (R130 concession price)
Sat 16 Sept @ 2.30pm R150 (R130 concession price)
Sat 16 Sept @ 7pm R150  (R130 concession price)
Sun 17 Sept @ 2.30pm R150 (R130 concession price)

General admission: R150, with a discount price of R130 for students, scholars and pensioners.  Low priced preview R75,  and Tues and Wed shows will sell at R100 throughout.


Win Tickets To The Show

The producers have given us tickets just for you. We have 3 double tickets for the show on Tuesday 12 September 2017 at 7pm.

Simply email umhlangalife@gmail.com with your name, contact details, email and the answer to this easy question:

Which famous actor was in the original film version of Footlose?

1.  Kevin Macon
2.  Kevin Bacon
3. Kevin Acorn 

Competition could close at any time. Ts and Cs apply.


This edition by Fred Felton | Twitter @fredfelton