Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentArt with heart to save the rhinoAs a part of the Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city. From collaborative student workshops to thought-provoking exhibitions, this celebration has seen reputable international visiting artists exchanging ideas and artworks with some of South Africa’s most celebrated artistic talents.
Media NewsThe Hunger Games goes viral in AustraliaEffective Measure, a leading provider of digital audience profiling solutions, has reported that Australian movie goers were significantly influenced by the viral marketing of The Hunger Games , with 38% of survey respondents indicating that their anticipation to watch the movie was attributed to the opinions of their close friends, while 20% attributed their excitement to Facebook .
EntertainmentIziko Museums to offer youth training programmeIziko Museums is offering a sponsored three-week Museum Training for Youth Programme, which includes theory, practical work, and museum project work. The trainee will receive training in museology. Applicants must have a matric certificate and an interest in working with diverse museum audiences and in a museum environment.
EntertainmentJPO offers special Mother's Day subscription discountTo celebrate Mother’s Day, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra is offering a special two-for-the-price-of-one discount on new Wednesday subscriptions for its second symphony season. From Wednesday, 9 May, new subscribers can bring a partner along to the weekly symphony concerts at the Linder Auditorium in Parktown for free.
EntertainmentDan Patlansky launches 20 StonesTo achieve legend-status as a blues musician at the age of 30 is almost unheard of. Enter Dan Patlansky – an artist who shares the muse that touched Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan. What Dan Patlansky can do with a six-string Fender Stratocaster, most critically acclaimed guitarists will never quite achieve in a lifetime.
EntertainmentDouble bill of imaginative theatre at NAF 2012New theatre company, Masidlale Productions, will bring two of its latest award-winning creations to the National Arts Festival this year. After a year-long run, Bru and Les Pigeons will be hitting the fringe stages in Grahamstown between 28 June and 8 July.
Media NewsStill time to commemorate World Press Freedom DayThousands of newspapers worldwide will commemorate World Press Freedom Day on 3 May by publishing thoughtful editorial and provocative advertising materials from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). There is still time to join them.
EntertainmentEurobest Festival of Creativity retunes to LisbonAs a proud representative, Cinemark presents the 5 th Eurobest Festival of Creativity, Europe’s leading inspirational, learning and networking event for the advertising and communications industry and the largest annual awards for European creative communications.
EntertainmentMarvel’s The Avengers smashes in at number oneMarvel’s The Avengers smashed in at number one at the South African box office this past long weekend with a phenomenal Hulk-sized opening weekend. Fans took advantage of the extended long weekend and as of the end of day Tuesday, 1 May, the film had reached an astonishing R15 203 072-million gross box office.
EntertainmentDance for All presents show for schoolsFrom 19 May, Dance for All (DFA) will present a series of school performances titled Showcase of Stars , with exciting choreography in a variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, African dance, hip-hop and Bollywood.
EntertainmentFeast of art at Johannesburg Art GalleryWilliam Kentridge will open Coming of Age , an APS retrospective, on Sunday, 6 May at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. During Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, which kicked off on 3 April, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city.
Entertainment ReviewsLearning Lessons in HusbandryI devoured Shaida Kazie Ali’s début novel Not a Fairytale in 2010, which went on to win the University of Johannesburg’s prize for creative fiction and was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Award . I was therefore itching to get into her new novel, Lessons in Husbandry .
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
AwardsThe Wild receives international recognitionM-Net’s outdoor soap The Wild has been nominated for a Rockie Award at the 2012 Banff World Television Festival in Canada. The Wild is one of six nominated programmes in the award category 'soaps and telenovelas' and will be competing against series from around the globe.
EntertainmentVikram Hazra in concert in Joburg and DurbanVikram Hazra - known internationally for his unique style of music, fusing ancient Sanskrit chants and secular wisdom with the sounds of the electric guitar to create a genre that transcends boundaries, uplifts the spirit and scintillates the audience – will be visiting Johannesburg and Durban in early May.
EntertainmentTime to get hot in the city with Doritos RouletteCape Town is being invaded by the Doritos Roulette Dare Show, which will heat up the Tiger Tiger nightclub on Thursday, 10 May with some sizzling fun. Comedian Tall A$$ Mo and TV personality Mome Nale will be daring revellers to do something outrageous, with wads of cash up for grabs.
Media NewsPlenty to look forward to on BBC channels in MayBetween BBC Knowledge (DStv channel 251), BBC Entertainment (DStv channel), BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel) and CBeebies (DStv channel), viewers can look forward to a wealth of quality programming, with highlights including The Spice Trail, Targeting Bin Laden, Diamond Queen, Grand Designs, Derren Brown: The Experiments and The Indian Doctor .
Media NewsPlayboy South Africa: still a Rum fellowThe new edition of Playboy South Africa is on the shelf this week, featuring Cape Town model Lee-Ann Roberts - an edition developed around Hunter S Thompson's Rum Diary , due for release in South Africa this month. The last interview Playboy did with Thompson was interrupted by his death, and snippets of wisdom from his 67-odd (very odd!) years are captured in this edition.
Media NewsSpringbok Radio archive material to be handed over to SABCTuesday, 8 May will officially mark the handover of the archives of the Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa to the SABC. When Springbok Radio opened in 1950, it had only three medium wave transmitters, but by October 1951, it was broadcasting to all the densely populated areas of the Union of South Africa on 11 transmitters.
EntertainmentWALE 5.0 presents its Drama, Literary Experience and Dance PerformancesThis year Wits students and alumni will wow audiences, with the variety and quality of dramatic performance. The Literary Experience is packed with book launches, round table discussions, workshops, seminars, lectures and poetry readings. Jo’burg dance lovers are in for a treat as Esther Nasser, artistic director of the Tshwane Dance Theatre (TDT), presents: ‘The Next Wave: 15.’
EntertainmentZahara to record live DVD at Carnival City in JuneZahara has cemented her place in the entertainment industry, not only in South Africa but across the borders as well – as can be proven in her sold-out February shows in Harare. In celebration of her burgeoning career, Zahara is set to perform a show at Carnival City that will be recorded and released as the singer's first live DVD.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame kicks offThere is less than a week to go before Big Brother StarGame introduces a new group of larger-than-life, must-watch TV personalities to African television audiences, and for fans of the reality super-series, that day can’t come soon enough. The show begins on Sunday, 6 May in the new timeslot of 20:00 CAT, and will screen live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv channel 198.
EntertainmentForbidden Broadway for UJ ArtsNew York's longest running musical comedy revue, Forbidden Broadway , makes its Johannesburg début at the UJ Con Cowan Theatre from 15 May. The show parodies favourite Broadway hits from shows like Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables .
EntertainmentStarlight Express races to Joburg Theatre in 2013One of the best loved and longest running musicals in theatrical history will explode onto the South African stage with a brand new production helmed by award-winning director Janice Honeyman. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensational Starlight Express will race to The Mandela at Joburg Theatre for a strictly limited season beginning 2 July 2013.
EntertainmentForum offers an artistic Underground Dinner with the starsPassionate about South African art? Love food? Like being the first? The Forum Company can offer all three in an exclusive once-off Underground Dinner in the newly built Wits Art Museum before it officially opens to the public. Be the first to see their exhibition called Seeing Stars , which will be showcasing some of the most important artists and artwork in South Africa.
EntertainmentBeach Boys launch new single and announce new album detailsThe founding members of the Beach Boys, one of the world’s most legendary bands in popular music history, have reunited for a global 50 th anniversary celebration, including a new album release, a major international tour, and commemorative catalog releases. Their new studio album, That’s Why God Made The Radio , to be released on 5 June by Capitol/EMI.
EntertainmentBrandy releases first official single with Chris BrownR&B/pop singer songwriter and superstar actress Brandy announced the release of her official first single 'Put It Down' featuring Chris Brown. 'Put it Down' was produced by Shondrae 'Bangladesh' Crawford and Sean Garrett and co-written by Chris Brown, Shondrae Crawford, and Sean Garrett.
EntertainmentCultural collaboration to boost SA opera sceneA new Swiss-South African artistic collaboration will see the launch of the Reakopana Opera Festival later this year, in an exciting work-creation initiative for performing artists that also spells good news for lovers of classical music.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentArt with heart to save the rhinoAs a part of the Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city. From collaborative student workshops to thought-provoking exhibitions, this celebration has seen reputable international visiting artists exchanging ideas and artworks with some of South Africa’s most celebrated artistic talents.
Media NewsThe Hunger Games goes viral in AustraliaEffective Measure, a leading provider of digital audience profiling solutions, has reported that Australian movie goers were significantly influenced by the viral marketing of The Hunger Games , with 38% of survey respondents indicating that their anticipation to watch the movie was attributed to the opinions of their close friends, while 20% attributed their excitement to Facebook .
EntertainmentIziko Museums to offer youth training programmeIziko Museums is offering a sponsored three-week Museum Training for Youth Programme, which includes theory, practical work, and museum project work. The trainee will receive training in museology. Applicants must have a matric certificate and an interest in working with diverse museum audiences and in a museum environment.
EntertainmentJPO offers special Mother's Day subscription discountTo celebrate Mother’s Day, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra is offering a special two-for-the-price-of-one discount on new Wednesday subscriptions for its second symphony season. From Wednesday, 9 May, new subscribers can bring a partner along to the weekly symphony concerts at the Linder Auditorium in Parktown for free.
EntertainmentDan Patlansky launches 20 StonesTo achieve legend-status as a blues musician at the age of 30 is almost unheard of. Enter Dan Patlansky – an artist who shares the muse that touched Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan. What Dan Patlansky can do with a six-string Fender Stratocaster, most critically acclaimed guitarists will never quite achieve in a lifetime.
EntertainmentDouble bill of imaginative theatre at NAF 2012New theatre company, Masidlale Productions, will bring two of its latest award-winning creations to the National Arts Festival this year. After a year-long run, Bru and Les Pigeons will be hitting the fringe stages in Grahamstown between 28 June and 8 July.
Media NewsStill time to commemorate World Press Freedom DayThousands of newspapers worldwide will commemorate World Press Freedom Day on 3 May by publishing thoughtful editorial and provocative advertising materials from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). There is still time to join them.
EntertainmentEurobest Festival of Creativity retunes to LisbonAs a proud representative, Cinemark presents the 5 th Eurobest Festival of Creativity, Europe’s leading inspirational, learning and networking event for the advertising and communications industry and the largest annual awards for European creative communications.
EntertainmentMarvel’s The Avengers smashes in at number oneMarvel’s The Avengers smashed in at number one at the South African box office this past long weekend with a phenomenal Hulk-sized opening weekend. Fans took advantage of the extended long weekend and as of the end of day Tuesday, 1 May, the film had reached an astonishing R15 203 072-million gross box office.
EntertainmentDance for All presents show for schoolsFrom 19 May, Dance for All (DFA) will present a series of school performances titled Showcase of Stars , with exciting choreography in a variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, African dance, hip-hop and Bollywood.
EntertainmentFeast of art at Johannesburg Art GalleryWilliam Kentridge will open Coming of Age , an APS retrospective, on Sunday, 6 May at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. During Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, which kicked off on 3 April, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city.
Entertainment ReviewsLearning Lessons in HusbandryI devoured Shaida Kazie Ali’s début novel Not a Fairytale in 2010, which went on to win the University of Johannesburg’s prize for creative fiction and was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Award . I was therefore itching to get into her new novel, Lessons in Husbandry .
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
AwardsThe Wild receives international recognitionM-Net’s outdoor soap The Wild has been nominated for a Rockie Award at the 2012 Banff World Television Festival in Canada. The Wild is one of six nominated programmes in the award category 'soaps and telenovelas' and will be competing against series from around the globe.
EntertainmentVikram Hazra in concert in Joburg and DurbanVikram Hazra - known internationally for his unique style of music, fusing ancient Sanskrit chants and secular wisdom with the sounds of the electric guitar to create a genre that transcends boundaries, uplifts the spirit and scintillates the audience – will be visiting Johannesburg and Durban in early May.
EntertainmentTime to get hot in the city with Doritos RouletteCape Town is being invaded by the Doritos Roulette Dare Show, which will heat up the Tiger Tiger nightclub on Thursday, 10 May with some sizzling fun. Comedian Tall A$$ Mo and TV personality Mome Nale will be daring revellers to do something outrageous, with wads of cash up for grabs.
Media NewsPlenty to look forward to on BBC channels in MayBetween BBC Knowledge (DStv channel 251), BBC Entertainment (DStv channel), BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel) and CBeebies (DStv channel), viewers can look forward to a wealth of quality programming, with highlights including The Spice Trail, Targeting Bin Laden, Diamond Queen, Grand Designs, Derren Brown: The Experiments and The Indian Doctor .
Media NewsPlayboy South Africa: still a Rum fellowThe new edition of Playboy South Africa is on the shelf this week, featuring Cape Town model Lee-Ann Roberts - an edition developed around Hunter S Thompson's Rum Diary , due for release in South Africa this month. The last interview Playboy did with Thompson was interrupted by his death, and snippets of wisdom from his 67-odd (very odd!) years are captured in this edition.
Media NewsSpringbok Radio archive material to be handed over to SABCTuesday, 8 May will officially mark the handover of the archives of the Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa to the SABC. When Springbok Radio opened in 1950, it had only three medium wave transmitters, but by October 1951, it was broadcasting to all the densely populated areas of the Union of South Africa on 11 transmitters.
EntertainmentWALE 5.0 presents its Drama, Literary Experience and Dance PerformancesThis year Wits students and alumni will wow audiences, with the variety and quality of dramatic performance. The Literary Experience is packed with book launches, round table discussions, workshops, seminars, lectures and poetry readings. Jo’burg dance lovers are in for a treat as Esther Nasser, artistic director of the Tshwane Dance Theatre (TDT), presents: ‘The Next Wave: 15.’
EntertainmentZahara to record live DVD at Carnival City in JuneZahara has cemented her place in the entertainment industry, not only in South Africa but across the borders as well – as can be proven in her sold-out February shows in Harare. In celebration of her burgeoning career, Zahara is set to perform a show at Carnival City that will be recorded and released as the singer's first live DVD.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame kicks offThere is less than a week to go before Big Brother StarGame introduces a new group of larger-than-life, must-watch TV personalities to African television audiences, and for fans of the reality super-series, that day can’t come soon enough. The show begins on Sunday, 6 May in the new timeslot of 20:00 CAT, and will screen live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv channel 198.
EntertainmentForbidden Broadway for UJ ArtsNew York's longest running musical comedy revue, Forbidden Broadway , makes its Johannesburg début at the UJ Con Cowan Theatre from 15 May. The show parodies favourite Broadway hits from shows like Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables .
EntertainmentStarlight Express races to Joburg Theatre in 2013One of the best loved and longest running musicals in theatrical history will explode onto the South African stage with a brand new production helmed by award-winning director Janice Honeyman. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensational Starlight Express will race to The Mandela at Joburg Theatre for a strictly limited season beginning 2 July 2013.
EntertainmentForum offers an artistic Underground Dinner with the starsPassionate about South African art? Love food? Like being the first? The Forum Company can offer all three in an exclusive once-off Underground Dinner in the newly built Wits Art Museum before it officially opens to the public. Be the first to see their exhibition called Seeing Stars , which will be showcasing some of the most important artists and artwork in South Africa.
EntertainmentBeach Boys launch new single and announce new album detailsThe founding members of the Beach Boys, one of the world’s most legendary bands in popular music history, have reunited for a global 50 th anniversary celebration, including a new album release, a major international tour, and commemorative catalog releases. Their new studio album, That’s Why God Made The Radio , to be released on 5 June by Capitol/EMI.
EntertainmentBrandy releases first official single with Chris BrownR&B/pop singer songwriter and superstar actress Brandy announced the release of her official first single 'Put It Down' featuring Chris Brown. 'Put it Down' was produced by Shondrae 'Bangladesh' Crawford and Sean Garrett and co-written by Chris Brown, Shondrae Crawford, and Sean Garrett.
EntertainmentCultural collaboration to boost SA opera sceneA new Swiss-South African artistic collaboration will see the launch of the Reakopana Opera Festival later this year, in an exciting work-creation initiative for performing artists that also spells good news for lovers of classical music.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Media NewsMK and Vodacom present the ultimate music video battleMusic fans should gear up as MK and Vodacom launch a new virtual interactive music video war show this May. Jy Druk Play , another Vodacom Unlimited Experience demonstrating 'power to you' with South Africa’s top alternative music channel MK, débuted on Thursday, 3 May at 17:00.
Media NewsDiscovery Channel - the home of incredible inventions this MayThis May, Discovery Channel (DStv channel 121) will unveil their Incredible Inventions season with three brand new shows: Unchained Reaction with Adam and Jamie from Mythbusters , the latest installment of James May’s Man Lab , with Inventions That Shook the World completing a threesome poised to inspire anyone with a passion for innovation.
Media NewsNat Geo Wild uncovers animal superpowers with Windfall FilmsNat Geo Wild has commissioned Windfall Films to produce Animal Superpowers . Hosted by actor Sir Patrick Stewart, this documentary series investigates the incredible superpowers of nature’s deadliest animals; from shape shifting octopuses that change the colour of their skin in an instant to salamanders that have the alien-like ability to re-grow lost limbs.
EntertainmentASSITEJ brings high quality family theatre to NAFFor the next three years, ASSITEJ South Africa will be inviting local and international artists to share exciting, high-quality theatre productions for families and young audiences at the ASSITEJ SA Family Venue at the annual National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
EntertainmentYoung readers remain the epicentre of FLF agendaThe majority of South African children are eager to learn, but have minimal access to books that are engaging and relevant to their lives. The encouragement of a love for reading amongst the youth has been one of the main aims of the Franschhoek Literary Festival since its inception, and one of the reasons why the FLF will host a Book Week for Young Readers from 7 to 11 May.
Media NewsThe Diamond Queen to be broadcast on SABC3 The Diamond Queen will premiere on Sunday, 20 May at 20:30 on SABC3. This BBC documentary, presented by British journalist and political commentator Andrew Marr, is a three-part series looking at the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II, with special interviews and remarkable archive footage.
EntertainmentElvis Blue wins big at the 18th Annual SAMAsElvis Blue has achieved another great feat by taking home the award for Best Adult Contemporary Album for his special edition double CD, Elvis Blue , at the 18 th Annual MTN South African Music Awards , held on Monday, 30 April at Sun City.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame announces seven celebrity housematesWith less than three days to go before the start of Big Brother StarGame on AfricaMagic Entertainment and DStv channel 198, the game has well and truly begun. On 3 May, just 24 hours after images of the newly designed house were revealed, came Biggie’s latest surprise - the news that seven celebrity housemates would be part of the seventh season of Africa’s biggest reality TV show.
Media NewsKabelo Ngakane to host Sportsview on SABC2SABC2 welcomes distinguished TV and radio personality Kabelo Ngakane as he joins the channel as the host of a new sports show, Sportsview . Sportsview will be broadcast every Sunday at 12:30, starting on 6 May, and he will co-host the show with former Hectic Nine-9 presenter Asanda Maku.
Media NewsAutoWeek reports a 'stunning success' AutoWeek , South Africa's dedicated new weekly motoring newspaper, may be only seven issues old, but the title is already making waves with copy sales beyond even the publisher's wildest expectations. AutoWeek is already selling well over 7000 copies through the conventional distribution network every issue.
EntertainmentJames Cairns’ Sie Weiss Alles to premiere in Cape TownWriter and actor James Cairns will present the Cape Town première of his latest play, Sie Weiss Alles , at the Kalk Bay Theatre from 9 May to 2 June. Cairns, who was most recently seen on stage in Cape Town as a Dromio twin, playing opposite Rob van Vuuren in Maynardville’s A Comedy of Errors , performs in Sie Weiss Alles with Taryn Bennett, under the direction of Tamara Guhrs.
In FocusDarren Scott and his gang get the Ballz rollin’ againThey’re back and have more Ballz than you can handle. Sport balls, of course. Sport commentator and award-winning radio presenter, Darren Scott returned to the (interweb) airwaves with a try, conversion and many goals to bring South Africans all the best sporting news. Christine Greyvenstein put on her scrum cap and attended the Ballz Visual Radio launch.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentArt with heart to save the rhinoAs a part of the Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city. From collaborative student workshops to thought-provoking exhibitions, this celebration has seen reputable international visiting artists exchanging ideas and artworks with some of South Africa’s most celebrated artistic talents.
Media NewsThe Hunger Games goes viral in AustraliaEffective Measure, a leading provider of digital audience profiling solutions, has reported that Australian movie goers were significantly influenced by the viral marketing of The Hunger Games , with 38% of survey respondents indicating that their anticipation to watch the movie was attributed to the opinions of their close friends, while 20% attributed their excitement to Facebook .
EntertainmentIziko Museums to offer youth training programmeIziko Museums is offering a sponsored three-week Museum Training for Youth Programme, which includes theory, practical work, and museum project work. The trainee will receive training in museology. Applicants must have a matric certificate and an interest in working with diverse museum audiences and in a museum environment.
EntertainmentJPO offers special Mother's Day subscription discountTo celebrate Mother’s Day, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra is offering a special two-for-the-price-of-one discount on new Wednesday subscriptions for its second symphony season. From Wednesday, 9 May, new subscribers can bring a partner along to the weekly symphony concerts at the Linder Auditorium in Parktown for free.
EntertainmentDan Patlansky launches 20 StonesTo achieve legend-status as a blues musician at the age of 30 is almost unheard of. Enter Dan Patlansky – an artist who shares the muse that touched Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan. What Dan Patlansky can do with a six-string Fender Stratocaster, most critically acclaimed guitarists will never quite achieve in a lifetime.
EntertainmentDouble bill of imaginative theatre at NAF 2012New theatre company, Masidlale Productions, will bring two of its latest award-winning creations to the National Arts Festival this year. After a year-long run, Bru and Les Pigeons will be hitting the fringe stages in Grahamstown between 28 June and 8 July.
Media NewsStill time to commemorate World Press Freedom DayThousands of newspapers worldwide will commemorate World Press Freedom Day on 3 May by publishing thoughtful editorial and provocative advertising materials from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). There is still time to join them.
EntertainmentEurobest Festival of Creativity retunes to LisbonAs a proud representative, Cinemark presents the 5 th Eurobest Festival of Creativity, Europe’s leading inspirational, learning and networking event for the advertising and communications industry and the largest annual awards for European creative communications.
EntertainmentMarvel’s The Avengers smashes in at number oneMarvel’s The Avengers smashed in at number one at the South African box office this past long weekend with a phenomenal Hulk-sized opening weekend. Fans took advantage of the extended long weekend and as of the end of day Tuesday, 1 May, the film had reached an astonishing R15 203 072-million gross box office.
EntertainmentDance for All presents show for schoolsFrom 19 May, Dance for All (DFA) will present a series of school performances titled Showcase of Stars , with exciting choreography in a variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, African dance, hip-hop and Bollywood.
EntertainmentFeast of art at Johannesburg Art GalleryWilliam Kentridge will open Coming of Age , an APS retrospective, on Sunday, 6 May at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. During Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, which kicked off on 3 April, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city.
Entertainment ReviewsLearning Lessons in HusbandryI devoured Shaida Kazie Ali’s début novel Not a Fairytale in 2010, which went on to win the University of Johannesburg’s prize for creative fiction and was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Award . I was therefore itching to get into her new novel, Lessons in Husbandry .
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
AwardsThe Wild receives international recognitionM-Net’s outdoor soap The Wild has been nominated for a Rockie Award at the 2012 Banff World Television Festival in Canada. The Wild is one of six nominated programmes in the award category 'soaps and telenovelas' and will be competing against series from around the globe.
EntertainmentVikram Hazra in concert in Joburg and DurbanVikram Hazra - known internationally for his unique style of music, fusing ancient Sanskrit chants and secular wisdom with the sounds of the electric guitar to create a genre that transcends boundaries, uplifts the spirit and scintillates the audience – will be visiting Johannesburg and Durban in early May.
EntertainmentTime to get hot in the city with Doritos RouletteCape Town is being invaded by the Doritos Roulette Dare Show, which will heat up the Tiger Tiger nightclub on Thursday, 10 May with some sizzling fun. Comedian Tall A$$ Mo and TV personality Mome Nale will be daring revellers to do something outrageous, with wads of cash up for grabs.
Media NewsPlenty to look forward to on BBC channels in MayBetween BBC Knowledge (DStv channel 251), BBC Entertainment (DStv channel), BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel) and CBeebies (DStv channel), viewers can look forward to a wealth of quality programming, with highlights including The Spice Trail, Targeting Bin Laden, Diamond Queen, Grand Designs, Derren Brown: The Experiments and The Indian Doctor .
Media NewsPlayboy South Africa: still a Rum fellowThe new edition of Playboy South Africa is on the shelf this week, featuring Cape Town model Lee-Ann Roberts - an edition developed around Hunter S Thompson's Rum Diary , due for release in South Africa this month. The last interview Playboy did with Thompson was interrupted by his death, and snippets of wisdom from his 67-odd (very odd!) years are captured in this edition.
Media NewsSpringbok Radio archive material to be handed over to SABCTuesday, 8 May will officially mark the handover of the archives of the Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa to the SABC. When Springbok Radio opened in 1950, it had only three medium wave transmitters, but by October 1951, it was broadcasting to all the densely populated areas of the Union of South Africa on 11 transmitters.
EntertainmentWALE 5.0 presents its Drama, Literary Experience and Dance PerformancesThis year Wits students and alumni will wow audiences, with the variety and quality of dramatic performance. The Literary Experience is packed with book launches, round table discussions, workshops, seminars, lectures and poetry readings. Jo’burg dance lovers are in for a treat as Esther Nasser, artistic director of the Tshwane Dance Theatre (TDT), presents: ‘The Next Wave: 15.’
EntertainmentZahara to record live DVD at Carnival City in JuneZahara has cemented her place in the entertainment industry, not only in South Africa but across the borders as well – as can be proven in her sold-out February shows in Harare. In celebration of her burgeoning career, Zahara is set to perform a show at Carnival City that will be recorded and released as the singer's first live DVD.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame kicks offThere is less than a week to go before Big Brother StarGame introduces a new group of larger-than-life, must-watch TV personalities to African television audiences, and for fans of the reality super-series, that day can’t come soon enough. The show begins on Sunday, 6 May in the new timeslot of 20:00 CAT, and will screen live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv channel 198.
EntertainmentForbidden Broadway for UJ ArtsNew York's longest running musical comedy revue, Forbidden Broadway , makes its Johannesburg début at the UJ Con Cowan Theatre from 15 May. The show parodies favourite Broadway hits from shows like Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables .
EntertainmentStarlight Express races to Joburg Theatre in 2013One of the best loved and longest running musicals in theatrical history will explode onto the South African stage with a brand new production helmed by award-winning director Janice Honeyman. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensational Starlight Express will race to The Mandela at Joburg Theatre for a strictly limited season beginning 2 July 2013.
EntertainmentForum offers an artistic Underground Dinner with the starsPassionate about South African art? Love food? Like being the first? The Forum Company can offer all three in an exclusive once-off Underground Dinner in the newly built Wits Art Museum before it officially opens to the public. Be the first to see their exhibition called Seeing Stars , which will be showcasing some of the most important artists and artwork in South Africa.
EntertainmentBeach Boys launch new single and announce new album detailsThe founding members of the Beach Boys, one of the world’s most legendary bands in popular music history, have reunited for a global 50 th anniversary celebration, including a new album release, a major international tour, and commemorative catalog releases. Their new studio album, That’s Why God Made The Radio , to be released on 5 June by Capitol/EMI.
EntertainmentBrandy releases first official single with Chris BrownR&B/pop singer songwriter and superstar actress Brandy announced the release of her official first single 'Put It Down' featuring Chris Brown. 'Put it Down' was produced by Shondrae 'Bangladesh' Crawford and Sean Garrett and co-written by Chris Brown, Shondrae Crawford, and Sean Garrett.
EntertainmentCultural collaboration to boost SA opera sceneA new Swiss-South African artistic collaboration will see the launch of the Reakopana Opera Festival later this year, in an exciting work-creation initiative for performing artists that also spells good news for lovers of classical music.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Media NewsMK and Vodacom present the ultimate music video battleMusic fans should gear up as MK and Vodacom launch a new virtual interactive music video war show this May. Jy Druk Play , another Vodacom Unlimited Experience demonstrating 'power to you' with South Africa’s top alternative music channel MK, débuted on Thursday, 3 May at 17:00.
Media NewsDiscovery Channel - the home of incredible inventions this MayThis May, Discovery Channel (DStv channel 121) will unveil their Incredible Inventions season with three brand new shows: Unchained Reaction with Adam and Jamie from Mythbusters , the latest installment of James May’s Man Lab , with Inventions That Shook the World completing a threesome poised to inspire anyone with a passion for innovation.
Media NewsNat Geo Wild uncovers animal superpowers with Windfall FilmsNat Geo Wild has commissioned Windfall Films to produce Animal Superpowers . Hosted by actor Sir Patrick Stewart, this documentary series investigates the incredible superpowers of nature’s deadliest animals; from shape shifting octopuses that change the colour of their skin in an instant to salamanders that have the alien-like ability to re-grow lost limbs.
EntertainmentASSITEJ brings high quality family theatre to NAFFor the next three years, ASSITEJ South Africa will be inviting local and international artists to share exciting, high-quality theatre productions for families and young audiences at the ASSITEJ SA Family Venue at the annual National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
EntertainmentYoung readers remain the epicentre of FLF agendaThe majority of South African children are eager to learn, but have minimal access to books that are engaging and relevant to their lives. The encouragement of a love for reading amongst the youth has been one of the main aims of the Franschhoek Literary Festival since its inception, and one of the reasons why the FLF will host a Book Week for Young Readers from 7 to 11 May.
Media NewsThe Diamond Queen to be broadcast on SABC3 The Diamond Queen will premiere on Sunday, 20 May at 20:30 on SABC3. This BBC documentary, presented by British journalist and political commentator Andrew Marr, is a three-part series looking at the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II, with special interviews and remarkable archive footage.
EntertainmentElvis Blue wins big at the 18th Annual SAMAsElvis Blue has achieved another great feat by taking home the award for Best Adult Contemporary Album for his special edition double CD, Elvis Blue , at the 18 th Annual MTN South African Music Awards , held on Monday, 30 April at Sun City.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame announces seven celebrity housematesWith less than three days to go before the start of Big Brother StarGame on AfricaMagic Entertainment and DStv channel 198, the game has well and truly begun. On 3 May, just 24 hours after images of the newly designed house were revealed, came Biggie’s latest surprise - the news that seven celebrity housemates would be part of the seventh season of Africa’s biggest reality TV show.
Media NewsKabelo Ngakane to host Sportsview on SABC2SABC2 welcomes distinguished TV and radio personality Kabelo Ngakane as he joins the channel as the host of a new sports show, Sportsview . Sportsview will be broadcast every Sunday at 12:30, starting on 6 May, and he will co-host the show with former Hectic Nine-9 presenter Asanda Maku.
Media NewsAutoWeek reports a 'stunning success' AutoWeek , South Africa's dedicated new weekly motoring newspaper, may be only seven issues old, but the title is already making waves with copy sales beyond even the publisher's wildest expectations. AutoWeek is already selling well over 7000 copies through the conventional distribution network every issue.
EntertainmentJames Cairns’ Sie Weiss Alles to premiere in Cape TownWriter and actor James Cairns will present the Cape Town première of his latest play, Sie Weiss Alles , at the Kalk Bay Theatre from 9 May to 2 June. Cairns, who was most recently seen on stage in Cape Town as a Dromio twin, playing opposite Rob van Vuuren in Maynardville’s A Comedy of Errors , performs in Sie Weiss Alles with Taryn Bennett, under the direction of Tamara Guhrs.
In FocusDarren Scott and his gang get the Ballz rollin’ againThey’re back and have more Ballz than you can handle. Sport balls, of course. Sport commentator and award-winning radio presenter, Darren Scott returned to the (interweb) airwaves with a try, conversion and many goals to bring South Africans all the best sporting news. Christine Greyvenstein put on her scrum cap and attended the Ballz Visual Radio launch.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentInternational superstars to get PE pumpingMultiple award-winning music icons Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Mi Casa and Shaggy will get Port Elizabeth pumping at the first MBay Mega Fest on Saturday, 2 June. They will join Shoelace and three-time South African Music Award winners Mi Casa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Media NewsYouth Fit Africa online magazine to get young people movingLaunching on 12 May, Youth Fit Africa is a new online magazine featuring information about and for young people on the move. Youth athletes, fitness fans, trainers, and coaches will find useful training and fitness tips, nutrition information, profiles of youth involved in sports and fitness, and opportunities such as events, try-outs, and programmes to get involved in.
Entertainment'The Art of the Creative Economy' at ACT/UJ ConferenceIn an unprecedented gathering of the country’s creative minds, the inaugural ACT/UJ Arts & Culture Conference , taking place at the University of Johannesburg’s Kingsway campus on 24 and 25 May, should be on everyone’s agenda for those directly or indirectly involved with the arts in South Africa.
Media NewsDirty Sexy Money returns to SABC3Returning for a second season, critically-acclaimed Dirty Sexy Money continues to find the absurdly wealthy Darling family of New York City mixed up with the wrong people and embroiled in some bad situations. Fortunately for the preeminent family, idealistic lawyer Nick George takes care of their legal needs, which often run into shady territory.
Media NewsGet adventurous with Do It Now in May Do It Now 's April/May issue features a sizzling line up of adventure, sport and lifestyle articles. Cover stories include Darryl Curtis's experience at the famous Dakar Rally; snowboarding in Meribel, France; adventure racers being invited to take a Quantum Leap; and surfers battling mother nature at the South Coast Surf Carnival .
EntertainmentCosy comedy at Le Canard in SandtonIt is improv comedy made up of audience suggestions, featuring the best performers in the business. It is to be a regular event at Le Canard, and the launch takes place on Monday, 4 June, at 19:00.
EntertainmentMarket Theatre stages Zwakala winner Next SundayThe Market Theatre will present the 2011 Market Theatre Laboratory's Zwakala Festival winner, Next Sunday , from 16 to 27 May. Conceived by Godfrey Thobejane and directed by Khethiwe Dlamini with co-director Godfrey Thobejane, this is a play about how damage is handed down from generation to generation.
EntertainmentTalent, lifestyle, creativity thrive at SANAA SANAA Africa is a three-day long African cultural festival, endorsed by the City of Joburg as the official Africa Day celebration. Now in its third year, the festival promises a bolder and more exciting programme from Friday, 27 May through to Sunday, 29 May.
EntertainmentTango show From South to South cancelled From South to South , the international Tango Amor Show from Argentina, was due to play at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square from 8 to 19 May. Producer Daphne Kuhn has announced that it has been cancelled due to illness and complications. The theatre was only informed at the last minute.
EntertainmentArtists exhibit for autism in MelvilleSouth Africans Liebner Anthony van Zyl and Celeste von Solms will partner with the Els Foundation for Autism when they exhibit in Melville in June. Van Zyl - a painter - was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (a mild form of autism) in his teens. He has, however, turned this challenge into an opportunity by developing his own unique brand of art.
Media NewsNew vision for VISI at New MediaSouth Africa’s innovative décor, design and architecture title VISI (@VISI_Mag) has made a strategic leap from owner Media24 Magazines to leading content marketer New Media, its long-time publisher. On 7 May, New Media announced transfer of ownership of the title, which it has published on behalf of Media24 for the past 14 years.
EntertainmentTygerberg Children's Choir presents an evening of choral splendourOn 26 May at 19:30, the Tygerberg Children's Choir will give its first concert of the year in the Baxter Concert Hall. Tickets cost R90 per person and can be booked through Computicket. Works performed will include 'Psalms for Dancing' by Douglas Coombes, Brahms' 'Ave Maria', 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square' and 'Mr Sandman'.
EntertainmentThe Brothers Size comes to Baxter FlipsideThe American drama The Brothers Size is heading for the Baxter for three weeks only, following its success at Syracuse Stage in Central New York. The Brothers Size is by one of America’s hottest young literary voices, Tarrel Alvin McCraney. It will play at the Baxter Flipside from 18 May to 9 June at 19:00 nightly.
EntertainmentTheatreSports FUNdraiser calls for support"TheatreSports, the amazing, crazy improv performance with long and short games, music and a mystery celebrity guest player, is headed for Canberra! Megan Furniss, Tandi Buchan and Candice D’Arcy, veteran TheatreSports players and improv experts, are flying across a very big piece of sea to Canberra, Australia, host of an international improvisation explosion in July."
Entertainment ReviewsThe Boy who Fell to EarthReading a Kathy Lette book is a bit like laughing in church. It feels wrong as the subject matter tends to be serious – heartbreak, loss of a child and the like – but her writing style is such that you soon find yourself smiling and reading bits aloud to whoever is around you. Her latest, The Boy Who Fell to Earth , is no different.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentArt with heart to save the rhinoAs a part of the Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city. From collaborative student workshops to thought-provoking exhibitions, this celebration has seen reputable international visiting artists exchanging ideas and artworks with some of South Africa’s most celebrated artistic talents.
Media NewsThe Hunger Games goes viral in AustraliaEffective Measure, a leading provider of digital audience profiling solutions, has reported that Australian movie goers were significantly influenced by the viral marketing of The Hunger Games , with 38% of survey respondents indicating that their anticipation to watch the movie was attributed to the opinions of their close friends, while 20% attributed their excitement to Facebook .
EntertainmentIziko Museums to offer youth training programmeIziko Museums is offering a sponsored three-week Museum Training for Youth Programme, which includes theory, practical work, and museum project work. The trainee will receive training in museology. Applicants must have a matric certificate and an interest in working with diverse museum audiences and in a museum environment.
EntertainmentJPO offers special Mother's Day subscription discountTo celebrate Mother’s Day, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra is offering a special two-for-the-price-of-one discount on new Wednesday subscriptions for its second symphony season. From Wednesday, 9 May, new subscribers can bring a partner along to the weekly symphony concerts at the Linder Auditorium in Parktown for free.
EntertainmentDan Patlansky launches 20 StonesTo achieve legend-status as a blues musician at the age of 30 is almost unheard of. Enter Dan Patlansky – an artist who shares the muse that touched Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan. What Dan Patlansky can do with a six-string Fender Stratocaster, most critically acclaimed guitarists will never quite achieve in a lifetime.
EntertainmentDouble bill of imaginative theatre at NAF 2012New theatre company, Masidlale Productions, will bring two of its latest award-winning creations to the National Arts Festival this year. After a year-long run, Bru and Les Pigeons will be hitting the fringe stages in Grahamstown between 28 June and 8 July.
Media NewsStill time to commemorate World Press Freedom DayThousands of newspapers worldwide will commemorate World Press Freedom Day on 3 May by publishing thoughtful editorial and provocative advertising materials from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). There is still time to join them.
EntertainmentEurobest Festival of Creativity retunes to LisbonAs a proud representative, Cinemark presents the 5 th Eurobest Festival of Creativity, Europe’s leading inspirational, learning and networking event for the advertising and communications industry and the largest annual awards for European creative communications.
EntertainmentMarvel’s The Avengers smashes in at number oneMarvel’s The Avengers smashed in at number one at the South African box office this past long weekend with a phenomenal Hulk-sized opening weekend. Fans took advantage of the extended long weekend and as of the end of day Tuesday, 1 May, the film had reached an astonishing R15 203 072-million gross box office.
EntertainmentDance for All presents show for schoolsFrom 19 May, Dance for All (DFA) will present a series of school performances titled Showcase of Stars , with exciting choreography in a variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, African dance, hip-hop and Bollywood.
EntertainmentFeast of art at Johannesburg Art GalleryWilliam Kentridge will open Coming of Age , an APS retrospective, on Sunday, 6 May at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. During Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, which kicked off on 3 April, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city.
Entertainment ReviewsLearning Lessons in HusbandryI devoured Shaida Kazie Ali’s début novel Not a Fairytale in 2010, which went on to win the University of Johannesburg’s prize for creative fiction and was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Award . I was therefore itching to get into her new novel, Lessons in Husbandry .
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
AwardsThe Wild receives international recognitionM-Net’s outdoor soap The Wild has been nominated for a Rockie Award at the 2012 Banff World Television Festival in Canada. The Wild is one of six nominated programmes in the award category 'soaps and telenovelas' and will be competing against series from around the globe.
EntertainmentVikram Hazra in concert in Joburg and DurbanVikram Hazra - known internationally for his unique style of music, fusing ancient Sanskrit chants and secular wisdom with the sounds of the electric guitar to create a genre that transcends boundaries, uplifts the spirit and scintillates the audience – will be visiting Johannesburg and Durban in early May.
EntertainmentTime to get hot in the city with Doritos RouletteCape Town is being invaded by the Doritos Roulette Dare Show, which will heat up the Tiger Tiger nightclub on Thursday, 10 May with some sizzling fun. Comedian Tall A$$ Mo and TV personality Mome Nale will be daring revellers to do something outrageous, with wads of cash up for grabs.
Media NewsPlenty to look forward to on BBC channels in MayBetween BBC Knowledge (DStv channel 251), BBC Entertainment (DStv channel), BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel) and CBeebies (DStv channel), viewers can look forward to a wealth of quality programming, with highlights including The Spice Trail, Targeting Bin Laden, Diamond Queen, Grand Designs, Derren Brown: The Experiments and The Indian Doctor .
Media NewsPlayboy South Africa: still a Rum fellowThe new edition of Playboy South Africa is on the shelf this week, featuring Cape Town model Lee-Ann Roberts - an edition developed around Hunter S Thompson's Rum Diary , due for release in South Africa this month. The last interview Playboy did with Thompson was interrupted by his death, and snippets of wisdom from his 67-odd (very odd!) years are captured in this edition.
Media NewsSpringbok Radio archive material to be handed over to SABCTuesday, 8 May will officially mark the handover of the archives of the Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa to the SABC. When Springbok Radio opened in 1950, it had only three medium wave transmitters, but by October 1951, it was broadcasting to all the densely populated areas of the Union of South Africa on 11 transmitters.
EntertainmentWALE 5.0 presents its Drama, Literary Experience and Dance PerformancesThis year Wits students and alumni will wow audiences, with the variety and quality of dramatic performance. The Literary Experience is packed with book launches, round table discussions, workshops, seminars, lectures and poetry readings. Jo’burg dance lovers are in for a treat as Esther Nasser, artistic director of the Tshwane Dance Theatre (TDT), presents: ‘The Next Wave: 15.’
EntertainmentZahara to record live DVD at Carnival City in JuneZahara has cemented her place in the entertainment industry, not only in South Africa but across the borders as well – as can be proven in her sold-out February shows in Harare. In celebration of her burgeoning career, Zahara is set to perform a show at Carnival City that will be recorded and released as the singer's first live DVD.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame kicks offThere is less than a week to go before Big Brother StarGame introduces a new group of larger-than-life, must-watch TV personalities to African television audiences, and for fans of the reality super-series, that day can’t come soon enough. The show begins on Sunday, 6 May in the new timeslot of 20:00 CAT, and will screen live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv channel 198.
EntertainmentForbidden Broadway for UJ ArtsNew York's longest running musical comedy revue, Forbidden Broadway , makes its Johannesburg début at the UJ Con Cowan Theatre from 15 May. The show parodies favourite Broadway hits from shows like Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables .
EntertainmentStarlight Express races to Joburg Theatre in 2013One of the best loved and longest running musicals in theatrical history will explode onto the South African stage with a brand new production helmed by award-winning director Janice Honeyman. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensational Starlight Express will race to The Mandela at Joburg Theatre for a strictly limited season beginning 2 July 2013.
EntertainmentForum offers an artistic Underground Dinner with the starsPassionate about South African art? Love food? Like being the first? The Forum Company can offer all three in an exclusive once-off Underground Dinner in the newly built Wits Art Museum before it officially opens to the public. Be the first to see their exhibition called Seeing Stars , which will be showcasing some of the most important artists and artwork in South Africa.
EntertainmentBeach Boys launch new single and announce new album detailsThe founding members of the Beach Boys, one of the world’s most legendary bands in popular music history, have reunited for a global 50 th anniversary celebration, including a new album release, a major international tour, and commemorative catalog releases. Their new studio album, That’s Why God Made The Radio , to be released on 5 June by Capitol/EMI.
EntertainmentBrandy releases first official single with Chris BrownR&B/pop singer songwriter and superstar actress Brandy announced the release of her official first single 'Put It Down' featuring Chris Brown. 'Put it Down' was produced by Shondrae 'Bangladesh' Crawford and Sean Garrett and co-written by Chris Brown, Shondrae Crawford, and Sean Garrett.
EntertainmentCultural collaboration to boost SA opera sceneA new Swiss-South African artistic collaboration will see the launch of the Reakopana Opera Festival later this year, in an exciting work-creation initiative for performing artists that also spells good news for lovers of classical music.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Media NewsMK and Vodacom present the ultimate music video battleMusic fans should gear up as MK and Vodacom launch a new virtual interactive music video war show this May. Jy Druk Play , another Vodacom Unlimited Experience demonstrating 'power to you' with South Africa’s top alternative music channel MK, débuted on Thursday, 3 May at 17:00.
Media NewsDiscovery Channel - the home of incredible inventions this MayThis May, Discovery Channel (DStv channel 121) will unveil their Incredible Inventions season with three brand new shows: Unchained Reaction with Adam and Jamie from Mythbusters , the latest installment of James May’s Man Lab , with Inventions That Shook the World completing a threesome poised to inspire anyone with a passion for innovation.
Media NewsNat Geo Wild uncovers animal superpowers with Windfall FilmsNat Geo Wild has commissioned Windfall Films to produce Animal Superpowers . Hosted by actor Sir Patrick Stewart, this documentary series investigates the incredible superpowers of nature’s deadliest animals; from shape shifting octopuses that change the colour of their skin in an instant to salamanders that have the alien-like ability to re-grow lost limbs.
EntertainmentASSITEJ brings high quality family theatre to NAFFor the next three years, ASSITEJ South Africa will be inviting local and international artists to share exciting, high-quality theatre productions for families and young audiences at the ASSITEJ SA Family Venue at the annual National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
EntertainmentYoung readers remain the epicentre of FLF agendaThe majority of South African children are eager to learn, but have minimal access to books that are engaging and relevant to their lives. The encouragement of a love for reading amongst the youth has been one of the main aims of the Franschhoek Literary Festival since its inception, and one of the reasons why the FLF will host a Book Week for Young Readers from 7 to 11 May.
Media NewsThe Diamond Queen to be broadcast on SABC3 The Diamond Queen will premiere on Sunday, 20 May at 20:30 on SABC3. This BBC documentary, presented by British journalist and political commentator Andrew Marr, is a three-part series looking at the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II, with special interviews and remarkable archive footage.
EntertainmentElvis Blue wins big at the 18th Annual SAMAsElvis Blue has achieved another great feat by taking home the award for Best Adult Contemporary Album for his special edition double CD, Elvis Blue , at the 18 th Annual MTN South African Music Awards , held on Monday, 30 April at Sun City.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame announces seven celebrity housematesWith less than three days to go before the start of Big Brother StarGame on AfricaMagic Entertainment and DStv channel 198, the game has well and truly begun. On 3 May, just 24 hours after images of the newly designed house were revealed, came Biggie’s latest surprise - the news that seven celebrity housemates would be part of the seventh season of Africa’s biggest reality TV show.
Media NewsKabelo Ngakane to host Sportsview on SABC2SABC2 welcomes distinguished TV and radio personality Kabelo Ngakane as he joins the channel as the host of a new sports show, Sportsview . Sportsview will be broadcast every Sunday at 12:30, starting on 6 May, and he will co-host the show with former Hectic Nine-9 presenter Asanda Maku.
Media NewsAutoWeek reports a 'stunning success' AutoWeek , South Africa's dedicated new weekly motoring newspaper, may be only seven issues old, but the title is already making waves with copy sales beyond even the publisher's wildest expectations. AutoWeek is already selling well over 7000 copies through the conventional distribution network every issue.
EntertainmentJames Cairns’ Sie Weiss Alles to premiere in Cape TownWriter and actor James Cairns will present the Cape Town première of his latest play, Sie Weiss Alles , at the Kalk Bay Theatre from 9 May to 2 June. Cairns, who was most recently seen on stage in Cape Town as a Dromio twin, playing opposite Rob van Vuuren in Maynardville’s A Comedy of Errors , performs in Sie Weiss Alles with Taryn Bennett, under the direction of Tamara Guhrs.
In FocusDarren Scott and his gang get the Ballz rollin’ againThey’re back and have more Ballz than you can handle. Sport balls, of course. Sport commentator and award-winning radio presenter, Darren Scott returned to the (interweb) airwaves with a try, conversion and many goals to bring South Africans all the best sporting news. Christine Greyvenstein put on her scrum cap and attended the Ballz Visual Radio launch.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentInternational superstars to get PE pumpingMultiple award-winning music icons Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Mi Casa and Shaggy will get Port Elizabeth pumping at the first MBay Mega Fest on Saturday, 2 June. They will join Shoelace and three-time South African Music Award winners Mi Casa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Media NewsYouth Fit Africa online magazine to get young people movingLaunching on 12 May, Youth Fit Africa is a new online magazine featuring information about and for young people on the move. Youth athletes, fitness fans, trainers, and coaches will find useful training and fitness tips, nutrition information, profiles of youth involved in sports and fitness, and opportunities such as events, try-outs, and programmes to get involved in.
Entertainment'The Art of the Creative Economy' at ACT/UJ ConferenceIn an unprecedented gathering of the country’s creative minds, the inaugural ACT/UJ Arts & Culture Conference , taking place at the University of Johannesburg’s Kingsway campus on 24 and 25 May, should be on everyone’s agenda for those directly or indirectly involved with the arts in South Africa.
Media NewsDirty Sexy Money returns to SABC3Returning for a second season, critically-acclaimed Dirty Sexy Money continues to find the absurdly wealthy Darling family of New York City mixed up with the wrong people and embroiled in some bad situations. Fortunately for the preeminent family, idealistic lawyer Nick George takes care of their legal needs, which often run into shady territory.
Media NewsGet adventurous with Do It Now in May Do It Now 's April/May issue features a sizzling line up of adventure, sport and lifestyle articles. Cover stories include Darryl Curtis's experience at the famous Dakar Rally; snowboarding in Meribel, France; adventure racers being invited to take a Quantum Leap; and surfers battling mother nature at the South Coast Surf Carnival .
EntertainmentCosy comedy at Le Canard in SandtonIt is improv comedy made up of audience suggestions, featuring the best performers in the business. It is to be a regular event at Le Canard, and the launch takes place on Monday, 4 June, at 19:00.
EntertainmentMarket Theatre stages Zwakala winner Next SundayThe Market Theatre will present the 2011 Market Theatre Laboratory's Zwakala Festival winner, Next Sunday , from 16 to 27 May. Conceived by Godfrey Thobejane and directed by Khethiwe Dlamini with co-director Godfrey Thobejane, this is a play about how damage is handed down from generation to generation.
EntertainmentTalent, lifestyle, creativity thrive at SANAA SANAA Africa is a three-day long African cultural festival, endorsed by the City of Joburg as the official Africa Day celebration. Now in its third year, the festival promises a bolder and more exciting programme from Friday, 27 May through to Sunday, 29 May.
EntertainmentTango show From South to South cancelled From South to South , the international Tango Amor Show from Argentina, was due to play at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square from 8 to 19 May. Producer Daphne Kuhn has announced that it has been cancelled due to illness and complications. The theatre was only informed at the last minute.
EntertainmentArtists exhibit for autism in MelvilleSouth Africans Liebner Anthony van Zyl and Celeste von Solms will partner with the Els Foundation for Autism when they exhibit in Melville in June. Van Zyl - a painter - was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (a mild form of autism) in his teens. He has, however, turned this challenge into an opportunity by developing his own unique brand of art.
Media NewsNew vision for VISI at New MediaSouth Africa’s innovative décor, design and architecture title VISI (@VISI_Mag) has made a strategic leap from owner Media24 Magazines to leading content marketer New Media, its long-time publisher. On 7 May, New Media announced transfer of ownership of the title, which it has published on behalf of Media24 for the past 14 years.
EntertainmentTygerberg Children's Choir presents an evening of choral splendourOn 26 May at 19:30, the Tygerberg Children's Choir will give its first concert of the year in the Baxter Concert Hall. Tickets cost R90 per person and can be booked through Computicket. Works performed will include 'Psalms for Dancing' by Douglas Coombes, Brahms' 'Ave Maria', 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square' and 'Mr Sandman'.
EntertainmentThe Brothers Size comes to Baxter FlipsideThe American drama The Brothers Size is heading for the Baxter for three weeks only, following its success at Syracuse Stage in Central New York. The Brothers Size is by one of America’s hottest young literary voices, Tarrel Alvin McCraney. It will play at the Baxter Flipside from 18 May to 9 June at 19:00 nightly.
EntertainmentTheatreSports FUNdraiser calls for support"TheatreSports, the amazing, crazy improv performance with long and short games, music and a mystery celebrity guest player, is headed for Canberra! Megan Furniss, Tandi Buchan and Candice D’Arcy, veteran TheatreSports players and improv experts, are flying across a very big piece of sea to Canberra, Australia, host of an international improvisation explosion in July."
Entertainment ReviewsThe Boy who Fell to EarthReading a Kathy Lette book is a bit like laughing in church. It feels wrong as the subject matter tends to be serious – heartbreak, loss of a child and the like – but her writing style is such that you soon find yourself smiling and reading bits aloud to whoever is around you. Her latest, The Boy Who Fell to Earth , is no different.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentDETOURS opens its doorsRunning from 8 to 26 May at the Wits Theatre Complex, DETOURS promises a stimulating line-up of students and young professionals’ work. The programmes include works by Wits third and fourth year physical theatre students who have been guided by professionals such as award-winning Bailey Snyman, Jane Crewe and visiting scholar Professor Esther Haeusler.
Media NewsMzansi Magic’s Inkaba inspires more local storiesFollowing the success of its first telenovela Inkaba , M-Net’s South African channel Mzansi Magic issued commissioning briefs for a new telenovela and bubblegum movies. Mzansi Magic’s channel head, Lebone Maema, says the overwhelming response to Inkaba confirmed a viewer demand for more original, long-running home-grown stories.
EntertainmentFeast for 80s fans at Cresta BarnyardExperience the explosive music scene from the decade that produced the most significant, daring and controversial icons of our time - the Icons of the 80s . Featuring an 11-piece cast, this funky production will take you back to those pop stars that made their mark on musical history with outrageous fashion statements, catchy hit songs and saucy dance moves.
EntertainmentBig Concerts announce Celtic Woman live in Johannesburg and Cape TownBig Concerts has announced that Irish female singing group Celtic Woman will perform live in South Africa for the first time as part of their Believe Tour at the Big Top Arena, Carnival City (Johannesburg) on 28 September and at the Grand Arena, GrandWest (Cape Town) on 2 October. The concerts are presented in partnership with M-Net.
Media NewsTop Billing launches presenter searchMost people go to sleep to do their dreaming, but a few wake up in the morning and go to work to do theirs. If you are ready to live your Top Billing dream, then May might just be your lucky month. Top Billing and SABC3 have announced the return of the presenter search.
Media NewsAvusa Media hosts its first online ad auctionOn any given day, a full-page, full-colour ad in leading daily newspaper The Times is valued at R70 200. However, for one day only this April – and as part of the re-launch of advertising sales platform PushPrint – bidders could purchase the space via a live online auction.
EntertainmentParty around the world at Boksburg BarnyardCriss-cross the globe and visit exotic destinations like the Rio Carnival, the Mardi Gras Carnival in New Orleans, The Cape Minstrel Carnival in Cape Town, St Patrick’s Day in Ireland, The Halloween Festival, The Soccer World Cup 2010 in South Africa and a New Year’s Eve celebration at Times Square - New York.
Media NewsLiberia to join movement to repeal criminal defamationThe World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has welcomed Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s commitment to press freedom after her public endorsement of the Declaration of Table Mountain, a continent-wide call to repeal criminal defamation and 'insult' laws.
Media NewsTrue Love turns 40 True Love magazine will celebrate its 40 th birthday in May, marking 40 years of leading the publishing pack in producing meaningful and relevant content for South African black women.
Editorial DeskState-affiliated media and the problem of panderingIn an ideal world, journalists and the media would always be perfectly impartial, incapable of any bias, and able to present both sides of a story without a single degree of prejudice toward either party. Unfortunately, journalists are human, so this is not always the case. Throw state ownership or affiliation into the mix, and you have an even bigger dilemma.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentArt with heart to save the rhinoAs a part of the Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city. From collaborative student workshops to thought-provoking exhibitions, this celebration has seen reputable international visiting artists exchanging ideas and artworks with some of South Africa’s most celebrated artistic talents.
Media NewsThe Hunger Games goes viral in AustraliaEffective Measure, a leading provider of digital audience profiling solutions, has reported that Australian movie goers were significantly influenced by the viral marketing of The Hunger Games , with 38% of survey respondents indicating that their anticipation to watch the movie was attributed to the opinions of their close friends, while 20% attributed their excitement to Facebook .
EntertainmentIziko Museums to offer youth training programmeIziko Museums is offering a sponsored three-week Museum Training for Youth Programme, which includes theory, practical work, and museum project work. The trainee will receive training in museology. Applicants must have a matric certificate and an interest in working with diverse museum audiences and in a museum environment.
EntertainmentJPO offers special Mother's Day subscription discountTo celebrate Mother’s Day, the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra is offering a special two-for-the-price-of-one discount on new Wednesday subscriptions for its second symphony season. From Wednesday, 9 May, new subscribers can bring a partner along to the weekly symphony concerts at the Linder Auditorium in Parktown for free.
EntertainmentDan Patlansky launches 20 StonesTo achieve legend-status as a blues musician at the age of 30 is almost unheard of. Enter Dan Patlansky – an artist who shares the muse that touched Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan. What Dan Patlansky can do with a six-string Fender Stratocaster, most critically acclaimed guitarists will never quite achieve in a lifetime.
EntertainmentDouble bill of imaginative theatre at NAF 2012New theatre company, Masidlale Productions, will bring two of its latest award-winning creations to the National Arts Festival this year. After a year-long run, Bru and Les Pigeons will be hitting the fringe stages in Grahamstown between 28 June and 8 July.
Media NewsStill time to commemorate World Press Freedom DayThousands of newspapers worldwide will commemorate World Press Freedom Day on 3 May by publishing thoughtful editorial and provocative advertising materials from the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA). There is still time to join them.
EntertainmentEurobest Festival of Creativity retunes to LisbonAs a proud representative, Cinemark presents the 5 th Eurobest Festival of Creativity, Europe’s leading inspirational, learning and networking event for the advertising and communications industry and the largest annual awards for European creative communications.
EntertainmentMarvel’s The Avengers smashes in at number oneMarvel’s The Avengers smashed in at number one at the South African box office this past long weekend with a phenomenal Hulk-sized opening weekend. Fans took advantage of the extended long weekend and as of the end of day Tuesday, 1 May, the film had reached an astonishing R15 203 072-million gross box office.
EntertainmentDance for All presents show for schoolsFrom 19 May, Dance for All (DFA) will present a series of school performances titled Showcase of Stars , with exciting choreography in a variety of styles, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, African dance, hip-hop and Bollywood.
EntertainmentFeast of art at Johannesburg Art GalleryWilliam Kentridge will open Coming of Age , an APS retrospective, on Sunday, 6 May at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. During Artist Proof Studio’s (APS) 21-year celebration, which kicked off on 3 April, a veritable art fest has been driving creativity at the APS hub in Joburg’s inner-city.
Entertainment ReviewsLearning Lessons in HusbandryI devoured Shaida Kazie Ali’s début novel Not a Fairytale in 2010, which went on to win the University of Johannesburg’s prize for creative fiction and was shortlisted for the Sunday Times Fiction Award . I was therefore itching to get into her new novel, Lessons in Husbandry .
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
AwardsThe Wild receives international recognitionM-Net’s outdoor soap The Wild has been nominated for a Rockie Award at the 2012 Banff World Television Festival in Canada. The Wild is one of six nominated programmes in the award category 'soaps and telenovelas' and will be competing against series from around the globe.
EntertainmentVikram Hazra in concert in Joburg and DurbanVikram Hazra - known internationally for his unique style of music, fusing ancient Sanskrit chants and secular wisdom with the sounds of the electric guitar to create a genre that transcends boundaries, uplifts the spirit and scintillates the audience – will be visiting Johannesburg and Durban in early May.
EntertainmentTime to get hot in the city with Doritos RouletteCape Town is being invaded by the Doritos Roulette Dare Show, which will heat up the Tiger Tiger nightclub on Thursday, 10 May with some sizzling fun. Comedian Tall A$$ Mo and TV personality Mome Nale will be daring revellers to do something outrageous, with wads of cash up for grabs.
Media NewsPlenty to look forward to on BBC channels in MayBetween BBC Knowledge (DStv channel 251), BBC Entertainment (DStv channel), BBC Lifestyle (DStv channel) and CBeebies (DStv channel), viewers can look forward to a wealth of quality programming, with highlights including The Spice Trail, Targeting Bin Laden, Diamond Queen, Grand Designs, Derren Brown: The Experiments and The Indian Doctor .
Media NewsPlayboy South Africa: still a Rum fellowThe new edition of Playboy South Africa is on the shelf this week, featuring Cape Town model Lee-Ann Roberts - an edition developed around Hunter S Thompson's Rum Diary , due for release in South Africa this month. The last interview Playboy did with Thompson was interrupted by his death, and snippets of wisdom from his 67-odd (very odd!) years are captured in this edition.
Media NewsSpringbok Radio archive material to be handed over to SABCTuesday, 8 May will officially mark the handover of the archives of the Springbok Radio Preservation Society of South Africa to the SABC. When Springbok Radio opened in 1950, it had only three medium wave transmitters, but by October 1951, it was broadcasting to all the densely populated areas of the Union of South Africa on 11 transmitters.
EntertainmentWALE 5.0 presents its Drama, Literary Experience and Dance PerformancesThis year Wits students and alumni will wow audiences, with the variety and quality of dramatic performance. The Literary Experience is packed with book launches, round table discussions, workshops, seminars, lectures and poetry readings. Jo’burg dance lovers are in for a treat as Esther Nasser, artistic director of the Tshwane Dance Theatre (TDT), presents: ‘The Next Wave: 15.’
EntertainmentZahara to record live DVD at Carnival City in JuneZahara has cemented her place in the entertainment industry, not only in South Africa but across the borders as well – as can be proven in her sold-out February shows in Harare. In celebration of her burgeoning career, Zahara is set to perform a show at Carnival City that will be recorded and released as the singer's first live DVD.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame kicks offThere is less than a week to go before Big Brother StarGame introduces a new group of larger-than-life, must-watch TV personalities to African television audiences, and for fans of the reality super-series, that day can’t come soon enough. The show begins on Sunday, 6 May in the new timeslot of 20:00 CAT, and will screen live 24/7 for 91 days on DStv channel 198.
EntertainmentForbidden Broadway for UJ ArtsNew York's longest running musical comedy revue, Forbidden Broadway , makes its Johannesburg début at the UJ Con Cowan Theatre from 15 May. The show parodies favourite Broadway hits from shows like Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera and Les Misérables .
EntertainmentStarlight Express races to Joburg Theatre in 2013One of the best loved and longest running musicals in theatrical history will explode onto the South African stage with a brand new production helmed by award-winning director Janice Honeyman. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s sensational Starlight Express will race to The Mandela at Joburg Theatre for a strictly limited season beginning 2 July 2013.
EntertainmentForum offers an artistic Underground Dinner with the starsPassionate about South African art? Love food? Like being the first? The Forum Company can offer all three in an exclusive once-off Underground Dinner in the newly built Wits Art Museum before it officially opens to the public. Be the first to see their exhibition called Seeing Stars , which will be showcasing some of the most important artists and artwork in South Africa.
EntertainmentBeach Boys launch new single and announce new album detailsThe founding members of the Beach Boys, one of the world’s most legendary bands in popular music history, have reunited for a global 50 th anniversary celebration, including a new album release, a major international tour, and commemorative catalog releases. Their new studio album, That’s Why God Made The Radio , to be released on 5 June by Capitol/EMI.
EntertainmentBrandy releases first official single with Chris BrownR&B/pop singer songwriter and superstar actress Brandy announced the release of her official first single 'Put It Down' featuring Chris Brown. 'Put it Down' was produced by Shondrae 'Bangladesh' Crawford and Sean Garrett and co-written by Chris Brown, Shondrae Crawford, and Sean Garrett.
EntertainmentCultural collaboration to boost SA opera sceneA new Swiss-South African artistic collaboration will see the launch of the Reakopana Opera Festival later this year, in an exciting work-creation initiative for performing artists that also spells good news for lovers of classical music.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
Media NewsMK and Vodacom present the ultimate music video battleMusic fans should gear up as MK and Vodacom launch a new virtual interactive music video war show this May. Jy Druk Play , another Vodacom Unlimited Experience demonstrating 'power to you' with South Africa’s top alternative music channel MK, débuted on Thursday, 3 May at 17:00.
Media NewsDiscovery Channel - the home of incredible inventions this MayThis May, Discovery Channel (DStv channel 121) will unveil their Incredible Inventions season with three brand new shows: Unchained Reaction with Adam and Jamie from Mythbusters , the latest installment of James May’s Man Lab , with Inventions That Shook the World completing a threesome poised to inspire anyone with a passion for innovation.
Media NewsNat Geo Wild uncovers animal superpowers with Windfall FilmsNat Geo Wild has commissioned Windfall Films to produce Animal Superpowers . Hosted by actor Sir Patrick Stewart, this documentary series investigates the incredible superpowers of nature’s deadliest animals; from shape shifting octopuses that change the colour of their skin in an instant to salamanders that have the alien-like ability to re-grow lost limbs.
EntertainmentASSITEJ brings high quality family theatre to NAFFor the next three years, ASSITEJ South Africa will be inviting local and international artists to share exciting, high-quality theatre productions for families and young audiences at the ASSITEJ SA Family Venue at the annual National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
EntertainmentYoung readers remain the epicentre of FLF agendaThe majority of South African children are eager to learn, but have minimal access to books that are engaging and relevant to their lives. The encouragement of a love for reading amongst the youth has been one of the main aims of the Franschhoek Literary Festival since its inception, and one of the reasons why the FLF will host a Book Week for Young Readers from 7 to 11 May.
Media NewsThe Diamond Queen to be broadcast on SABC3 The Diamond Queen will premiere on Sunday, 20 May at 20:30 on SABC3. This BBC documentary, presented by British journalist and political commentator Andrew Marr, is a three-part series looking at the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II, with special interviews and remarkable archive footage.
EntertainmentElvis Blue wins big at the 18th Annual SAMAsElvis Blue has achieved another great feat by taking home the award for Best Adult Contemporary Album for his special edition double CD, Elvis Blue , at the 18 th Annual MTN South African Music Awards , held on Monday, 30 April at Sun City.
Media NewsBig Brother StarGame announces seven celebrity housematesWith less than three days to go before the start of Big Brother StarGame on AfricaMagic Entertainment and DStv channel 198, the game has well and truly begun. On 3 May, just 24 hours after images of the newly designed house were revealed, came Biggie’s latest surprise - the news that seven celebrity housemates would be part of the seventh season of Africa’s biggest reality TV show.
Media NewsKabelo Ngakane to host Sportsview on SABC2SABC2 welcomes distinguished TV and radio personality Kabelo Ngakane as he joins the channel as the host of a new sports show, Sportsview . Sportsview will be broadcast every Sunday at 12:30, starting on 6 May, and he will co-host the show with former Hectic Nine-9 presenter Asanda Maku.
Media NewsAutoWeek reports a 'stunning success' AutoWeek , South Africa's dedicated new weekly motoring newspaper, may be only seven issues old, but the title is already making waves with copy sales beyond even the publisher's wildest expectations. AutoWeek is already selling well over 7000 copies through the conventional distribution network every issue.
EntertainmentJames Cairns’ Sie Weiss Alles to premiere in Cape TownWriter and actor James Cairns will present the Cape Town première of his latest play, Sie Weiss Alles , at the Kalk Bay Theatre from 9 May to 2 June. Cairns, who was most recently seen on stage in Cape Town as a Dromio twin, playing opposite Rob van Vuuren in Maynardville’s A Comedy of Errors , performs in Sie Weiss Alles with Taryn Bennett, under the direction of Tamara Guhrs.
In FocusDarren Scott and his gang get the Ballz rollin’ againThey’re back and have more Ballz than you can handle. Sport balls, of course. Sport commentator and award-winning radio presenter, Darren Scott returned to the (interweb) airwaves with a try, conversion and many goals to bring South Africans all the best sporting news. Christine Greyvenstein put on her scrum cap and attended the Ballz Visual Radio launch.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentInternational superstars to get PE pumpingMultiple award-winning music icons Ludacris, Ne-Yo, Mi Casa and Shaggy will get Port Elizabeth pumping at the first MBay Mega Fest on Saturday, 2 June. They will join Shoelace and three-time South African Music Award winners Mi Casa at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Media NewsYouth Fit Africa online magazine to get young people movingLaunching on 12 May, Youth Fit Africa is a new online magazine featuring information about and for young people on the move. Youth athletes, fitness fans, trainers, and coaches will find useful training and fitness tips, nutrition information, profiles of youth involved in sports and fitness, and opportunities such as events, try-outs, and programmes to get involved in.
Entertainment'The Art of the Creative Economy' at ACT/UJ ConferenceIn an unprecedented gathering of the country’s creative minds, the inaugural ACT/UJ Arts & Culture Conference , taking place at the University of Johannesburg’s Kingsway campus on 24 and 25 May, should be on everyone’s agenda for those directly or indirectly involved with the arts in South Africa.
Media NewsDirty Sexy Money returns to SABC3Returning for a second season, critically-acclaimed Dirty Sexy Money continues to find the absurdly wealthy Darling family of New York City mixed up with the wrong people and embroiled in some bad situations. Fortunately for the preeminent family, idealistic lawyer Nick George takes care of their legal needs, which often run into shady territory.
Media NewsGet adventurous with Do It Now in May Do It Now 's April/May issue features a sizzling line up of adventure, sport and lifestyle articles. Cover stories include Darryl Curtis's experience at the famous Dakar Rally; snowboarding in Meribel, France; adventure racers being invited to take a Quantum Leap; and surfers battling mother nature at the South Coast Surf Carnival .
EntertainmentCosy comedy at Le Canard in SandtonIt is improv comedy made up of audience suggestions, featuring the best performers in the business. It is to be a regular event at Le Canard, and the launch takes place on Monday, 4 June, at 19:00.
EntertainmentMarket Theatre stages Zwakala winner Next SundayThe Market Theatre will present the 2011 Market Theatre Laboratory's Zwakala Festival winner, Next Sunday , from 16 to 27 May. Conceived by Godfrey Thobejane and directed by Khethiwe Dlamini with co-director Godfrey Thobejane, this is a play about how damage is handed down from generation to generation.
EntertainmentTalent, lifestyle, creativity thrive at SANAA SANAA Africa is a three-day long African cultural festival, endorsed by the City of Joburg as the official Africa Day celebration. Now in its third year, the festival promises a bolder and more exciting programme from Friday, 27 May through to Sunday, 29 May.
EntertainmentTango show From South to South cancelled From South to South , the international Tango Amor Show from Argentina, was due to play at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square from 8 to 19 May. Producer Daphne Kuhn has announced that it has been cancelled due to illness and complications. The theatre was only informed at the last minute.
EntertainmentArtists exhibit for autism in MelvilleSouth Africans Liebner Anthony van Zyl and Celeste von Solms will partner with the Els Foundation for Autism when they exhibit in Melville in June. Van Zyl - a painter - was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome (a mild form of autism) in his teens. He has, however, turned this challenge into an opportunity by developing his own unique brand of art.
Media NewsNew vision for VISI at New MediaSouth Africa’s innovative décor, design and architecture title VISI (@VISI_Mag) has made a strategic leap from owner Media24 Magazines to leading content marketer New Media, its long-time publisher. On 7 May, New Media announced transfer of ownership of the title, which it has published on behalf of Media24 for the past 14 years.
EntertainmentTygerberg Children's Choir presents an evening of choral splendourOn 26 May at 19:30, the Tygerberg Children's Choir will give its first concert of the year in the Baxter Concert Hall. Tickets cost R90 per person and can be booked through Computicket. Works performed will include 'Psalms for Dancing' by Douglas Coombes, Brahms' 'Ave Maria', 'A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square' and 'Mr Sandman'.
EntertainmentThe Brothers Size comes to Baxter FlipsideThe American drama The Brothers Size is heading for the Baxter for three weeks only, following its success at Syracuse Stage in Central New York. The Brothers Size is by one of America’s hottest young literary voices, Tarrel Alvin McCraney. It will play at the Baxter Flipside from 18 May to 9 June at 19:00 nightly.
EntertainmentTheatreSports FUNdraiser calls for support"TheatreSports, the amazing, crazy improv performance with long and short games, music and a mystery celebrity guest player, is headed for Canberra! Megan Furniss, Tandi Buchan and Candice D’Arcy, veteran TheatreSports players and improv experts, are flying across a very big piece of sea to Canberra, Australia, host of an international improvisation explosion in July."
Entertainment ReviewsThe Boy who Fell to EarthReading a Kathy Lette book is a bit like laughing in church. It feels wrong as the subject matter tends to be serious – heartbreak, loss of a child and the like – but her writing style is such that you soon find yourself smiling and reading bits aloud to whoever is around you. Her latest, The Boy Who Fell to Earth , is no different.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
EntertainmentDETOURS opens its doorsRunning from 8 to 26 May at the Wits Theatre Complex, DETOURS promises a stimulating line-up of students and young professionals’ work. The programmes include works by Wits third and fourth year physical theatre students who have been guided by professionals such as award-winning Bailey Snyman, Jane Crewe and visiting scholar Professor Esther Haeusler.
Media NewsMzansi Magic’s Inkaba inspires more local storiesFollowing the success of its first telenovela Inkaba , M-Net’s South African channel Mzansi Magic issued commissioning briefs for a new telenovela and bubblegum movies. Mzansi Magic’s channel head, Lebone Maema, says the overwhelming response to Inkaba confirmed a viewer demand for more original, long-running home-grown stories.
EntertainmentFeast for 80s fans at Cresta BarnyardExperience the explosive music scene from the decade that produced the most significant, daring and controversial icons of our time - the Icons of the 80s . Featuring an 11-piece cast, this funky production will take you back to those pop stars that made their mark on musical history with outrageous fashion statements, catchy hit songs and saucy dance moves.
EntertainmentBig Concerts announce Celtic Woman live in Johannesburg and Cape TownBig Concerts has announced that Irish female singing group Celtic Woman will perform live in South Africa for the first time as part of their Believe Tour at the Big Top Arena, Carnival City (Johannesburg) on 28 September and at the Grand Arena, GrandWest (Cape Town) on 2 October. The concerts are presented in partnership with M-Net.
Media NewsTop Billing launches presenter searchMost people go to sleep to do their dreaming, but a few wake up in the morning and go to work to do theirs. If you are ready to live your Top Billing dream, then May might just be your lucky month. Top Billing and SABC3 have announced the return of the presenter search.
Media NewsAvusa Media hosts its first online ad auctionOn any given day, a full-page, full-colour ad in leading daily newspaper The Times is valued at R70 200. However, for one day only this April – and as part of the re-launch of advertising sales platform PushPrint – bidders could purchase the space via a live online auction.
EntertainmentParty around the world at Boksburg BarnyardCriss-cross the globe and visit exotic destinations like the Rio Carnival, the Mardi Gras Carnival in New Orleans, The Cape Minstrel Carnival in Cape Town, St Patrick’s Day in Ireland, The Halloween Festival, The Soccer World Cup 2010 in South Africa and a New Year’s Eve celebration at Times Square - New York.
Media NewsLiberia to join movement to repeal criminal defamationThe World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) has welcomed Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s commitment to press freedom after her public endorsement of the Declaration of Table Mountain, a continent-wide call to repeal criminal defamation and 'insult' laws.
Media NewsTrue Love turns 40 True Love magazine will celebrate its 40 th birthday in May, marking 40 years of leading the publishing pack in producing meaningful and relevant content for South African black women.
Editorial DeskState-affiliated media and the problem of panderingIn an ideal world, journalists and the media would always be perfectly impartial, incapable of any bias, and able to present both sides of a story without a single degree of prejudice toward either party. Unfortunately, journalists are human, so this is not always the case. Throw state ownership or affiliation into the mix, and you have an even bigger dilemma.
Wednesday, 02 May 2012
In FocusEpson derives ways for retailers to saveEpson recently launched a new technological development to tend to the needs of customers and employees in the retail and hospitality industries. Previously, when you wanted more information from a shop or the bill from a restaurant, you would need to track down your waiter or a retail assistant, and we all know what a hassle that can be.
EntertainmentSedibeng's talent shines through at festivalAt the fifth leg of Gomacc’s Directors Festival , directors trained by Gomacc – the Gauteng Organisation of Community Art Centres – again dominated the stage. The community of Sedibeng came out by the dozens to attend the festival on 5 and 6 May, and two enthusiastic and well-behaved school groups supported the local players.
Media NewsiMaverick now available on AndroidDue to the successful uptake of the iPad and iPhone versions of iMaverick , the iMaverick team have unveiled an Android version of the publication. Research carried out in the US by digital trends publisher eMarketer estimates that smartphone usage by Americans grew 25% year on year and will by 2016, represent 60% of the entire US market.
EntertainmentKyk Hier Staan ‘n Nuwe Mens is coming to the South African State TheatreBTE VO1SS presents Kyk Hier Staan ‘n Nuwe Mens on Friday, 25 and Saturday, 26 May at the South African State Theatre. BTE VO1SS was invited to the Oude Libertas Summer Concert Series to present an Afrikaans concert called Kyk, Hier Staan ‘n Nuwe Mens on 15 February in Stellenbosch. The concert was well received and it was requested that it be presented in Pretoria.
In FocusTalking about imagination and creative process with Lesley PearseLesley Pearse is well known for her many spellbinding novels, from Stolen, Faith and Hope to Tara . Pearse is a true storyteller and excels at gripping her readers’ attention, getting them hooked on each story from beginning to end. She introduces you to characters that are impossible forget. Melanie Heyns recently spoke to the author.
Media NewsDisney Channel ups family fun with Friday night moviesThe entire family will be delighted to know that, starting this May, Disney Channel (DStv channel 303) will be bringing a host of much-loved Disney movies to the small screen in its special movie slot, every Friday at 17:00. The Disney Channel Family Movie Block is perfect for the whole family, including moms and dads looking to enjoy some downtime with their children at the end of the week.
Media NewsDMMA announces plans to grow the SA digital landscape in 2012The Digital Media and Marketing Association (DMMA), a non-profit organisation that aims to grow and sustain a vibrant and profitable digital industry, recently announced at its annual convention that this year there would be an increased focus on driving the growth of the industry within a South African context.
EntertainmentFranschhoek Literary Festival announces programme updateWith the 2012 Franschhoek Literary Festival around the corner (happening from 11 to 13 May), a few updates to the programme are important to note. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Kenyan writer Binyavanga Wainaina will unfortunately not be able to attend this year’s FLF , and will not be appearing in Events 13, 43 and 76.