Thriller Live Interviews

Michael Jackson might have passed on but, his life will forever be celebrated.


So, there I was making my way to Monte Casino to watch Thriller Live for the second time, after being blown away by the talent those kids showcased.

I was totally chuffed the first time and then thought, I should meet the cast. I had an interview with 3 of them, the publicist gave me 10 minutes for each, so I couldn’t ask solid questions except “How are they finding it here in South Africa?, How is the audience reaction? Which is better, here or other countries? “, basically a few dumb questions.

I interviewed Dwayne Wint, Zoe Birkett and Ricko Baird (who portrayed Michael Jackson’s character). This was remarkable. It’s not often that I find myself twanging my English because I want to show off to American and British artist…actually, I usually speak with a very “black” accent to make things easy for performers from Alexander or Sebokeng.

Anyways, above everything, those kids were very talented, humble and sounded much focused. They are not like South African artists who think they’re all that from appearing as a chorus member of High School Musical or Grease…they totally bore the hell out on me.

I also realized that, international artists take the arts as part of their lives. Training is very vital, “Learn your craft very well and better yourself as an artist”, said Birkett.

I found that statement very true and hope that, future artists in South Africa would realized the importance of learning and stop seeing the arts as a mechanism to become famous and making money…because that’s not true.

So you think you can dance

I honestly don’t get the intentions for this show. Firstly, the standard has dropped immensely this year, and what’s up with “well known artist” being featured in the show. Last year was Thabiso Ledika from African Footprint and now its Lulu Mlangeni, whose been around in the dance industry. Mlangeni was even nominated for this year’s MEC Dance Award, including other nominations from the 2010 Dance Umbrella.


I think the show should have a change of name as it does not represent honesty in its meaning with, So you “think” you can dance…Most of those people don’t “think”…they are professional dancers.

America has the same thing but, it’s usually people from “unknown” dance studios who are trying to make it in the industry.

Anyways, I then shared my views with my mentor, Adrienne Sichel and she mentioned that, if the show really had dancers that “think” they can dance…it would be boring(viewership concerns ), and she also added that, some South African artist take part so as to boost themselves during “dry” seasons in the industry.

I get all of that but, I then asked if that’s the case, who will give opportunity(s) to those dancers in Soweto, who rehearse in the garage, with classes offered by some retired dancer (thinking of Sylvia Glasser). If renowned dancers take all the opportunities, where will we discover new talent? If that’s the case, how will the dance theatre industry grow and how will we as writers reach a broad and holistic readership with the same tedious, selfish and monotonous dancers who keep rotating themselves in the industry without any alteration?

What kind of dancers should So you think you can dance target?

WHY BLOG??

I have never thought of myself as a writer, let alone an Arts journalist but, somehow I manage to get myself into these writing shoes I wear today.


I’ve been to quite a number of theatre productions including festivals. I have also been involved with a few commercial publications and right at that time, came my need to blog and write what I feel with no limits.

I use my blog as a creative area where I can write anything about everything that I think you guys should know about but, above everything, I blog to speak a language that most people understand. I don’t like writing in big words that people don’t understand especially when writing about an arts piece, where people have to be driven to watch.

I feel that newspapers, except Daily Sun, are too busy trying to please academics and high class people forgetting the lower market, people like me and you. Another reason was for me to endeavor reaching the “black market”, youth and people with no interest for the arts and theatre because, I believe in the power of the arts and the change it can create on any human life.

Therefore, I hope you walk with me in this journey as I attempt to make a difference and actually try putting in place South African Arts and changing people’s perceptions without knowledge.

Do inform me on anything you would like to know and you’re also welcome to challenge me in anyway…

Carmen – The ballet of a disaster

Cast of the SABT Company

 So I decided to take a promenade up in Braamfontein’s Joburg Theatre this Sunday to check out Carmen – The ballet by the South African Ballet Theatre. Now before I go on, I want you guys to know that, I dearly love ballet, I am wholly in love with the SABT as a company and believe in the power of ballet for therapy, entertainment and a fascinating fantasy.


This might be a bit too much for a description of “just” a ballet but there is absolute supremacy in the art of ballet, which explains the reason for its audience…

I am going to be brutally honest, but the show sucked. The choreography was shaky, there was no synchrony and it just felt like an old age home family performance. Maybe this feeling comes from my “not so fond” feeling for Anya Carstens who had the role of Carmen and my bewilderment over Escamillo played Xola Putye. The guy was awfully round and his behind blocked the entire audience from seeing other performers. He was atrocious!

I know for sure that, the performance I watched was sincerely a bad one due to circumstances and therefore decided to go watch it again this coming Friday. I also know that I will not be disappointed. I will then update you guys fully on what I thought and in the meantime, get yourself a ticket and see what you think… The show ends on Sunday the 29 of August, so it is very limited. Just visit www.joburgtheatre.co.za or contact 011 877 6898 to view the show times or book your ticket.

Let me go watch it again this Friday and we’ll chat then….

(Please read the comment for the Friday's review).

FESTIVAL SEASON 2010

The month of August to the very end of year is one hectic month for the Arts, especially in the Gauteng region. Arts goers are currently indulging on the Drama For Life Festival which opened this past Sunday the 22nd of August. This is one of those rare festivals as it is exclusively focused on sex issues therefore engaging with the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. The festival kicked off with a performance from the Forgotten Angle Collaboration with their dance work entitled Deep Nights, directed by PJ Sabbagha.


From this show, one can easily tell that Sabbagha has passion for educating people about HIV/AIDS and he finds delight when that education can be done in a form of art, being dance in this case. Sabbagha is a gay man, living with AIDS and he shares some part of his life story in Deep Nights.

He has collaborated with big names such as Dada Masilo, Songezo Mcilizeli and other renowned dancers. The cast adapt to the story and make it their own as their engage in an intense moment of story telling through superlative sexually inclined body movements’ which express technique overflowing with emotions and infatuation.

The story is about an awareness of the night life which is usually intended to be fun and end up despondent as one engages in “different” forms of fun, such as drugs, alcohol and sex. Sabbagha does not dispute the pleasures derived form a night out but, his main focus is to place a careful mind set, an informed decision-making and to tell a story of an HIV affected youth.

Personally, this is one of the most powerful edutainment performances I have seen and would encourage any young person to check it out. There are many other shows that one would look forward to such the other PJ’s show , Sexscape, Blankets of Shame by Moving Into Dance Maphatong, Missing by Tracy Human, I am Here by Peter Heyes (This is a definite must. I call it a white man’s poetry of truth, art and shocking reality) and many others…

The Drama For Life Festival is not the only attraction this season. There is also Arts Alive which promises to be off the hook and Wits, Market Theatre and National Arts Festival collaboration of the annual 969 Festival which is basically a re-run of the Arts Fest. I saw the programme and felt like I was in Grahamstown again. I guess they are trying to accommodate theatre lovers that chose soccer over the festival…whatever really.

My favourite for September would be the Arts Alive Festival…I honestly can’t wait for this one. The programme is hip, fresh and very exciting. I am looking forward to Dada Masilo’s Swan Lake, the Comedy Nine Nine effort and some of the Hip Hop and House DJ’S. I’m not really one to fuss about parties and music but I strangely feel like this year is going to be hot.

I will put up posters and website info for you guys to check out. Please book for your tickets in advance and lookout for the posters for more info.

Visit www.wits.ac.za/witstheatre for Drama For Life and 969 Festival and visit www.artsalive.co.za for Arts Alive.

Jock of the Bushveld - The musical

The Masters of Musicals, Packed House Productions, producers of the classic hits The Sound of Music, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, The King and I and the original South African hits, Dis Hoe Dit Was – Die Steve Hofmeyr Storie, Knypie Oppie Kant, African Queens, Ons Vir Jou and Shaka Zulu – The Musical, in proud association with Absa, now brings you Jock of the Bushveld – The Musical.




Jock of the Bushveld – The Musical will be presented at The Mandela at the Joburg Theatre Complex and opens on 4 September 2010.

After the somewhat success of Shaka Zulu - The musical at the State Theatre, ABSA is proud to bring yet another musical, which is intended to be another success. I was personally not really moved by Shaka Zulu as i felt it was not strong enough, considering the multiple productions we have seen of the same tale.

Deon Opperman's music is always phenominal but the acting was soft and very Western, which kinda took away the Zulu feeling i had anticipated from the show.

I however, can't wait for the opening of Jock and we'll see if there's hope to South African Musical as i have given up after the disasterous Boys in the Photograph (which i will not talk about now).

I 'll keep updating you guys more on this show and let me know if there's anything specific you would like to know-