YIPPPPEEEE PEOPLE’S THEATRE IS FINALLY BACK
Peoples Theatre is determined to get up and running, to bring you the very best in theatre for children, returning with an audience favourite Beneath African Skies, running for a limited season from 7th March – 10 April 2022.
South Africa is a super melting pot of many different people from all races, colours and creeds. This has resulted in a rich heritage of wonderful stories with their roots firmly in African soil. In this production, Peoples Theatre is excited to bring you an ensemble of great African stories that are particularly appealing to children.
To set the scene is an African landscape that transforms itself as the wonders of the land becomes the backdrop to the myths and legends acted out by a group of super talented professional actors.
Directors Jill Girard and Keith Smith carefully craft this production to entertain and educate young minds into a greater understanding of the wonderful stories and the rich heritage that exists in South Africa like never before.
Beautiful hand-crafted masks and puppets allow the actors to transform into the many different animals that inhabit the land. A soundtrack of extraordinary effects underscores all the action and interaction of this moving piece of children’s theatre. Well-known
African songs live side by side with their contemporary counterparts ensuring that this becomes a whole musical experience children will love.
Co-director JilL Girard states; “If we don’t nurture and create theatre for children, there will be no theatre for future generations! We believe in developing our audiences of tomorrow – this is where it all begins… It’s been a tough two years not being able to do what we love, bringing magic into the minds and hearts of children, so we are so thrilled we’re now able to stage Beneath African Skies in association with Joburg Theatre.”
Come and take part as we journey through the sun drenched landscape under blue African skies, starring Peoples Theatre audience favourites Noni Mkhonto, Luciano Zuppa and Yamikana Mahaka-Phiri.
ACTIVE AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION IS GREATLY ENCOURAGED WITH ALL COVID PROTOCOLS IN PLACE.
The aim of this production is to introduce the magic and joy of live theatre to young audiences. The emphasis is on the value of books and reading. Familiar stories are acted out in a creative format told with Peoples Theatre’s trademark wit and great musical numbers. Audience participation is encouraged, gently reminding learners that reading and books are filled with magic and fun!
Show times for schools are Monday to Friday at 9am and 11am.
Show times for Public are 10h30 and 14h30 Weekends and school holidays
Ticket Prices:
R145 per person for members of the public
R100 if you are a member of the Peoples Theatre Club
R115 for public accompanying members
For School group rates, contact the theatre directly
PLEASE BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Call 0824506524 or email info@peoplestheatre.co.za for bookings or enquiries.
For any interview requests, please contact Collett Dawson of The CoLab Network
The Wonderful Actors of Beneath African Skies
Noni Mkhonto
Noni Mkhonto’s first professional production started here at The People’s Theatre back in 2007. Straight from high school and into the industry. Noni landed the role of Alice in Alice In Wonderland. Highlights of her career have been performing in Janice Honeyman’s Jack and the Bean Stalk, Aladdin and Robin Hood, to name a few. She has been in the industry now for 15 years non-stop and knows she will last another 40 years. This production will be her 13th production for the Peoples Theatre. Noni is now a 2019 Naledi Nominated actress, she also has her own podcast and has now ventured into voice over artistry. She says there are many other doors to open. She most recently starred in Janice Honeyman’s Cinderella at the Joburg Theatre in 2021.
Luciano Zuppo
Luciano started his professional career at the famed No 58 Theatre Restaurant in Hillbrow in the cabaret revues It’s Still Rock ‘n Roll To Us, Beatles in Season and Bless My Soul It’s Rock ‘n Roll.
Since then he has sung, danced and acted his way through the musicals, The Pirates of Penzance, Singing in the Rain, Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, Grease, Hair, The King and I, Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert, and the musical trilogy, Sweeney Todd, Sweet Charity and Candide. Performing the lead role in You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Oklahoma! and West Side Story. Cabaret tours throughout South Africa include Elton John – This Is His Song, New York State of Mind and Putting It Together With Stephen Sondheim.
Career highlights include The Best of Rice and Webber at the Natal Playhouse, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road at the Sound Stage, Elton John – This Is His Song at the Sun City Superbowl, Immortality – The Bee Gees and the extravaganza Fantasy both at Carnival City and the highly acclaimed production of Queen At The Ballet in Dublin.
Luciano especially enjoyed performing in the highly successful national tours of Queen At The Opera (for which he was nominated for three regional Vita awards), playing the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz,Mr Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors, Judge Turpin in the Naledi award winning Pieter Toerien and KicksArt production of Sweeney Todd.
He was nominated for a Naledi in 2018 for his role in Our Stories, Our Africa and has become a regular favourite in productions at the Peoples Theatre.
Yamikani Mahaka-Phiri
Yamikani began his professional career being featured in The CoLab Networks Swingin’ Christmas (2013) at Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre. Soon after, he was cast as Mandela 2 understudy for Mandela Trilogy (2014/2016) with The CapeTown Opera which toured to Germany, Italy, Ireland and the U.K. His highlights include portraying Donkey in the People’s Theatre production of Shrek Jr. (2015), King Magnum in KickstArt’s Production of Puss in Boots (2017) and ensemble in VR Theatrical’s Rock of Ages (2017) which both took place at Gold Reef City’s Lyric Theatre. He got the opportunity to play Gary Coleman in VRT and Kosie Smit’s production of Avenue Q (2018) at Montecasino. He recently won a Naledi Theatre Award for potraying ‘Harpo’ in The Color Purple (2018) at the Joburg Theatre. He had the privilege of playing “Mr. M” in My Children! My Africa! (2019) at the Pretoria State Theatre for which he won a second Naledi Award. He portrayed ‘Smudge’ in VRT’s production of Forever Plaid (2019) at Montecasino and Theatre on the Bay and Mr. Mayor in &Scenes production of Seussical (2019/20). His most recent role was Dandini in Janice Honeyman’s Cinderella at the Joburg Theatre in 2021.
