Forthcoming KickstArt Productions

Heritage Theatre, HIllcrest
13-25 July

Starring Steven Stead and Michael Gritten
Directed and Designed by Greg King

This high-energy, high-camp quick change extravaganza won awards for acting, direction, design and best production at the Durban Theatre Awards 2007. Two actors play 10 roles in a mind-boggling, murder mystery spoof. Now the vampires, werewolves, ghouls and girlies of Mandercrest are reappearing in Hillcrest for a two week season at the charming Heritage Theatre.

Previous praise:

"The Mystery of Irma Vep, a handsome Durban production, is a scream in more ways than one. It's an absolute blast, actually. Bravo to unfailingly excellent Greg King and his exemplary performers, multiple-award winners Michael Gritten and Steven Stead. Both are simply superb."

Billy Suter, The Mercury 24.08.2007

"Combine the theatrical talents of set designer and director Greg King and actors Steven Stead and Michael Gritten into one production, stir well until the plot thickens, and you have the most amazing piece of camp theatre yet to come from the KickstArt kitchen! Under King's direction, Gritten and Stead have the audience in stitches from start to finish in what can only be described as one of the most madcap, zaniest, mindboggling pieces of theatre yet seen in eThekwini."

Tommy Ballantine, The Sunday Tribune 26.08.2007

Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, Johannesburg
11 May-6 June

The Playhouse Loft, Durban
7-12 September

Presented in Association with Daphne Kuhn and the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square
Starring Clare Mortimer and Michael Richard
Directed by Steven Stead
Designed by Greg King

This absorbing, fascinating play about a virtuoso violinist stricken with multiple sclerosis and her relationship with her psychiatrist, has recently had a hugely successful revival on London’s West End. Now Daphne Kuhn of the celebrated Old Mutual Theatre on the Square has joined forces with KickstArt to bring this exceptional play to South Africa. Starring two of the countries most accomplished actors, this production is sure to satisfy and challenge serious theatre-goers.

Clare Mortimer, whose dazzling performance in Wit garnered much praise and many accolades in Grahamstown, Durban and Johannesburg last year, excels as the passionate, acerbic central character, Stephanie Abrahams (based on the real-life cellist, Jaqueline du Prez), whose career is tragically curtailed with an insidious disease.

Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban
11-24 October

Starring Lisa Bobbert, Bryan Hiles, Charon Williams Ross, Peter Court and introducing Sascha Halbhuber
Directed by Steven Stead
Set Design by Greg King
Costumes designed by Terrence Bray
Choreography by Janine Bennewith

For the first time in Durban! A professional production of the dark, classy, classic Kander and Ebb musical! With an all-star local cast and multi-award-winning production team, this production is sure to be the hottest ticket in town. There will only be twelve performances over just two weeks, so Durban theatre lovers are advised to book IMMEDIATELY to avoid disappointment!

Set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, it focuses on nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around the 29-year-old English cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with young American writer Cliff Bradshaw.

Lisa Bobbert plays the faded, jaded, good-time girl Sally Bowles made famous by Liza Minelli in the 1972 movie, and German musical theatre star Sascha Halbhuber makes his South African debut as the sinister, sexy Master of Ceremonies, Emcee, while Bryan Hiles turns on the charm as the impressionable young writer, Cliff. Charon Williams Ross makes her long-awaited KickstArt debut as Fraulein Schneider, the worldly Berlin landlady, and Peter Court plays opposite her as Herr Schultz, her kindly Jewish suitor.

Kill to get a ticket!

10 December-9 January 2011

Starring Lyle Buxton, Darren King, Londiwe Dhlomo, Peter Court, Bryan Hiles, Michael Gritten, Liesl Coppin and Farai Gwaze
Directed by Steven Stead
Designed by Greg King

Christmas wouldn’t be the same without the dazzle of a KickstArt pantomime! And what could be more fun than a romp through Sherwood Forest with the dashing Robin Hood and his Merry Men? The adventures of Robin and Maid Marion as they dodge and battle the wicked Sherriff of Nottingham dovetail with the charming fairytale of the Babes in the Wood in KickstArt’s all-new panto. With all the magic that Merlin the Magician and evil enchantress, Morgan le Fey can conjure up, this delightful journey through the enchanted forests and castles of Medieval England guarantees to thrill and delight audiences of all ages with dragons, forest creatures, transformations, battles and dances, and the fun of familiar songs and witty jokes.

Lyle Buxton stars as the hero, Robin Hood, with Londiwe Dhlomo as his lovely lady, Maid Marion. Darren King shakes out his skirts again as the hilarious dame, Nurse Nicely, while Michael Gritten twirls his moustaches as the villainous Sherriff of Nottingham. Providing comic relief is knock-about team Bryan Hiles and Peter Court as inept robbers, Cecil and Claude. Liesl Coppin makes her pantomime debut as the glamorous but oh-so-evil sorceress, Morgan le Fey.