The South African State Theatre Set for a Thrilling 2016 Season

The South African State Theatre in Pretoria has announced a year of thrilling and diverse productions for 2016. Artistic Director Aubrey Sekhabi has structured the season around ten of the most diverse and exhilarating theatre programmes in the country, namely the Main Programme, the Indie Spotlight, the Community Arts Dramaturgy Outreach (CADO), the Incubator, Jazz and African Music Nights, Tshwane Comedy nights, the Youth X-pressions Festival, the Vavasati International Women's Festival, the Mzansi Fela Festival, the Home Theatre SA Festival and the Mahofi Precinct programme. Sekhabi hopes to feature acts from many parts of the country at the State Theatre, with presentations catering for audiences of all ages.

In addition to the announcement of the season's structure and its highlights, Sekhabi is also pleased highlight two exciting new appointments. He says:

We have employed a new CEO, Dr Sibongiseni Mkhize, who is already a big player in the arts, culture and heritage sector. I have also invited Bernard Jay, former CEO of Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein, in his freelance capacity to executive produce a series of major productions in our massive 1313-seater Opera Theatre.

The new CEO is excited to be joining the State Theatre at a time when it is already receiving recognition for its dynamic artistic programme. Mkhize comments:

Sekhabi's programmes deal robustly with the realities of the new South Africa and I hope to continue in this vein, to assist in bringing even more transformation to the arts sector via our stages, events, festivals and other exciting programmes.

Jay, who is already well-known for transforming the Johannesburg Civic Theatre into the more dynamic Joburg Theatre, has a reputation for producing theatrical box-office hits. He served as the CEO and Executive Producer at Joburg Theatre for 13 years before going freelance. He says:

I have already contracted five major productions to The State Theatre for its 2016/17 artistic programme and am looking forward to producing them in the stunning Opera Theatre. These titles will comprise of a mixture of newly produced legendary and contemporary theatre musicals - with completely South African casts and creative teams - and the very best of international touring shows.

The State Theatre's partnership with Jay will see big titles like BURN THE FLOOR, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER and MEMPHIS hit the stage in 2016. These will be followed up with THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL - THE WHITNEY HOUSTEN SHOW and THE COLOR PURPLE in 2017. Three of these productions will feature all South African artists and, for the first time at the State Theatre, these three shows will be non-replicated productions, allowing local directors an opportunity to highlight their formidable talents.

Jay's "Big Five" will be featured as part of the State Theatre's Main Programme over the next two years, alongside productions such as Paul Slabolebszy's SUDDENLY TODAY as well as 31 DAYS, true South African stories directed by Itumeleng Motsikoe. The Gauteng Opera too will collaborate with the State Theatre, bringing back the spirit of opera with vibrant local stories, both traditional and contemporary.

Productions of prescribed texts for schools will also be presented for school pupils, including the beloved SOPHIATOWN, directed by Professor Malcolm Purkey, and two other indigenous set works titled LENONG KA GAUTA and KUDLEA O YAZIWO.

The CADO programme will continue to celebrate South African classic and contemporary works. CADO caters for fifteen community groups who will present their projects at the end of the year during the Mzansi Fela Festival, which takes place at the State Theatre on an annual basis. Sekhabi says:

The State Theatre has always been committed to developing young, emerging artists and through CADO this has been made possible.

With its thrilling theatre programme, ranging from thought-provoking indie pieces to big global hits, as well as the raucous, laugh-out-loud comedy events and vibrant festivals, the State Theatre hopes to continue to play a vital role in the transformation of the South African arts scene. About the 2016-2017 seasons, Sekhabi concludes:

I personally believe Gauteng, South African and overseas audiences are in for a real treat. South African theatre is alive and thriving at the State Theatre.

The State Theatre looks forward to working with its stakeholders and sponsors in 2016, namely the City of Tshwane, City Property, Department of Arts and Culture, TMI music, Nubreed, Usutu, MNET, the many directors, producers, artists, crews and the media.