Fugard Theatre Opens Musical Tribute DISTRICT SIX – KANALA Tonight

Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre will present a musical tribute - DISTRICT SIX - KANALA, created and directed by David Kramer - to mark the 50th anniversary of the destruction of District Six.

On 11 February 1966, District Six was declared a whites-only area under the Group Areas Act. Over 60 000 people were relocated. A way of life was destroyed. Fifty years have passed and today hardly anything remains of what was once a thriving, densely populated, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural community. The Fugard Theatre, located in the area, will pay homage to what was once District Six - the place and its people.

DISTRICT SIX - KANALA will have its premiere tonight 11 February 2016, precisely 50 years after the declaration of 1966. Kramer, who together with his writing partner, the late Taliep Petersen, created the hugely successful musicals - DISTRICT SIX, FAIRYLAND and KAT AND THE KINGS, will celebrate the vibrant musical culture that was to be found in the streets, halls, hotels, clubs and bioscopes of 1960s District Six. He says:

KANALA will be my way of celebrating the memory of some of the amazing talents from District Six that I met and worked with over the past three decades. People like Taliep Petersen, Salie Daniels, Cyril Valentine, Billy Jaftha, Dougie Schrikker, Al Hendricks, Zayn Adam as well as Richard Rive and Vincent Kolbe. These were all friends who shared their vivid recollections of place and people with me.

As always, Kramer has cast some of Cape Town's top talents for this emotionally charged musical including Loukmaan Adams (DISTRICT SIX: THE MUSICAL, KAT AND THE KINGS), Bianca Le Grange (WEST SIDE STORY, BLOOD BROTHERS), Carlo Daniels (ORPHEUS IN AFRICA, BLOOD BROTHERS), Edith Plaatjies (ORPHEUS IN AFRICA), Sne Dladla (FERGUS OF GALLOWAY, ORPHEUS IN AFRICA), Andrea Frankson (BLOOD BROTHERS), Natasha Hess (ORPHEUS IN AFRICA, WEST SIDE STORY), and Cleo Raatus (WHAT WE WISH FOR, DIE VAN AARDES VAN GROOT OOR). Of the company he has assembled, Kramer comments:

I am really thrilled to be directing these dynamic, young performers, most of whom I've had the pleasure of working with in previous Fugard Theatre productions of KAT AND THE KINGS, BLOOD BROTHERS and ORPHEUS IN AFRICA. They are all exceptionally versatile and capable of delivering the heartfelt and high energy performances that I have in mind for KANALA.

The eight performers will be accompanied by a six piece live band under the leadership of saxophonist Don - Veno Prins and guidance of musical director Alistair Izobell. Kramer continues

Alistair, Donveno and I have had a wonderfully creative relationship for many years now and I can't wait to get back into the rehearsal room with them. Together with the band we'll be creating an accompaniment bursting with the rhythms and flavours of the music that was popular at that time.

The Fugard Theatre, with its entrance being the historic Congregational Church Hall in Caledon Street, is proud to bear the name of South Africa's greatest playwright who for more than 50 years has written soul-searing plays with roles for all South Africans. which have moved audiences in South Africa and around the world to laughter and tears as they reflected the racism, barbarity and inhumanity of apartheid. The Fugard Theatre is also proud to be located in District Six and to honour, with this production, the history and memory of that vibrant community so savagely uprooted during the apartheid era.

DISTRICT SIX - KANALA will preview from 2 February 2016 and will open officially on 11 February 2016, marking the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the destruction of District Six. Tickets for all preview performances from will cost R130 each when bookings are made through the box office on 021 461 4554. Tickets for the remainder of the season, costing R110 - R220, will be available through the Fugard Theatre's box office at Computicket outlets and all Shoprite Checkers stores nationwide. The Fugard Theatre offers excellent discounts for pensioners, learners and groups of 10 or more, which can be organised along with bookings for charities and fundraisers by emailing Lamees Albertus or calling 021 461 4570.

There is plenty of safe, secure parking diagonally opposite the theatre and on days when the weather permits the rooftop bar is open before and after every performance, come and join us for spectacular views of the city and the mountain. The Fugard main bar serves delicious basket-style snacks before and after each performance too and patrons are encouraged to make use of our interval drinks system where they can pre-order refreshments for the interval.