Joanna Weinberg Returns To South Africa To Perform Her Hit Cabaret Show

Actress, songwriter and cabaret artist Joanna Weinberg returns to South Africa after many years, to perform her entertaining hit solo cabaret, Pandora's Bag at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio, for a limited season, from 23 October to 3 November, at 8.15pm.

Well-known for role as Desdemona in Othello, opposite John Kani and directed by Janet Suzman at the Market Theatre in the 80s, Weinberg has lived in Australia for the past 20 years. She graduated from the University of Cape Town Drama Department and later became one of the first Top Billing presenters, as well as starring in films such as Saturday Night at the Palace and Sweet and Short.

Born in London and raised in South Africa before moving to Sydney, Australia, Weinberg comes from a family of classical musicians. She has many years of experience in creating and performing theatre, music, cabaret and musical theatre and she has created five albums of original songs, two of which are original cast albums of her musicals.

Joanna has written 13 original one-woman shows including the critically acclaimed Piano Diaries which is available on iTunes. Her award winning musical, Lifeforce the Mother of all Journeys, won the Sydney Fringe in 2013 and her soccer parent musical Every Single Saturday toured NSW in 2011. Some of her other original shows include Baroness Bianka's Bloodsongs, 12 Shoes and Sinksongs which was the inspiration for the feature film Goddess and which had a worldwide release in 2012, directed by Mark Lamprell. Her work has been performed in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and South Africa.

Much of her theatre training and background is evident in many of the songs with a masterful way of crafting lyrics. Pandora's Bag is comic one-woman cabaret show with keyboard, accordion and handbags. The show is inspired by bags and the women who wear them, and the audience is encouraged to show and tell their own bag stories for a chance to win a prize covering subject matter like Old Bags, Laundry Bags and BagPorn. A volunteer bag model will also be selected from the audience so for those theatrical extroverts, there is chance to shine.

"I'm so thrilled to be performing in Cape Town again, which is where I began my career. With October being breast cancer awareness month, I felt that this would be a timely show which celebrates both women and the handbag as metaphor for and extension of the female body," explains Weinberg. She continues, "I would like to point out that men also love this show, as they have their own baggage."

The Australian press have raved about the show. Sydney Arts Guide said, "This is a show worth seeing, as indeed is anything presented by Joanna Weinberg. It's uplifting, musically funky and totally enjoyable. The show, with its laid back and cool stagecraft and humorous cynicism, is reminiscent of Berlin's cabarets of the 1920s and Weinberg's lyrical prowess is as clever as Noel Coward's." What's On, Sydney agreed, saying "I left with a huge smile having had a thoroughly entertaining night that I would thoroughly recommend."

Five Finger Review enthused, "Take one-part genius, mix it with a brilliant sense of humor and waggishness, and what do you have? Well, Joanna Weinberg of course. This vivid playwright, composer, vocalist, author and soothsayer is at it again with a brilliant offering entitled Pandora's Bag. Sydney Scoop was equally flattering, with "Her show, Pandora's Bag, is essentially a feminist love song. It doesn't take long to realise that Weinberg not only cares about other women, she actively thinks about and campaigns for their rights."

Pandora's Bag runs at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from 23 October to 3 November at 8.15pm nightly with Saturday matinees at 5pm. Ticket prices ranges from R160 to R180 and R130 for block-bookings of 10 or more. Booking is through Webtickets or selected Pick n Pay stores.