Indian theatre

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Indian theatre in South Africa

Celebrations of the Indian heritage

Shared History - The Indian Experience

The High Commission of India in South Africa and Teamwork Productions presents the fourth edition of the Shared History - The Indian Experience festival, 2010. This is a celebration of contemporary and classical music, dance, theatre, visual art, film, food and literature. The Festival commemorates the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first indentured Indians in South Africa and showcases the finest that the culture has to offer with performances presented in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg, Pietermaritzburg and Pretoria from 20 August until 30 September 2010.

The exceptional programme will provide an avenue for dialogue and collaborative work exchange between Indian and South African musicians, literary figures, dancers and visual artists. “The Shared History Festival is a unique celebration of plurality and the common heritage of India and South Africa. Over the years it has become a platform to showcase the best music, theatre, dance, film food and visual arts from India," says the High Commissioner Virendra Gupta.

From the spicy cuisine of the "land of spices” Kerala to a Film Retrospective to a Literary Festival, Words on Water; from ‘At the Edge and Other Cato Manor Stories,’ a collection of stories by celebrated author and playwright Ronnie Govender to music and dance performances by celebrated Indian artistes, including mandolin maestro U. Shrinivas, World Music exponents Mrigya and Midival Punditz; Vijayalakshmi’s Swan Lake, in Mohiniyattam style (an Indian Classical dance form from Kerala) and South Africa’s acclaimed Indian dance company the Tribhangi Dance Theatre; from a visual art exhibition in both Durban and Johannesburg to the Wellbeing Experience at the Emmarentia Botanical gardens; from an Ayuvedic conference to youth workshops, there is something for everyone - audiences can look forward to a great variety of events and performances that will bring great pleasure and delight.

Shared History kicks off with its Grand Opening on 3 September at the Turbine Hall, Newtown where the Midival Punditz, an Indian fusion group consisting of two Delhi-based musicians, Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj, will get the Festival off to a rocking start. They can be seen again at the trendy Zouk Lounge and bar in Sandton on 4 September.

Highlights of the 2010 Shared History Festival are:

-Where the Streets have no Names exhibition opening at the Durban Art Gallery on 20 August;

-the official opening DJ night featuring Midival Punditz - the Buddha-bar performance arts sensations visit South Africa for the first time on Friday 3 September at the Turbine Hall in Newtown.

-Mrigya, with its rich blend of Classical, Blues and Jazz music fusing Blues, Funk, Folk, Latin, Rock and Jazz with Indian classical music will present their re-contextualised Indian rhythms and melodies for the enjoyment of all. Mrigya created history at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by becoming the first Indian band to get a five-star rating. Catch them at the Zoo Lake on Sunday 5 September at the Arts Alive Festival’s annual Jazz on the Lake. They will also appear at the Durban City Hall on 4 September, at the Gandhi Hall in Lenasia on 6 September and in Pretoria at the Rendezvous, State Theatre on 7 September.

-theatre-lovers will be thrilled with Ronnie Govender's At the Edge and other Cato Manor Stories which will be presented in Durban at The Playhouse Company from 8 to 12 September and Johannesburg at The Market Theatre, Newtown, Johannesburg from 16 September to 26 September, while Lahnee’s Pleasure will be presented in Cape Town at the Artscape Theatre Complex from 14 to 28 August.

-a highlight on the Music programme is the concert with the outstanding Indian mandolin Maestro U Shrinivas, known as “Mandolin Shrinivas” for his mastery of the mandolin, performing with the Kwazulu Natal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Durban City Hall on 22 September, in Cape Town at the Joseph Stone Auditorium on 24 September and with the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra at the Linder on 26 September in what will be the finale for the Shared History – The Indian Experience.

-Dance lovers can enjoy two dance presentations: the world-renowned Mohiniyattam dancers Vijaylakshmi and Bharti Shvaji’s new choreographic work, inspired by Tchaikovsky’s music, Swan Lake in Mohiniyattam style, (a traditional South Indian dance form of Kerala) at the Dance Factory, Newtown from 8 to 12 September and South Africa’s acclaimed Dance company the Tribhangi Dance Theatre’s commissioned production From the Canefields to Freedom from 14 to 16 September.

-an exhibition of visual art curated by Dr. Alka Pande, ‘Where the Streets have No Name’ is a unique collaboration of art by recognised Indian artists, featuring a dynamic collaboration between 21 artists and the street children from India. The concept of the ‘Street’ arose from the bond that the children of ‘Salaam Balak Trust’ have with the street; the street was their home before they entered ‘Salaam Balak Trust’. A Street – a muse for many a photographer and the genre of street photography, the street becomes a canvas for creativity. Geographies vary but dynamic challenges of the street remain a constant source of inspiration. At the Durban Art Gallery from 20 August to 5 Sept and in Johannesburg at the Art and Craft design Centre in Sandton from September 10 to 30.

-a Film Retrospective (Johannesburg only) and an “In Conversation…” with movie star Rishi Kapoor discussing the Bollywood genre of Cinema in India. At Suncoast Cinemas, Durban on September 17 and at Nu Metro cinemas, Montecasino, Fourways, Johannesburg on September 19.

-The Wellbeing Experience, 19 September at Emmarentia Botanical Gardens, Johannesburg. From sunrise until sunset choose from 14 yoga and Ayurvedic disciplines and guided meditation taught by certificated practitioners and experience mind, body and soul purification. The Wellbeing Experience provides an opportunity to engage in the holistic practice of yoga and Ayurveda as well as one to one health consultations with Ayurvedic professionals. Lectures on Indian Ayurvedic Practices, Organic and Ayurvedic Food Stalls, Yoga Workshops (Yoga disciplines will include, amongst others, Classical, Ishta, Iyenger, Satyananda, Sri Sri and yoga for Children, guided Meditations and Music Performances. An outing for the whole family. Day ticket - R100.

-a festival within the festival is the Literary Festival, “Words on Water – India and South Africa in Conversation”. This literature festival enters its fourth year in collaboration with the Centre for Indian Studies in Africa at the University of the Witwatersrand. The established format will contain conversations between Indian and South African authors, some readings and performances. Featured authors to include Dr Shashi Tharoor, Ms Reba Som (who will focus on Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in the context of his 150th anniversary year), and other noted authors such as Urvashi Butalia, Sunil Khilnani and noted poet Arvind Mehrotra. They will be in conversation with South African authors, including some of the young rising stars of South African literature, Ptika Ntuli and Lebogang Mashile. In Johannesburg at the Turbine Hall, Newtown from September 24 to September 25 and in Cape Town at the University of the Western Cape from 20 September to 21 September.

-to cater for every taste(bud) a palette-stirring encounter with the cuisine of God’s own country Kerala will be featured in a week-long lunch and dinner engagement at one of Johannesburg’s premier restaurants, Le Canard. From September 14 to September 22 this will complete the sublime experience of India. Food fundis are advised to book early.

The Shared History Festival was initiated three years ago and has become a brand in its own right and is seen as an integral part of the South African cultural calendar. Consul - General Vikram Doraiswami says, “Shared History is a celebration of the shared spaces that the people of India and South Africa have occupied for the past centuries; it is also an attempt to create new common ground for greater dialogue through the medium of the arts” and Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Productions, the Indian company responsible for producing the national festival adds, “this year will be a unique celebration of ideas and content presented in a spirit of collaboration between South African companies and those from India. Shared History epitomises the belief that the arts transcend language, social barriers and art forms.”

The Shared History Festival is sponsored by the City of Johannesburg, Arts Alive, eThekwini Municipality, First National Bank (FNB), Jet Airways, Jindal, ICCR and Incredible India; associate sponsors are: ACSA, Tata Africa, Dunlop, Rosyblue, Bank of Baroda and KGK and the media partners are SABC TV2 Eastern Mosaic, Sunday Times, Zee TV, Lotus FM and Sutra Magazine.

Bookings at Computicket.

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