Cape Town Opera (CTO) will bring Rossini’s comic masterpiece “The Barber of Seville” to the intimate Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay from 5-17 August. This vibrant new production marks the opera directorial debut of acclaimed theatre-maker Sylvaine Strike, known for her work on “The Tempest,” “Spring Awakening,” and “The Promise.”

A fresh take on a classic Opera

Strike, renowned for her physically expressive storytelling and background in commedia dell’arte, promises to deliver a production rich in charm and vivid characterization. Her direction emphasizes comedy through expressive gesture and physical humor, allowing Rossini’s sparkling score to shine through a visually dynamic, character-driven approach.

“If you’ve never watched opera, you should try this production,” says Strike. “It’s delightfully funny, filled with physical humor, love, intrigue and plot twists.”

Star-studded cast features local and international talent

The multi-award-winning cast features:

• William Berger and Thando Zwane sharing the role of the irrepressible Figaro
• Innocent Masuku (who recently placed fourth in Britain’s Got Talent) and Dumisa Masoka as Count Almaviva
• Vienna-based Megan Kahts and CTO House Soloist Brittany Smith as the crafty Rosina

Supporting cast includes Lonwabo Mose and Conroy Scott as Bartolo, Monde Masimini as Don Basilio, Garth Delport as Fiorello, Luvo Rasemeni as Ambrogio, and Lusibalwethu Sesanti as Berta, alongside a male voice ensemble from the Cape Town Opera Chorus.

Grand opera in bonsai form

The production, musically directed and accompanied on piano by CTO Head Vocal Coach Jan Hugo, will showcase the expressive range and vocal virtuosity of bel canto singing in the intimate Theatre on the Bay setting.

Strike describes the production as “grand opera in bonsai form,” noting that the venue’s smaller scale becomes a creative advantage by giving audiences an up-close and emotionally resonant experience.

Visual aesthetic blends period and contemporary influences

With elegant, period-inflected costumes by Allegra Bernacchioni and a visual aesthetic inspired by classics like “Les Enfants du Paradis” and the popular series “Bridgerton,” this production of “The Barber of Seville” aims to enchant romantics, comedy-lovers, and opera newcomers alike.

Composed in 1816, Rossini’s masterpiece remains one of the most enduring works of Italian opera buffa, known for its witty recitatives and unforgettable melodies that continue to delight audiences worldwide.

Event Details

• What: Cape Town Opera presents “The Barber of Seville”
• When: August 5-17, 2025
• Where: Theatre on the Bay, Camps Bay, Cape Town
• Tickets: Available via Webtickets or the Theatre on the Bay box office (021 438 3300)

For more information about Cape Town Opera and upcoming productions, visit www.capetownopera.co.za.

The post Cape Town Opera’s Barber of Seville Comes to Theatre on the Bay this August appeared first on Weskus Nuus.

Haar studente het al toppryse in kunskompetisies oor die land heen gewen. Daarom is Nicoleen Smit van Nicoleen’s Art and Counselling Studio in Kimberley optimisties dat hul kunswerke wat vir die There is More to Us-kunskompetisie ingeskryf word, uitstekend sal vaar.

Dié kompetisie fokus op geestesgesondheid en word deur ‘n sielkundige in Pretoria aangebied.

Wenners ontvang kontantpryse en die kunswerke word daarna opgeveil. Die opbrengs word aan verdienstelike organisasies wat in geestesgesondheid spesialiseer, geskenk.

Sedert Nicoleen haar kuns- en beradingstudio geopen het, het dit van krag tot krag gegroei.

“Ek kry geweldige bevrediging om kinders en grootmense van kuns te leer, en vir sommige gee ek berading deur kuns.”

Nicoleen het ‘n hoër diploma in beeldende kuns, ‘n graad in kinderberading en ‘n honneursgraad in kunsterapie. Sy is baie trots op haar kunsstudente, van wie sommige oorloop van geesdrif en kunstalent.

Jeugdiges met ongelooflike talent

Muso Barend is ‘n 15-jarige seun wat weekliks van Galeshewe stap om die kunsklas by te woon.

“Hy het ongelooflike talent en word vanjaar deur dr. Anthony Thomas geborg. Hy teken graag portrette en vang die nuanses in menslike gesigte in sy pensketse vas.”

Lonwabo Jantjies (8) het verlede jaar die laerskoolafdeling van die ARTi Gallery Art Competition (Agac) van Klerksdorp gewen. Dit fokus op Suid-Afrikaanse en binnenshuise kunstenaars. Deelnemers moes ‘n klassieke kunswerk met Afrika-elemente verryk. Hy het die hemelruim van Vincent van Gogh se skildery, “The Starry Night,” gebruik en onderaan Afrika-hutte met motiewe aan die mure geverf.

Lonwabo en ook Aedon Daries (12) se kunswerke is in die 2025-kalender van die Santam Kinderkuns-kompetisie ingesluit. Sowat 3 900 inskrywings is ontvang. Die tema was “Welkom in my gelukkige plek.”

Die oogmerk van die kompetisie is vir kinders om hul gedagtes en emosies skeppend uit te druk.

Nicoleen en twee assistente, Refilwe (Fifi) Senyatso en Michaela van Heerden, bied een keer per week, op Maandae en Woensdae, kunsklasse vir 40 kinders in verskillende klasse aan. Dinsdae, Donderdae en Vrydae doen sy kunsberading vir groepe, volwassenes en kinders.

Soms bied sy kunsaande vir volwassenes en ontspannende vakansiekuns aan.

Kuns ‘wonderlike vorm van berading’

“Dit is vir sommige mense moeilik om gevoelens in woorde uit te druk, maar nie in kuns nie. In ‘n kunsberadingsessie kan mense hul gevoelens in enige medium soos klei, skilder en sketse uitdruk. Een interessante tegniek is ‘n “black-out poem.”

“Die kliënt omkring woorde in ‘n boek se bladsy wat tot hom of haar spreek en skryf ‘n gedig of liedjie met die betrokke woorde. Die lied of gedig word gewoonlik deur die persoon illustreer. Hieruit word antwoorde oor diepgaande kwellings baie duideliker.

“Kuns in enige vorm, met enige medium is ‘n uitdrukking van ‘n mens se binnekamer, en ‘n wonderlike vorm van berading.”

Nicoleen, wat self terapie vir trauma ontvang, skryf van haar eie kunswerke saam met haar studente s’n vir die kunskompetisie oor geestesgesondheid, in.

“Een van my tekeninge is die gesig van ‘n bejaarde vrou. Die diep groewe in haar gesig spreek van ‘n leeftyd van uitdagings, asof sy baie lewens probeer inpas het in een.”

Haar ander kunswerk gaan oor trauma oor geslagte heen. Drie gesigte is in die boomwortels en stam sigbaar – die ouma, die ma en die kind.

Van die kunswerke wat ingeskryf word, is onthutsend, sê Nicoleen.

“Vir my is dit asof vandag se kinders onder geweldige druk moet oorleef. Hulle moet skoolwerk bemeester, en aan allerhande buitemuurse aktiwiteite deelneem, met min tyd vir sosialiseer en afskakel.

“Dit is asof sommige van die kunswerke geweldige eensaamheid uitdruk.”

Kuns spreek kwessies wat pla, aan

In een van die skilderye het ‘n 12-jarige meisie ‘n papiermasker op die raam van die skildery geplak met woorde hoe sy soms voel, “I’m ok, I’m fine,” maar in die skildery self is die gesig van ‘n ongelukkige meisie sigbaar.

‘n Seun (14) teken hoe hy sy sorge van sy skouers afgooi as hy motorfiets ry. Nog ‘n meisie (13) verbeeld haar oorweldigende angs wanneer eksamentyd naderkom: “The Silent Scream of the Study Desk.” ‘n Seun (15) wat Graves se siekte, selektiewe mutisme en ADHD het, teken sy kleurryke binnewêreld en hoe niemand regtig weet wat daarin aangaan nie.

In nog ‘n houtskoolskets is ‘n gesiglose meisie (11 jaar) wat vooroor oor haar knieë buig, met hande met lang naels wat na haar gryp, met die titel: “In the Grips of Anxiety.”

Nog ‘n meisie (8) teken ‘n vasgevange marionet, “Puppet of Perfection.” ‘n Ander een (10) teken ‘n sonneblom oor haar gesig, die kyker sien nie die gesig agter die “vrolike” sonneblom nie.

‘n Seun (8) teken Justitia, godin van geregtigheid, maar in die agtergrond is woorde soos moord en verbode toegang sigbaar, hy beeld uit dat ons soms sukkel met negatiewe denke wat ons nie mag uitspreek nie.

Nicoleen sê kuns is nie net ‘n wyse om verborge talente te ontdek nie, maar ook ‘n manier om ondersoek in te stel na die binnewêreld, en op antwoorde af te kom oor kwessies wat pla.

Die kompetisie is ‘n platform wat bewusmaking vir geestesgesondheid skep.

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Desirée Rorke

Honouring a deathbed promise she made to her father to look after his art, Natalie Egling is in search of two of his paintings that hold a special place in her heart.

These paintings she fondly refers to as her dad’s “eggies”, found its way to a charity shop in Cape Town about three years ago and could very well be hanging on the walls of a house in the northern suburbs.

Amateur artist

Les Egling (1946-2024) was an amateur artist who painted primarily South African landscapes. In his lifetime, he amassed more than 200 paintings covering scenes from Pilgrim’s Rest to Patensie, Graaff-Reinet to Glencairn Heights.

After passing away in Johannesburg in August of last year, Natalie, who resides in England, packed up his art – from pencil sketches to water colours to oils on canvas – and had them shipped to her home in South East London.

“I started sorting and photographing them to catalogue in a book for friends and family. The book is part-appreciation, part-catalogue raisonné. But, frustratingly, in the process of making it, I discovered that it’s almost impossible to capture his full collection. There are paintings I hear about from family members, rediscover in the background of old photographs, or vaguely recall from my youth, but whose whereabouts are unknown,” she tells TygerBurger.

“The missing works that hurt the most are from my dad’s ‘eggie’ period that he swapped with an artist he knew locally when he lived in Mossel Bay.

Childhood nostalgia

The two pieces, named The Swing and Cape Sunday School belong to a small collection of only 13 “eggie” paintings that Egling painted for one year of his life in 2007.

These works were inspired by South African artist Portchie, and signed “eggie” at the bottom with the year 2007.

“I particularly love his ‘eggie’ paintings.

“The combination of the vivid colour choices alongside local landscapes, vernacular architecture and traditional rural pastimes gives this collection a South Africanism that make me feel homesick. The style of this collection is very different to his usual work. While he mostly painted South African scenes, his ‘eggie’ paintings, to me, in particular, feel not only playful, but like a nostalgic South Africa in concentrated form. Like Oros before you add the water.”

Cape Sunday School portrays four little girls standing outside Pniël Congregational Church, situated at the foot of the craggy Simonsberg in the village of Pniël, just outside of Stellenbosch. In the other piece, The Swing, two sisters play on a tree swing. In the background, a Cape Dutch-style house sits below a red-rock mountain side.

Charity shop

“When I contacted the artist after my dad’s passing in 2024, she said that she had left them at a previous rental property and that the landlady had then taken them to a charity shop somewhere between 2021 and 2022. It really broke my heart to find out that they had been donated to a charity shop in the first place. But knowing that they were bought by someone who saw value in them artistically and aesthetically would be so comforting. I hate to think of them as unloved and lost. I would love to be able to get good quality photographs of them to include in the book I am compiling, as a currently only have low resolution images of them that won’t print well.”

“When he was dying, I told him I would look after them for him. All of my dad’s paintings hold special meaning to me, but I must admit that I have a special fondness for his “eggie” period. They speak to me. I think partly because I know that his upbringing was hard, and that in the “eggie” paintings, he’s revealing what he sees as valuable in childhood.

The post Daughter searching for Les Egling’s lost ‘Eggie’ paintings appeared first on Weskus Nuus.

Die Musiek-vereniging van Port Elizabeth (PEMV) en die Veremarkorrel-vereniging (VMOV) se beplande konsertreekse vir 2025 beloof ’n keur van musiek om sodoende alle musiekliefhebbers tevrede te stel.

Albei die musiekverenigings se fokus sal op sy eie spesialiteitsvelde gerig wees en sal poog om musiek van ’n hoë standaard na die gehore van Gqeberha te bring. Die konserte word eweredig oor die verloop van die jaar versprei.

Die VMOV sal by die Veremarksentrum met sy majestueuse orrel, die Somerstrandkerk met sy kleurvolle orrel, asook St. Mary’s Katedraal onderskeidelik dié jaar se nege konserte aangebied.
Prof. Albert Troskie (konsertorganiseerder en sekretaris van die VMOV) het ’n indrukwekkende program saamgestel wat plaaslike sowel as internasionale kunstenaars daarby insluit.

Leerders kan dan ook weer uitsien na die tweejaarlikse Opedag vir Skole wat op Woensdag, 26 Maart om 11:00 in die Veremarksentrum aangebied sal word.

Dié opedag is werklik uniek en die VMOV wil graag alle leerders wat nog nooit blootstelling aan klassieke musiek en spesifiek orrelmusiek gehad het nie, na die Veremarksentrum vir ’n onvergeetlike konsert uitnooi.

Dan is daar ook die twee baie gewilde Soirées musicales wat jaarliks gesamentlik deur dié twee verenigings in Mei en Oktober in die Somerstrandkerk aangebied sal word. Musici soos Cassie Carstens, die bekende Humansdorpse orrelis en Jonathan Scott die beroemde Britse orrelis sal onder andere in die Veremarksentrum uitvoerings aanbied.

Die St. Mary’s Katedraal wat vanjaar sy 200ste bestaansjaar vier, speel gasheer vir Cameron Upchurch, die Johannesburgse orrelis sowel as Cameron Luke van Makhanda wat daar sal optree.
Die laaste twee konserte vir die jaar word dan in November in die Veremarksentrum aangebied waar Salvatore Pronesti, die Italiaanse orrelis gehoor sal kan word wat dan opgevolg sal word deur die jaarlikse groot Kerskonsert wat op Sondag, 30 November dié vereniging se konsertreeks vir die jaar sal afsluit.

PEMV staan ook gewis nie terug nie en bied self agt konserte gedurende die jaar aan. Dr. Erika Bothma-Troskie (president van die vereniging) het ’n gevarieërde program saamgestel wat gewis elke musiekliefhebber se musiekpalet sal bevredig. Behalwe bogenoemde twee Soirées musicales word die ander ses konserte in die Nelson Mandela Universiteit se suidkampus ouditorium aangebied.

Dan sal onder andere ’n optrede deur Gustavo Romero, die Spaanse pianis wees om na uit te sien.
Dit word opgevolg met Opera-Tango deur Zanne Stapelberg (sopraan) en Albie van Schalkwyk (klavier).

Jose Dias (pianis) sal ook vanjaar ’n musikale kragtoer aanbied deur beide Chopin se twee Klavier-concertos uit te voer terwyl hy deur ’n strykensemble bygestaan sal word.

Op spesiale versoek kan musiekliefhebbers weer gaan luister na die verfynde spel van vier uiters talentvolle dames. Take 4 is ’n klavierkwartet wat bestaan uit Zanta Hofmeyr (viool), Jeanne-Louise Moolman (altviool), Susan Mouton (tjello) en Elna van der Merwe (klavier).

Die fluitis Liesl Stoltz, wat ook geen be-kendstelling nodig het nie en sal saam met Han Jonkers (klassieke kitaar) en Nicolas Conti (altviool) optree.

Vir enige navrae in verband met die VMOV se konserte en lidmaatskap bel prof. Albert Troskie by 082 726 9595 of stuur ’n epos na a.troskie@telkomsa.net.

Vir enige navrae in verband met die PEMV se konsertreeks, bel dr. Erika Bothma-Troskie by 0823084494. Vir enige na-vrae in verband met lidmaatskap en aansluitingsfooie van die PEMV, bel Theresa Cunliffe by 041 504 2250 (kantoorure) of stuur ’n epos aan haar by theresa.cunliffe@mandela.ac.za.

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Phila Goduka, a young, local entrepreneur from Nelson Mandela Bay, is making waves with his digital solutions company, OG Phizow TV Content Convention.
Specialising in videography, photography, and graphic design, Goduka’s company has finally become part of the renowned Mandela Bay Arts Festival after three years of applications.
Goduka strategically registered his company under the performance act category rather than a workshop to attract a larger audience.

This decision proved successful, as many attendees gained valuable insights and skills.
“Being unemployed and sitting at home with all those skills you learned in school can be quite overwhelming,” Goduka shared.

His passion for teaching and skills development emerged from various experiences on TV sets and productions.

“I noticed a hunger for learning in many new graduates and students, and I really wanted to do my part,” Goduka explained.

He emphasised the importance of creating a safe and comfortable learning environment for women in the arts, particularly in behind-the-scenes roles.

“I wanted to create a safe space for women to learn, develop, and establish themselves in this industry.”

The Mandela Bay Arts Festival, an initiative by the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality, offers a platform for local artists to gain exposure and build connections.
Goduka praised the festival for its potential impact but expressed concerns about the continuity for artists after the event.

“I really wish it happened twice a year to accommodate more local talent.

“But a worry I have is what happens after the 10 days of the festival?

“Some artists we never hear of again, which is something that needs attention.”

Goduka found the festival personally rewarding, ticking it off his bucket list and building valuable connections.

Looking forward, he plans to explore more parts of the Eastern Cape, particularly rural areas, to discover and showcase hidden talent.

“We have some of the most amazing talent in the most remote parts of this province, and I feel my duty is to find that talent and put a limelight on it.”

His advice to young artists is clear: “Use what you have, start where you are, network, and get your name out there.”

The Mandela Bay Arts Festival is a vibrant multidisciplinary event showcasing performance, poetry, theatre, comedy, dance, music, and more.

It spans a 10-day period with a series of smaller events across the metropolitan area, aiming to enhance opportunities for professionals in the creative industries and attract local and international guests.

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