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The Citizen
26-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Wackadoo! Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad Are coming to South Africa this winter holiday
Wackadoo! Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad are coming to South Africa in the 2025 winter school holidays! For the first time ever, the hit theatre production Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show makes its African debut at Artscape, Cape Town on Thursday, 26 June, running until Sunday, 06 July 2025. The show then moves to The Teatro at Montecasino, Johannesburg from Wednesday, 09 July to Sunday, 20 July. Tickets are on sale now at and Bluey's Big Play is a theatrical adaptation of the BAFTA and Emmy® Award-winning animated children's television series produced by Ludo Studio. Now families in South Africa can experience the joy of seeing Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad in their first ever theatre show, featuring brilliantly created puppets, iconic sets, live actors and all-new music – it's Bluey like you've never seen it before, in real life and on stage. Read more: Support your local theatre The popularity of Bluey's Big Play knows no bounds, touring internationally across Australia, UK and Ireland, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Europe and North America. Kiddo Adventures gives Bluey's Big Play five stars while claiming it's 'A magical theatrical experience for fans of all ages' while Time Out says, 'This live adventure for fanatically beloved Australian hound Bluey is as authentic as it comes'. The Guardian best sums up the show by saying 'Puppy puppets' sweet show sets tails wagging'. Bluey's Big Play follows Bluey and her family through a full day from sunrise through to bedtime. When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. Bluey's Big Play is an original story from creator Joe Brumm, with bespoke music from Bluey composer Joff Bush. The audio track for Bluey's Big Play is prerecorded and features original voices from the TV sensation, including the instantly recognisable voices of Dave McCormack and Melanie Zanetti as Dad and Mum. While the larger-than-life puppets are commanded by Bluey's Big Play's talented puppeteers, who bring Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad to life on stage. Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show is presented by BBC Studios and Andrew Kay in association with Windmill Theatre Co and local live entertainment and show promoter, Showtime Management. Kate O'Connor, Director of Brands and Licensing BBC Studios ANZ, says: 'Following the incredible reaction to the live theatre show in North America, UK, Ireland, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Europe and Australia, we are so excited to bring Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show to fans in South Africa.' 'Bluey's Big Play has performed to a global audience including sell out seasons across Australia, USA and UK. The response has been extraordinary. We are so excited to now bring Bluey's Big Play to South African audiences this winter school holidays,' says Andrew Kay, Producer of Bluey's Big Play. 'We're thrilled to be bringing Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show to South Africa,' said Tony Feldman of Showtime Management who added: 'The response to the show from fans across Australia, North America and Europe has been nothing short of amazing and we can't wait for families in South Africa to experience all the fun and excitement of having Bluey and her family live on stage.' The stage show has enjoyed much success around the world, especially in Australia, where it premiered in Bluey's hometown Brisbane and went on to perform over 500 times across 65 venues, including the Sydney Opera House. Bluey's Big Play was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Family Show in 2024. Since bursting on to TV screens in Australia in 2018, Bluey has enjoyed a plethora of critical success at home and abroad, winning a 2022 BAFTA Children & Young People Award in the International category, a 2024 Kidscreen Award for Best Animated Series and picking up its consecutive fifth AACTA Best Children's Programme award to add to an International Emmy and numerous awards for craft and production around the world. According to Nielsen, Bluey is 2024's most-watched series globally on Disney+, and the year's No. 1 most-watched series on streaming to date through November among total viewers in the U.S., with more than 50.5 billion minutes watched[1]. In Australia, the show goes out on ABC where it is #1 kids show, and it is also rated #1 kids show on CBeebies and Disney+ in the UK[2]. In South Africa, Bluey is ranked #1 on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and CBeebies[3]. Tickets for Bluey's Big Play are available now and can be purchased at or the official, exclusive ticketing agent. Tickets purchased via any other platform will not be honoured. Each attendee irrespective of age must hold a valid ticket in any price category to Bluey's Big Play. A strictly limited number of Meet & Greet Packages are available for each show. The Meet & Greet includes a lanyard and the unique opportunity to meet Bluey after the show. Children are not allowed access without a VIP paid adult. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts!


Cision Canada
25-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
MulticoreWare Announces Key Leadership Additions to Drive Next Phase of Growth
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 25, 2025 /CNW/ -- MulticoreWare, Inc., announced the appointments of Swathi Gurumani as Vice President & General Manager of the Media & Entertainment Business Unit, Mahmoud J. Al-Daccak as Lead Video Technology Expert, and Sivam MG as Vice President of Engineering. Swathi Gurumani, a seasoned technologist with over 20 years of experience in engineering, research, and product development, will lead strategy for the Media & Entertainment BU. His focus will include AI-driven media workflows, advanced video codecs, and video engineering services. Holding a Ph.D. in Computer Engineering, Swathi has held key technology roles across the US, Singapore, and India, contributing to significant advancements in the field. "I'm thrilled to step into this role at such a dynamic time in the industry," said Swathi. "As AI and next-gen video technologies evolve, we have an opportunity to deliver impactful solutions for our customers. I'm looking forward to collaborating closely with our teams and partners to drive meaningful innovation in the media and entertainment space." Based in San Jose, Mahmoud J. Al-Daccak brings 30 years of experience in video and product development to MulticoreWare. A veteran media technology executive, he has led Emmy ® Award-winning innovations such as SRT and datacenter video acceleration products. "MulticoreWare stands at the intersection of innovation and execution," Mahmoud said. "I'm energized to help turn breakthrough ideas into scalable solutions that empower our customers. My focus will be on bridging IP development with real-world deployment, ensuring our technologies lead the market and solve meaningful challenges across media workflows." Sivam MG, a global Engineering, Research & Development leader with over 25 years of experience, brings deep expertise in platform software, embedded systems, edge AI, and silicon validation. He has a strong track record of driving innovation across semiconductor, automotive, and industrial AI sectors. "MulticoreWare is where cutting-edge technology meets real-world impact," said Sivam. "I'm excited to work with an incredible team to transform bold ideas into solutions that shape the future and drive our customers' success." Welcoming the new leaders, AGK Karunakaran, President & CEO of MulticoreWare, said: "We are excited to welcome Swathi, Mahmoud, and Sivam to our leadership team at a pivotal moment for the company. Their deep domain expertise and global experience will be instrumental in driving our vision to solve complex performance and AI challenges across industries. As we continue to innovate and scale, their leadership will strengthen our capabilities, accelerate product development, and enhance the value we deliver to customers worldwide." About MulticoreWare MulticoreWare provides software IP solutions and engineering services to a diverse customer base, offering technologies such as hardware platform compilers and toolchains, SDK libraries, video codecs, and advanced algorithm and data engineering solutions. These are designed for both vision and non-vision sensor systems, including Radar, LiDAR, IMU, and GPS. MulticoreWare's solutions power applications across a wide range of industries, including Automotive (ADAS/AD), Surveillance, Defense, Medical Imaging, Healthcare, IoT, Retail, Industrial Automation, Robotics, and Smart Cities. The company's industry-leading video codec technologies—x266, x265, and Ultraziq—are widely deployed in live streaming and video-on-demand (VOD) platforms by major broadcast providers around the world.

IOL News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Bluey's Big Play: a family-friendly theatrical adventure
Bluey's Big Play is an adaptation of the BAFTA and Emmy® Award-winning series produced by Ludo Studio Image: Supplied This winter, families across South Africa can look forward to a highly anticipated theatrical experience as the beloved characters from the hit animated series prepare to take the stage. Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show is set to make its African debut at the renowned Artscape in Cape Town from Thursday, 26 June until Sunday, 06 July 2025, before moving to The Teatro at Montecasino in Johannesburg from Wednesday, 09 July to Sunday, 20 July 2025. Excitement is building for fans eager to witness how these endearing characters come to life on stage. The show, based on an original story by Bluey creator Joe Brumm, promises to deliver a delightful blend of music, laughter, and family-friendly fun, bringing a new dimension to the acclaimed television series. Bluey's Big Play is an adaptation of the BAFTA and Emmy® Award-winning series, produced by Ludo Studio. Audiences will be treated to a dazzling display featuring larger-than-life puppets, skillfully operated by talented puppeteers who embody the spirit of Bluey, Bingo, Mum, and Dad. Music is provided by Joff Bush, the show's original composer, ensuring a lively performance that resonates with audiences of all ages. The storyline follows Bluey and her family throughout an entire day, showcasing their playful antics as they disrupt Dad's desire for a lazy afternoon. With clever games and imaginative escapades, the siblings' determination is sure to incite laughter and joy, capturing the essence of childhood adventures that fans have come to adore. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ For those wishing to immerse themselves further in the experience, the production offers two special Meet and Greet options. Fans can purchase upsell tickets across various price points for a chance to meet Bluey after the show, while VIP tickets include premium seating and a front-row encounter with the lovable character. Since its inaugural performance in Australia,Bluey's Big Play has garnered praise and captivated audiences globally, with successful tours across the UK, Ireland, Canada, the US, Europe, Singapore, and the UAE. Each performance has drawn millions of fans, attesting to the show's universal charm and appeal. Presented by BBC Studios and Andrew Kayin partnership with Windmill Theatre Co and local live entertainment promoter Showtime Management, this production holds the promise of creating unforgettable memories for South African families this winter school holiday season.

IOL News
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Win tickets to 'Bluey's Big Play Stage Show' at Artscape and Montecasino
Win tickets to Bluey's Big Play at Artscape and Montecasino this July! The show then moves to The Teatro at Montecasino, Johannesburg from Wednesday, 09 July to Sunday, 20 July. For the first time ever, the hit theatre production Bluey's Big Play The Stage Show makes its African debut at Artscape, Cape Town on Thursday, 26 June, running until Sunday, 06 July 2025. The hit theatre show 'Bluey's Big Play' makes its African debut in the 2025 Winter school holidays at Artscape Theatre and Montecasino. Wackadoo! Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad are coming to South Africa in the 2025 winter school holidays! Bluey's Big Play is a theatrical adaptation of the BAFTA and Emmy® Award-winning animated children's television series. Families in South Africa can experience the joy of seeing Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad in their first ever theatre show, featuring brilliantly created puppets, iconic sets, live actors and all-new music - it's Bluey like you've never seen it before, in real life and on stage. The popularity of Bluey's Big Play knows no bounds, touring internationally across Australia, UK and Ireland, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Europe and North America. Bluey's Big Play follows Bluey and her family through a full day from sunrise through to bedtime. When Dad feels like a little bit of Sunday afternoon time out, Bluey and Bingo have other plans! Join them as they pull out all of the games and cleverness at their disposal to get Dad off that bean bag. Bluey's Big Play is an original story from creator Joe Brumm, with bespoke music from Bluey composer Joff Bush. The audio track for Bluey's Big Play is prerecorded and features original voices from the TV sensation, including the instantly recognisable voices of Dave McCormack and Melanie Zanetti as Dad and Mum. While the larger-than-life puppets are commanded by Bluey's Big Play's talented puppeteers, who bring Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad to life on stage. Bluey was the most-watched series globally on Disney+ in 2024, and the year's No. 1 most-watched series on streaming to date through November among total viewers in the U.S. In South Africa, Bluey is ranked #1 on Disney Channel, Disney Junior and CBeebies Tickets are on sale now at and


Business Wire
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Business Wire
Ryan Reynolds Celebrates Nature's Unsung Heroes With UNDERDOGS Trailer, a Boundary-Breaking Natural History Experience
WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For 137 years, National Geographic has been bringing you breathtaking wildlife footage of iconic animals—penguins, elephants, whales and more. As if those windbags need any more free PR. Hold on to your binoculars, folks, as Nat Geo gets up close and personal with the outcasts of the animal kingdom in UNDERDOGS, narrated by . From their hidden talents to their unconventional hygiene choices to their unsavory courtship rituals, UNDERDOGS celebrates the unique behaviors of the animals who don't usually get to be the stars of the show. From Reynolds' Emmy ® Award-winning Maximum Effort and Emmy ® and BAFTA Award-Winning Wildstar Films (a Fremantle company), National Geographic's UNDERDOGS premieres June 15 at 9/8c, simulcast on ABC, and will be available to stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu. 'Getting to work with National Geographic on UNDERDOGS was a dream come true—mostly because I can finally watch a project of ours with my children. Technically, they saw 'Deadpool & Wolverine' but I don't think they absorbed much while covering their eyes and ears and screaming for two hours,' said Reynolds. 'We're so proud to elevate the unsung heroes of the natural world to the top of the entertainment food chain and can't wait for everyone to see.' Each episode of the five-part series showcases a different aspect of these underdogs' bizarre mating strategies, surprising superpowers, deception, dubious parenting skills and gross-out behaviors. UNDERDOGS features a range of never-before-filmed scenes, including the first time a film crew has ever entered a special cave in New Zealand - a huge cavern that glows brighter than a bachelor pad under a black light thanks to the glowing butts of millions of mucus-coated grubs. All over the world, overlooked superstars like this are out there 24/7, giving it maximum effort and keeping the natural world in working order for all those showboating polar bears, sharks and gorillas. With stunning imagery from the world's leading wildlife cinematographers and music by multiple award-winning composer Harry Gregson-Williams ('Shrek,' 'The Martian,' 'Gladiator 2'), UNDERDOGS is edgy and informative. It's the unexpected superhero blockbuster of the summer that celebrates the oddballs and outcasts while highlighting remarkable survival techniques, mental resilience, and exceptional instincts. ' Underdogs (Original Series Soundtrack)," which will consist of Harry Gregson-Williams' score, will be released on Hollywood Records on June 13 and will be available everywhere you listen to music. Global rock superstars Green Day wrote the original theme song for the series, which is featured in the trailer. Green Day's deluxe edition of their latest album, 'Saviors,' includes seven newly added tracks, including the UNDERDOGS theme song 'Underdog.' 'Saviors (édition de luxe)' is available everywhere you listen to music. Episodes include the following: 'Superzeroes' Premieres June 15 at 9/8c on National Geographic Ryan Reynolds assembles a team of 'Superzeroes,' apparently pathetic animals with unexpectedly awesome superpowers. Forget about the cheetah's speed, the eagle's eyesight or the elephant's brute strength, and say hello to the invisible glass frog, the indestructible honey badger and the pistol shrimp who can fire bubbles that are as hot as the surface of the sun. 'Terrible Parents' premieres June 15 at 9:54/8:54c on National Geographic Ryan Reynolds reveals some highly questionable parenting strategies from the animal kingdom's worst parents, the underdogs. From a goose who lays their eggs on the top of a cliff to a koala that feeds its baby poop, it's uncertain if they are bad parents or just misunderstood. But no matter how bad you think you may be at parenting, you can't be as bad as these guys. 'Sexy Beasts' Premieres June 22 at 9/8c on National Geographic Forget the birds and the bees, Ryan Reynolds reveals the steps to finding 'the one,' underdog-style. From the 'first attraction' in giant-nosed proboscis monkeys to the importance of wingmen in turkey courtship to foreplay in flying foxes, these guys have re-written the rule book on messy and complicated relationships. 'The Unusual Suspects' premieres June 22 at 9:53/8:53c on National Geographic Ryan Reynolds puts the spotlight on the underdogs who get ahead by sneaky tactics. From the master-of-disguise frogfish to a butt-biting jackal and a multi-headed caterpillar playing the decoy, these are the masters of deception and deceit. And bringing all these hustlers together is the greatest con artist of them all—a cunning macaque who feeds on the spoils from unsuspecting tourists. 'Total Grossout' Premieres June 29 at 9/8c on National Geographic Ryan gives his unique take on the animals who use gross-out tactics to achieve their goals, from defending their home to finding a mate and wining at the game of life. His cast includes manatees that use flatulence to control their buoyancy and cave-dwelling fungus gnats that create beautiful, illuminated fly traps from the mucus lit by their bioluminescent butts. UNDERDOGS is produced by Wildstar, a Fremantle company, in partnership with Maximum Effort for National Geographic. For Wildstar, Mark Linfield, Vanessa Berlowitz and Dan Rees are executive producers. For Maximum Effort, Ryan Reynolds, George Dewey, Ashley Fox and Patrick Gooing are executive producers; Sophia Travaglia and Molly Milstein are producers. Polly Billam serves as co-series producer and writer. For National Geographic, Tracy Rudolph Jackson is the executive producer, Janet Han Vissering is senior vice president of Production, Charlie Parsons is the senior vice president of Development, Bengt Anderson is the executive producer and senior vice president of Unscripted Production, and Tom McDonald is the executive vice president of Global Factual and Unscripted Content. About Maximum Effort Maximum Effort makes movies, tv series, content and cocktails for the personal amusement of Hollywood Star Ryan Reynolds. We occasionally share them with the general public. Producers of the Deadpool films, Free Guy, The Adam Project and Welcome to Wrexham. About Wildstar Films Wildstar brings new perspectives and fresh ideas to high-quality natural history content, all powered by an open mind, a diverse outlook, a desire to work with the best in the world, and a commitment to sustainability. Led by co-Founders Mark Linfield and Vanessa Berlowitz whose extensive credits include Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and multiple wildlife feature documentaries for Disney Studios, Wildstar's rapidly growing team is a blend of exciting young talent and experienced hands who have won all of the major industry awards including BAFTAs, Primetime Emmys® and RTS. The company's recent output includes: Queens (Disney+/National Geographic), Secrets of the Octopus (Disney+/National Geographic), Tiger (DisneyNature for Disney+), Tigers on the Rise (DisneyNature for Disney+), America the Beautiful (Disney+/National Geographic), Animals Up Close with Bertie Gregory (Disney+/National Geographic), America's National Parks (National Geographic), Elephant (Disneynature), and Monkey Kingdom (Disneynature). About National Geographic Content Representing the largest brand on social media with over 780 million followers and 1.1 billion impressions each month, National Geographic Content's award-winning and critically acclaimed storytelling inspires fans of all ages to connect with, explore and care about the world through factual storytelling. National Geographic Content, part of a joint venture between The Walt Disney Company and the National Geographic Society, reaches over 532 million people worldwide in 172 countries and 33 languages as a digital, social and print publisher and across the global National Geographic channels (National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo WILD, Nat Geo MUNDO), National Geographic Documentary Films, and direct-to-consumer platforms Disney+ and Hulu. Its diverse content includes Oscar®- and BAFTA award-winning film Free Solo, Oscar-nominated films Sugarcane, Fire of Love and Bobi Wine: The People's President, Emmy® Award-winning franchise 9/11: One Day in America and JFK: One Day in America, Emmy® Award-winning series Animals Up Close, series Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller, Life Below Zero, and Secrets of the Whales, in addition to multiple National Magazine Awards, Pulitzer Prize Finalists and Webby wins. Visit and or explore Instagram, Threads, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Reddit.