Latest news with #TwelfthNight
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Why Mandela Day cannot be a time of celebration amid ongoing challenges
Dr Pali Lohohla was privileged to go and count President Nelson Mandela at his home in Qunu during Census 2011. Image: File Image Independent Newspapers General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's report card of the 6th of July to the nation was not a statistical release of crime but one which discusses what the drivers of crime and how that plunges South Africa into what would be a failed state. This came 12 days before a globally acclaimed date on the global calendar which is Nelson Mandela Day – a euphoria in which South Africa could legitimately bask, but for reasons of neglect to memorialize we are unable to even if momentarily retire in this memorable vista. Eleven years ago, I was privileged yet again to count the South African population. But this privilege was met with protestations by some communities in the country. Amongst the three that I had to spend time on was one by the residents of Silvertown, in Kwa-Sakhele in Ggeberha (Port Elizabeth). In the Twelfth Night Malvolio having been tricked into thinking Olivia thinks deeply about matters of the heart towards him fell for the line on greatness that Maria had laid as a trap for him. It read 'some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.' On the morning of 22nd of October 2011, I was privileged to go and count President Nelson Mandela at his home in Qunu during Census 2011. This rare privilege was possibly the last for Madiba to be publicly seen in relatively good health. What made the meeting profound was the extreme pain Madiba suffered by reading about the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. Newspapers strewn across his table showed the bloodied and lifeless pictures of Gaddafi's body. My subsequent appearance in Silvertown, which was five days after meeting Madiba was met with major demands. The citizens of this township of corrugated iron dwelling structures, refused to be counted unless their councillor reports back and I was tasked with the responsibility of bringing the councillor to Silvertown from Gqeberha. I argued that they themselves have such powers and I do not. But in the eyes of Kwa-Zakhele citizens, the public enlisting of President Mandela had thrust Malvolian greatness upon me. I refused to fall for the trap though, instead I offered to release the results of the Census of their township when they were out 12 months later. They then agreed to be counted with several conditionalities that would take the whole day to enlist and the space in this column does not allow. 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 ✕ Ad Loading Fourteen months later in December 2012, I reported back in Kwa-Zakhele to deliver the results. It was a statistical report on Kwa-Zakhele and it was not pretty at all. It revealed no new facts but when aggregated and contextualised with other places, they were bone gnawing and marrow sucking. I had been in the tin homes in 2011 when we did the count. But the force of aggregation that said we all do not have regular running water, we all do not have toilet facilities and we all live in tin shacks, the message was potent. Within a short space of time Kwa-Zakhele had a Caterpillar cleaning and repairing the streets. Whoever was the council was driven by the numbers and the premier's focus was on Kwa-Zakhele. This response is not the most favourable especially when the problem had long been coming but only triggered to be an emergency by being revealed. Unfortunately public policy in South Africa has become an object of inconvenience where public outcry for services is seen as being the absence of gratitude, pointing at maleficence by the powerful is seen as being unpatriotic, grants, necessary as they are albeit a sign of governance failure are dangled in front of the poor as caring, lowering pass rate marks is seen as granting mercy to disadvantaged, introduction of maths literacy is considered as medicine for mathematics teaching defects, Two-Pot withdrawals system is seen as financial relief to the suffering working class and failing at the polls is seen as mandate and remembrance of the 1994 moment and justification and a reset for a national dialogue. The national dialogue has long been in the making and Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and the direct and sober way opposition parliamentarians responded to the budget of the Presidency is a clear indicator of the temperature and tempo of the national dialogue. The minister of defence correctly rebuked any thought of a coup d'etat by the minister in the presidency. South Africans are not about coup d'etat. They are just reminding us the elite about Amilcar Cabral's saying that, 'Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone's head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children.' In line with his Polokwane address of how we will remember those who paid with life and limb and I mention only two of the eight points then President Thabo Mbeki quoted from Madiba. He said, 'Thirdly – the challenges of creating a people-centred society, of living up to the vision contained in the Freedom Charter, requires that all elements of South African society be subjected to genuine reconstruction and development. Fourth – that process of reconstruction and development will also have to encompass the spiritual life of the nation, bearing on the moral renewal of individuals and institutions, as well as the ideas and practice of a new patriotism.' It is sad that at 31 years the South African Presidents in succession hardly refer to what a predecessor took on board. This nullifies the thought of continuity of change. It seems only Mbeki could quote his predecessor and has often done so with his successors as well. Absence of such points of reference to fellow statesmen in the form of critique or affirmation points to lack of continuity of plans. Dr Pali Lehohla is a Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, among other hats. Image: Supplied Dr Pali Lehohla is a Professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, a Research Associate at Oxford University, a board member of Institute for Economic Justice at Wits and a distinguished Alumni of the University of Ghana. He is the former Statistician-General of South Africa. *** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL. BUSINESS REPORT
Time Out
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Can't snag Shakespeare in the Park tix this summer? PBS will air Twelfth Night starring Lupita Nyong'o, Peter Dinklage
Shakespeare in the Park is one of the most storied cultural events in New York City, but good luck snagging tickets. Even if you live in one of the buildings along Central Park (in which case, don't hog the free tickets from the rest of us, OK?), the process of getting seats is a long and physically arduous one, entailing a box office line that forms at dawn the day of performance. (There is, thankfully, the digital lottery now as well, but you know what lotteries can be like.) This year is a particularly buzzy one, as the Delacorte Theater reopens with Twelfth Night after a two-year renovation. And to make it even more special, PBS announced that it will air the production this fall as part of its Great Performances series, giving not just disappointed New Yorkers but the entire country the chance to see Lupita Nyong'o, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Peter Dinklage, and Sandra Oh star in William Shakespeare's cross-dressing comedy classic. Twelfth Night will premiere on PBS at 9pm ET on Friday, November 14. Trimmed down to a delightful 90 minutes by director Sahem Ali, the production's cast also includes Daphne Rubin-Vega, Junior Nyong'o, b, Khris Davis, John Ellison Conlee, Ariyan Kassam, Valentino Musumeci, Moses Sumney, Kapil Talwalker and Joe Tapper. PBS's Great Performances series this year also includes several more offerings that should thrill theater lovers. The series premieres October 3 with the documentary The Magic of Grace Bumbry, about the first Black opera singer to perform at the White House, followed November 7 by The Tiler Peck Story: Suspending Time, about the ballerina (most recently seen on Prime Video's series Etoile). A live capture of the Carnegie Hall concert The Great War and The Great Gatsby will premiere on November 11, Veterans' Day, a fitting choice for a concert that uses The Great Gatsby to explore World War I. And Dick Van Dyke takes center stage December 12 with Starring Dick Van Dyke, an American Masters episode celebrating the beloved entertainer's 100th birthday, featuring rare footage. And December 16 sees the premiere of the English National Ballet's production of The Nutcracker.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
A Bold, Modern Twist On Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Press Release – The Court Theatre Prepare for a wild ride with Shakespeare's riotous rom-com, where laughter and bewilderment go hand in hand The Court Theatre – Stewart Family Theatre | 9 August – 6 September Shakespeare's Twelfth Night arrives at The Court Theatre next month with all the mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and sharp wit audiences love—brought to life with modern dress, contemporary style, and a spirit of playful mischief. Performed in full Shakespearean text, Twelfth Night is a vibrant rom-com packed with humour, heart, and timeless insights into human nature. The production combines a fast-paced script, an ensemble of dynamic performers, and original music composed by cast member Hester Ullyart, who plays Feste. Directed by The Court Theatre's artistic director Alison Walls, this production is set in a world pulsing with colour, music, and movement—a feast for the senses brought to life by a knockout cast of Aotearoa's finest. 'This is a rom com!' says Dr Walls. 'It remains fresh and pacey. The text offers great freedom in its staging. Illyria can be anywhere that allows you to explore a different version of yourself. Twelfth Night is funny and ridiculous with some real psychological truths at its core.' Audiences will meet twins Viola and Sebastian, shipwrecked and separated, as they navigate a world of disguise, love triangles, and comic chaos. Stranded on the coast of Illyria, the clever and resourceful Viola, separated from her twin brother Sebastian, disguises herself as a man and enters the service of Duke Orsino. As she navigates her new life, she becomes entangled in a whirlwind love triangle where identity, passion, and gender blur and collide. Bursting with vitality and romance, Twelfth Night introduces one of Shakespeare's most captivating heroines, who matches wits with an array of memorable characters, from the lovesick Olivia to the puritanical Malvolio. This play is a rich tapestry of comic courtship, mistaken identities, and fluid romance. With its ingenious central plot involving twins of different genders, and its delightfully funny side plots, Twelfth Night serves up a feast of laughter, poignant moments of grief, and the joy of unexpected revelations. Multiple award-winning actor Victoria Abbott keeps us guessing Viola. After a shipwreck leaves her believing her twin brother has drowned, Viola disguises herself as the young man Cesario—setting the stage for a whirlwind of romantic mix-ups and comic confusion. A creative chameleon herself, Victoria is a writer, performer, director, and clown from Ōtautahi now based in Sydney. She comes fresh from the Australian premiere of Pride and Prejudice, with credits including Top of the Lake, Power Rangers, and Educators, alongside stage work with Pop-Up Globe, Red Leap Theatre, and Auckland Theatre Company. Viola's long-lost twin, Sebastian, is played by Nic Kyle, returning to The Court Theatre with a dazzling international resume. With 18 years of professional work across New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the UK, his credits span Savage (The Arts Theatre, West End), Spamalot, and Closer to Heaven in London, to local favourites like Cabaret, RENT, The Music Man, and Kinky Boots. Nic was nominated for Best Actor by Broadway World UK and named 2023 Variety Artists Club Top Male Artist. As the elegant and grieving Countess Olivia, Emma Katene (Ngāti Kahungunu) returns to The Court Theatre following standout roles in The Girl on the Train and Fun Home. Olivia has sworn off love—until she meets Cesario, unaware 'he' is actually Viola in disguise. Playing the lovesick Duke Orsino is James Kupa (Ngāti Kahungunu), a Court Theatre favourite (Murder on the Orient Express, The End of the Golden Weather), with television credits including The Brokenwood Mysteries, Dark City: The Cleaner, and Nothing Trivial. A stellar cast includes: Dan Bain (End of Summer Time, Director) as the raucous Sir Toby Belch Kathleen Burns (End of the Golden Weather) as the mischievous maid Maria Jonathon Hendry (Pike River, Lord of the Rings) as the pompous but pitiable Malvolio Hester Ullyart (A Streetcar Named Desire) as the witty fool Feste and original music composition. Cameron Clayton (Strictly Ballroom, The Musical) as Antonio and the Captain William Burns (SpongeBob SquarePants, Stage Manager) as Andrew Aguecheek and Valentine This Twelfth Night explores gender, identity, and love through a modern lens, balancing laugh-out-loud comedy with aching tenderness and unexpected revelations.
Scoop
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
A Bold, Modern Twist On Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Prepare for a wild ride with Shakespeare's riotous rom-com, where laughter and bewilderment go hand in hand The Court Theatre – Stewart Family Theatre | 9 August - 6 September Shakespeare's Twelfth Night arrives at The Court Theatre next month with all the mistaken identities, romantic entanglements, and sharp wit audiences love—brought to life with modern dress, contemporary style, and a spirit of playful mischief. Performed in full Shakespearean text, Twelfth Night is a vibrant rom-com packed with humour, heart, and timeless insights into human nature. The production combines a fast-paced script, an ensemble of dynamic performers, and original music composed by cast member Hester Ullyart, who plays Feste. Directed by The Court Theatre's artistic director Alison Walls, this production is set in a world pulsing with colour, music, and movement—a feast for the senses brought to life by a knockout cast of Aotearoa's finest. 'This is a rom com!' says Dr Walls. 'It remains fresh and pacey. The text offers great freedom in its staging. Illyria can be anywhere that allows you to explore a different version of yourself. Twelfth Night is funny and ridiculous with some real psychological truths at its core.' Audiences will meet twins Viola and Sebastian, shipwrecked and separated, as they navigate a world of disguise, love triangles, and comic chaos. Stranded on the coast of Illyria, the clever and resourceful Viola, separated from her twin brother Sebastian, disguises herself as a man and enters the service of Duke Orsino. As she navigates her new life, she becomes entangled in a whirlwind love triangle where identity, passion, and gender blur and collide. Bursting with vitality and romance, Twelfth Night introduces one of Shakespeare's most captivating heroines, who matches wits with an array of memorable characters, from the lovesick Olivia to the puritanical Malvolio. This play is a rich tapestry of comic courtship, mistaken identities, and fluid romance. With its ingenious central plot involving twins of different genders, and its delightfully funny side plots, Twelfth Night serves up a feast of laughter, poignant moments of grief, and the joy of unexpected revelations. Multiple award-winning actor Victoria Abbott keeps us guessing Viola. After a shipwreck leaves her believing her twin brother has drowned, Viola disguises herself as the young man Cesario—setting the stage for a whirlwind of romantic mix-ups and comic confusion. A creative chameleon herself, Victoria is a writer, performer, director, and clown from Ōtautahi now based in Sydney. She comes fresh from the Australian premiere of Pride and Prejudice, with credits including Top of the Lake, Power Rangers, and Educators, alongside stage work with Pop-Up Globe, Red Leap Theatre, and Auckland Theatre Company. Viola's long-lost twin, Sebastian, is played by Nic Kyle, returning to The Court Theatre with a dazzling international resume. With 18 years of professional work across New Zealand, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the UK, his credits span Savage (The Arts Theatre, West End), Spamalot, and Closer to Heaven in London, to local favourites like Cabaret, RENT, The Music Man, and Kinky Boots. Nic was nominated for Best Actor by Broadway World UK and named 2023 Variety Artists Club Top Male Artist. As the elegant and grieving Countess Olivia, Emma Katene (Ngāti Kahungunu) returns to The Court Theatre following standout roles in The Girl on the Train and Fun Home. Olivia has sworn off love—until she meets Cesario, unaware "he" is actually Viola in disguise. Playing the lovesick Duke Orsino is James Kupa (Ngāti Kahungunu), a Court Theatre favourite (Murder on the Orient Express, The End of the Golden Weather), with television credits including The Brokenwood Mysteries, Dark City: The Cleaner, and Nothing Trivial. A stellar cast includes: Dan Bain (End of Summer Time, Director) as the raucous Sir Toby Belch Kathleen Burns (End of the Golden Weather) as the mischievous maid Maria Jonathon Hendry (Pike River, Lord of the Rings) as the pompous but pitiable Malvolio Hester Ullyart (A Streetcar Named Desire) as the witty fool Feste and original music composition. Cameron Clayton (Strictly Ballroom, The Musical) as Antonio and the Captain William Burns (SpongeBob SquarePants, Stage Manager) as Andrew Aguecheek and Valentine This Twelfth Night explores gender, identity, and love through a modern lens, balancing laugh-out-loud comedy with aching tenderness and unexpected revelations.
Time Out
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
First look: Peek inside the newly renovated Delacorte Theater in Central Park
Central Park's newly renovated Delacorte Theater doesn't just look better; it feels better and even smells better. After an 18-month renovation, the beloved venue run by The Public Theater is set open on August 7 for Shakespeare in the Park's free performances of Twelfth Night. We got a sneak peek inside the freshly updated space today. At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the Public's Oskar Eustis described the Delacorte as "a palace for the people—and the people deserve the best." The renovation focused on improving accessibility and modernizing the space for artists and audiences. Luis Miranda, The Public's board chairman, credited a $42 million investment from local government leaders to help make it possible. Before even stepping foot inside, the theater's new curb appeal is obvious. Beautiful redwood reclaimed from decommissioned NYC water towers across the five boroughs has replaced the former gray siding, offering the added bonus of a fresh aroma. Accessibility was a major priority for the update, and every part of the space is now accessible, from the seating to the light booth to the dressing rooms. Two new gates offer accessibly entry, and the number of ADA seats has more than doubled. Plus, the renovation added additional ramps, lifts, and elevators for artists and crew. A palace for the people—and the people deserve the best "The new Delacorte experience is better for the audience. It's better for the performers, designers, crew, staff, and most importantly, we are now ready for what comes next. We're here for the next generation," said Arielle Tepper, former board chair at The Public. "It is about making sure that everyone feels welcome here at the Delacorte, no matter who they are, where they're from, or if they've never seen live theater before." And theatergoers, women in particular, will be delighted by the newly updated bathrooms. The renovation doubled the amount of restroom facilities for women, solving bottlenecks that existed during intermission. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Public Theater (@publictheaterny) While the renovation is about looking to the future, Eustis took a moment to reflect on the past. He remembered the legacy of Joe Papp, who faced great obstacles to keep his free New York Shakespeare Festival running, eventually evolving into the free Shakespeare in the Park we know today. His conviction, Eustis said, was that "Shakespeare should belong to everybody." He insisted upon casting shows to look like the demographic makeup of the city itself. "The culture belongs to everybody and that to even charge a nickel for it, to put that much of an economic barrier, would be to fundamentally contradict the basic idea of the Shakespeare Festival, which is that the culture is everybody's property," Eustis said. The Delacorte Theater officially opened in Central Park on June 18, 1962, with The Merchant of Venice, directed by Papp and Gladys Vaughan and featuring George C. Scott as Shylock. In the years since, more than 150 productions have been presented for free at The Delacorte, featuring stars such as James Earl Jones (in Othello, 1964), Meryl Streep (The Taming of the Shrew, 1978); Denzel Washington (Richard III in 1990), Anne Hathaway (Twelfth Night, 2009); Al Pacino (The Merchant of Venice, 2010); and many more. Though theatrical performances won't begin for a few weeks, the audience at today's ribbon cutting was treated to Shakespeare readings by Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Peter Dinklage, Lupita Nyong'o, and Sandra Oh—all of whom will perform in this year's showing of Twelfth Night. This year's free series runs from August 7 through September 14. New York City's Comptroller Brad Lander was so inspired by the Shakespeare spirit, he recited a sonnet he wrote for the occasion. As he read: "What a time to reopen this stage with enemies of culture on the prowl, pitting fear and faux populist rage against empathy and attack most foul. Our tyrant locks up immigrants, comptrollers too, and sows chaos, no matter the cost. So what's a public theater to do to ensure that our democracy is not lost? Happily, one answer is right here in new seats and stage for all New York to see, our hearts and our democracy restored through Shakespeare that uplifts us all for free."
