Durban offers cheesy cover versions along with classical virtuosity this week.
? The Barnyard Theatre presents its new burst of bombast, The Final Countdown, a wild ride through six decades of fashion, music and rock ‘n roll. The show blasts off in the Fifties with greased-back hair, Elvis and company then shoot through the Sixties, Seventies, Eighties, Nineties and Noughties like Forrest Gump on speed and armed with a Stratocaster. Leading the musical journey are Andrew Webster, Granville Michaels, Ruan Geldenhuys, Cassandra de Beer, Megan Carlese and Janine Cupido on vocals. The band is made up of Neil Schoeman (guitar), Rainer Jadischke (keyboards), Karl Hering (bass guitar), Dylan van der Linde (drums) and Kirsty Madgin (saxophone).
The Barnyard Theatre, Gateway, until October 16. Tickets are R125 a person from Wednesday to Saturday with discounted specials of R90 a person every Tuesday night and Sunday matinee show. Tel: 031 566 3045. Visit: www.barnyardtheatres.co.za.
? Taking place this weekend is the 2011 edition of the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young Performers’ Concert. The event is a collaboration between the orchestra and the South African Music Teachers’ Association and provides an important opportunity for a new generation of musicians to step forward and perform on a professional concert platform with one of Africa’s best orchestras under the baton of an established conductor. Conducted by Israeli maestro Naum Rousine, this year’s programme spans music from three centuries and features 11 young musicians — violinists Blake Perryman, Erina and Emiri Nishii, Nina Kolev and Ayesha Seedat; pianists Sarah Camp, Kathryn Stranex and Ewan Slabber; vocalist Camilla van der Merwe; flautist Sakhile Humbane; and saxophonist Kezia Peel.
Playhouse Drama, Saturday September 3, 7.30pm. Tickets are R40 (R25 students and pupils) and can be booked through Computicket. Tel: 031 369 9453.