…..SoSuterBill…..

……BILLY SUTER……

A NOVEL new musical theatre production directed by Daniel Anderson – the multiple-award-winning star of Vincent and The Tramp – as well as a performance by a hugely popular South African band of the 1960s, are among shows headed for Durban’s Rhumbelow Theatre circuit soon.

Damsel in Distress is the title of the production directed by Daniel Anderson. It stars Kiruna-Lind Devar, star of such recent touring successes as Chicago (she played Roxie Hart) and Mamma Mia! (she played Sophie), in her first solo cabaret.

Devar – who is the multi-talented daughter of former Durban-based actress Brenda Sakellarides (nee Radloff) and late composer Siva Devar – performs in Damsel in Distress alongside pianist and musical director Samatha Riedel.

It is scheduled for performances at the Umbilo Rhumbelow Theatre, in Cunningham Road, at 7.30pm on Friday and Saturday, September 11 and 12, and at 2pm on Sunday, September 13.

A new production of the Wela Kapela theatre company, written by Amanda Bothma, Damsel in Distress tells the story of Griselda, aptly named after the original damsel in distress from Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales.

Giselda is a librarian and she has not left the building in a very, very long time. Trapped by that dragon called fear, she has long since traded life for the safer world of fiction. When reality comes knocking, Griselda’s answer is simple: “No thank you. I’d rather just read my book”.

An avid armchair-traveller, Griselda travels through the world of books – to Paris, New York, Germany and beyond. That is until the handsome Edward Pamment begins frequenting the library.

With his undeniable charm and distinctly Mr Darcy-esque manner, Edward then awakens a curiosity about the world beyond Griselda’s carefully constructed castle… and the childhood dreams she has kept locked away.

Through popular songs such as I Love Paris, Mein Herr, At Seventeen, Windmills of Your Mind, Bang-Bang and You Don’t Own Me, the show sweeps audiences from Griselda’s imaginary world of travel to the deep corners of a dark and haunted past.

Exploring the reality of femicide and gender-based violence, Damsel in Distress promises an exciting journey of hope, heart, courage and survival.

Headed for the Rhumbelow Theatre’s Northlands Bowling Club stage, Durban North, at 7.30pm on Friday, September 18, is a show celebrating 65 years of making music by hit ’60s band, The Staccatos. The band will also perform at the Umbilo Rhumbelow Theatre – at 7.30pm on Saturday, September 19, and 2pm on Sunday, September 20.

Fans can relive the magic of the group’s hit Cry to Me, recorded in 1968 and which spent 38 weeks on the Springbok Radio Hit Parade in 1969 – a record for both local and international hits.

The special anniversary show will feature Staccatos favourites from artists including Roy Orbison, The Monkees, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Archies, Neil Diamond, Michael Bolton, The Animals, The Doobie Brothers, Elvis Presley, Status Quo, Glenn Frey and Bob Seger.

Tickets for each of these Rhumbelow Theatre performances cost R220 (R200 for pensioners; R180 for under-13s). Book at Webtickets or via an email to theatre manager Roland Stansell at roland@stansell.co.za