A week-end in Joburg packed with options
We’re due for a mild week-end, from Sunday the days will be getting longer and the gas crisis might ease towards the beginning of August – some positive thinking around the load-shedding blues. So get out there this week-end as we’re spoilt for choice with really special things on offer.
Geneva Ballet Company perform Romeo and Juliet at the Joburg Theatre
Number one has to be the Geneva Ballet’s performance of Romeo and Juliet showing until Sunday at the Joburg Theatre. It’s powerful, poignant, sensuous with the most simple and dramatic of stage sets and props, stunning choreography and simply brilliant use of the human body. Parts made we want to weep with the sheer aesthetic sensibility of the production, the emotive power and timeless universality, and the consummate skill of the dancers . How does ‘Romeo’ perform the lifts of an apparently dead Juliet and how does an apparently limp and ‘floppy’ Juliet still maintain form and control. Breath-taking. We had excellent seats for R280 per seat which to see a world-class production and compared to the price of a movie ticket, is really good value for money.
Guitar Giants at Nirox Sculpture Park
And for a day in the warm winter sun, head for the amphitheatre at the Nirox Sculpture Park in the Cradle of Humankind. Amid the sculptures of the Winter Sculpture Fair you can enjoy some glühwein and picnic fare by Epicurean Emporium while listening to Guitar Giants such as Madala Kunene, Guy Buttery, Ben Badenhorst, Lerato Lichaba, Tessa Ziegler and Richard Bruyns . Tickets available on-line : at R300 per person, or R320 at the gate; Children under 12 pay half-price.
A graffiti tour in Newtown with Past Experiences
Still taking advantage of the mild weather venture into the inner city on Sunday 21st for a tour with Past Experiences of graffiti in Newtown. Did you know that Joburg inner city is becoming known as a graffiti and street art destination? This tour looks at the history of the movement internationally as well as the graffiti culture in Jozi, major players and top artists. So throw on your comfy shoes, take the whole family and go and explore your city! From 09h30-11h30 meeting at Sci-Bono Coffee Shop with loads of parking adjacent to Sci-Bono’s parking lot on Miriam Makeba Street. R150pp (kids 12 and under R100). To book or for more info, email or phone on 011 678 3905
Ice Age exhibition at the Sandton International Convention Centre
There’s more to do with kids this week-end. Opening at the Sandton International Convention Centre is the Ice Age Exhibition which, if it’s all it’s cracked up to be, should be loads of fun while also being educational. 45 moving life-size animals in recreated landscapes such as tundra, forests and glaciers, place the species in their natural habitat. There’s a virtual aquarium as well as lots of interactive displays and games – so it should be a winner with kids. Sadly you’ll also have to delve into your wallet for this outing: R145 per adult, R99 for kids and R435 for a family of 2 adults and 2 kids. The exhibition runs until the 8th August.
Markets in Joburg
Liz has written before about how many markets there are in Joburg
For those who have want something different from the Joburg week-end market fare (Neighbourgoods and Bryanston Organic Market on Saturday; Market on Main and Rosebank Rooftop Market on Sunday), why not try 27 Boxes which opens this week-end in Melville. All 70 stores are built from shipping containers along the lines of Box Park in Shoreditch, London. You’ll find a variety of boutique outlets such as Stephanie Lesabe’s Moonyu clothing and accessories and Adihambo Mula-Landers’ amazing Galago sandals; as well as funky designer stores like Love Jozi and Black Coffee. And of course there are loads of specialist food stalls. 75 3rd Ave, parking entrance on 4th Avenue
And last but not least – Peter Schütz’ retrospective exhibition at WAM
If you have now spent all your money (or didn’t have any to begin with) but still want something inspiring to do -visit Peter Schütz’s retrospective exhibition at Wits Art Museum . And there’s a bonanza because Penny Siopis’ show (also excellent) is still on view. Peter’s works are complete delight . Peter who died in 2008,was a superb craftsman and a serious thinker with a wicked sense of humour. He moved from being influenced by pop art to sculpting images that were both steeped in the European Christian tradition of saints, martyrs and Madonnas, as well as being deeply influenced by art from the African continent. Peter’s studio at Wits was a jumbled overcrowded shrine of memorabilia, knick-knacks and tsatskas. And the curators have played on Peter’s one-eyed vision of the world (he always wore a patch on his left eye) in a wonderful peep-show giving a view onto a mock-up of his cluttered ‘cabinet of curiosities’. It’s a complete gem of a show not to be missed.
So there’s no excuse for vegging out this week-end. And a happy Father’s Day to all the Dads out there. Although probably the best gift that Dads could get is exclusive use of the TV remote for the entire day!
by 
lovely informative blog – wish I could hop up and have some adventures – xxx