What would the festive season be without KickstArt’s annual panto? Durban’s astonishing multi awarding winning production house, KickstArt, will be presenting a delicious original new family panto for the year-end holidays: Sinbad the Sailor, at the Elizabeth Sneddon theatre on UKZN campus from 1 December until 7 January 2017.

This year marks KickstArt’s 14^th annual pantomime and the eighth panto written by Steven Stead since 2004. It is a riotous romp over the Seven Seas, in the company of the famous sailor, Sinbad, and his madcap crew and family! With gloriously colourful sets and costumes that evoke the exotic mystery and magic of the Arabian Nights, and exciting music and dance, inspired by Bollywood, this is a unique, unforgettable pantomime experience for the entire family.

Sinbad features Lyle Buxton in the title role, and panto regulars Bryan Hiles as Dame Donna Kebab, Darren King as Long John Slithe and Belinda Henwood as Morgiana the Magnificent.The delightful heroine of the piece is Princess Marina (Amanda Kunene) and the magical larger-than-life Genie of the Seven Seas is Sandile Mabaso with Marion Loudon as the no-nonsenseAmeena; Graeme Wicks as the deliciously vague Silly Billy Souvlaki; and Mthokozisi Zulu as the trusty pirate side-kick, Mustapha Kitkat. The chorus is made up of Kirsty Ndawo, Katherine Anderson, Pavishen Paideya and Muvo Hlongwana.

Written and directed by Steven Stead; designed by Greg King, with choreography by Evashnee Pillay, lighting by Tina le Roux, sound by Ross van Wyk and musical supervision by Jason Bird, Sinbad the Sailor is perfect year-end holiday entertainment for the entire family.

Sinbad

Director Stead is excited about the project and looks forward to transporting audiences off to magical faraway places – the style of which he likens to a ‘cartoon on steroids – with a lot of heart’.  He enjoys that the story will have an element of surprise as although the characters and context are well-known, it is not a familiar fairy-story. The look is rich colours in peacock hues; delicate fretwork; lanterns; minurettes, exotic islands and pirate ships. Stead has chosen an interesting soundtrack for the panto this year – fusing accessible, contemporary music with much-loved tunes – with an underlying Eastern beat, Indo-Arabic flavour and percussive influences.

Sinbad the Sailor will be at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre from 1 December to 7 January. Performances at 2.30pm Tues-Sun, 7pm Fri. No performances Christmas day or New Year’s Day. Ticket Prices: R230/R180/R150 (Full price) /  R180/R160/R120 (Children under 12 and Pensioners). Special Preview and Schools Prices: R130 throughout.

Book for all 2017 shows at Computicket: www.computicket.co.za / 0861 915 8000 / Shoprite Checkers Money Market Counters.  For more info, visit www.kickstarttheatre.co.za.