Andrew J. Cruickshank
South Africa

Andrew John Cruickshank made his mark in the South African music world from an early age as a pianist, performing both as soloist with various orchestras and as accompanist before devoting himself increasingly to the field of composition. Cruickshank is an accomplished harpsichordist and singer.

He was musical director of the Johannesburg-based solo- ensemble of singers and instrumentalists, Mass Appeal, with which he was able to live out his keen interest in and solid knowledge of the informed performance practice of Early Baroque music as well as perform contemporary music. Mass Appeal gave the first informed performance of Monteverdi’s Vespers in South Africa in 2001 and during 2002 with performances across South Africa.

He has worked in partnership with fellow South African composer / Baroque cellist Hans Huyssen playing the harpsichord; toured their programmes to Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Cape Town and Stellenbosch, which incl. performances at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown in 2009 and performances at the ABSA KKNK Oudsthoorn Festival 2010. Another noteworthy collaboration has been with the Dutch Baroque violinist, Antoinette Lohmann. Although Cruickshank has held music positions such as accompanist and music critic, he currently works in the actuarial industry, based in Cape Town.

Bridget Rennie-Salonen
South Africa

The Soul of the Flute

An atmospheric journey through a variety of styles of solo flute music. Evocative, lyrical, gentle yet uplifting, the soul of the flute will inspire the imagination as the flute tells its story through the music.

Bridget Rennie-Salonen was the Solo Principal Flute of the former Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra in which capacity she was the recipient of the Ben & Faye Carklin Award for Artistic Excellence. She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and the Post-graduate Diploma from the University of Cape Town, as well as a Performer’s Licentiate from the Royal Schools of Music. Bridget has performed as soloist with several South African Orchestras and performs extensively as a chamber musician and freelance orchestral principal flautist. She has vast teaching experience at all levels and is currently lecturing in Flute at the University of Cape Town as well as teaching privately. Bridget is also a certified Andover Educator and teaches Body Mapping for musicians both in group workshops and individual lessons.

Charles Tertiens
South Africa

Voted the world's 3rd sexiest magician (by his very own mother) TV personality and celebrity magician, Charles Tertiens has been gracing the big screen in movies such as "Disgrace", "I now pronounce you black and white" and "Visa Vie". Not forgetting our homes in programs such as "Hip2b²","Known Gods","Montana" and "7de Laan" .. now who could possibly forget the ever so classy king of spandex, the Cash Crusader?

Straight off tour with Madame Zingara to a voorkamer near you! Charles' comedy magic will keep you asking "why did I ever stop believing?"

www.charlestertiens.com

Gavin Bonner
South Africa

Poet, Musician and Storyteller Gavin Bonner brings "Rapid Fire Fairytales" to Voorkamerfest 2011. He incorporates his skills as a percussionist,traditional storyteller, comedian and astounding freestyle improvisational poet all into a show of 20 to 25 minutes , and do it a dozen times in one weekend with no two shows the same! How? Well come and see for yourself, as comedian Mark Sampson remarked in The Eastern Cape Herald " Seriously, seeing is believing! " Gavin will include some pieces from his new album entitled " Of Beasts and Kings, Skins and Strings" in the shows and the cd will be available at shows and at Evita Se Perron. For more information and audio and video samples check out www.gavinbonner.com

Hermi Hartjes
The Netherlands

HENDRICKJE, REMBRANDTS LIEF (Sweetheart) (1626-1663)
performing: Hermi Hartjes
directing: Wouter ten Pas

“My little bride, you are my little bride.”

Hendrickje, the woman behind Rembrandt
In her own special way theatre maker, Hermi Hartjes shows you the life of Hendrickje Stoffels. Her youth in the province, her life with Rembrandt.
“Rembrandtman, Rembrandtman keer ow ‘ns umme en kiek mi-j ‘ns an!”
(please turn around and look at me)

REMBRANDTS LIEF (sweetheart) is following ELIZABETH 1 – THE VIRGIN QUEEN, the second solo performance of Hermi Hartjes in her series “Strong Women”, in which she reveals small hearts in great women and big hearts in small women.

Hermi Hartjes is theater maker and writer. She also does educational training in presentation techniques and conversation skills. Her approach is open minded, playful and humoristic. She undertakes an ongoing quest into the fascinating world of hidden structures and thoughts. She shuns no emotions. Her basic theme is: things are never what they seem to be. Amazement everywhere ...

www.hermihartjes.nl

Hot Water
South Africa

“Hot Water must easily be one of the most exciting musical projects to come out of South Africa..” The Citizen

www.hotwater.co.za

Khayelitsha United Mambazo Ensemble
South Africa

Khayelitsha United Mambazo is an Isicathamiya choir from Indlovini in Khayelitsha. (Isicathamiya is a form of Traditional African Male Vocal Music). The ensemble have a large selection of original songs - originating directly out of social issues they hope to address with their music.

The group worked hard towards their dream of representing South Africa
outside the country's borders and in 2009 and 2010 the group participate in the production of the musical Amandla! Mandela in the Netherlands.

Larry Joe
South Africa

Larry Joe is the exceptionally talented singer and songwriter who famously cut his debut solo album in 2010 whilst behind bars in the Douglas Correctional Centre (DCC) in the Northern Cape. Through video, musical performance and interactive dialogue, Larry and Aron (Larry's producer and founder of Freshlyground) re-tell how they initially met, how the project was envisioned, the obstacles that were faced, where they are now, and their dreams for the future, both personally and for their community. They challenge audiences to rethink their own perceptions of language, colour and life story as being defining factors of how successful they can be in South Africa.

www.larryjoelive.com

Lucy Holgate
South Africa

ABSOLUCY

Another superb show produced by the award winning Follow Spot Productions, Absolucy is a captivating solo performance suitable for the whole family. Based on a woman’s passionate love affair with alcohol, the multi-talented singer/actress, Lucy Holgate, has the audience giggling and bopping to the beat of a string well known songs. Top 40 hits, golden oldies, 80s nostalgia and brassy show tunes are all performed with flair making this production electrifying.

www.followspot.co.za/show3.html

Manouche
South Africa

Gypsy Jazz is a unique style originally created by Django Reinhardt and Stephane Grapelli in 1934. As a unique blend of American jazz, gypsy rhythmic and melodic concepts, this vibrant mix results in the hottest of Hot Jazz. Manouche, with sometimes unorthodox instrumentation and a good deal of original material, truly makes the style their own. Moments of beautiful melancholy to foot tapping, hip swinging jazzy goodness, and a couple of surprises in between, keep audiences captivated.

www.manouche.co.za

Matzer Theaterproducties
The Netherlands

Augustus
A musical fairy-tale

In the evening, when the sun had set and the moon had not yet risen, it often occurred that miraculous music seemed to emanate from the neighbour’s house. A delicate and fragile tinkling of tiny bronze or perhaps even china instruments. A sound so subtle, that of its own accord it seemed to drown everything else into silence. Music that made one drift into a state of the utmost tranquility.

What would you wish for your new-born child? Supposing you could ask for just one thing? Money, happiness, health, beauty, strength? That is the question Augustus’ mother finds herself confronted with. She makes her choice. A choice having many implications.Augustus is a story full of enchanting music and exciting developments.

Credits:
Text: Peter De Graef
Direction: Madeleine Matzer
Acting: Lottie Hellingman
Composition: Helge Slikker
Costume: Ilse Vermeulen
Styling: Saskia van der Linden

www.matzer.org

Mel Jones
South Africa

Born and raised in Cape Town and a proud resident of Mitchell’s Plain, Mel Jones describes herself as "the favourite" of three siblings.

A product of the Cape Comedy Collective's Comedy Lab workshops, Melanie burst into the limelight with her unique confidence and sexy style. This single mother brings her perspective as a ‘young’ Capetonian woman looking in vain for Mr Right to the stage to the great amusement and enlightenment of all. She was fondly received at the Spier Amphitheatre only 6 short weeks after doing her very first open mic slot at the Cape Comedy Club. Since then, you may have seen her on SABC3's Comedy Showcase, the Phat Joe show, the King Size Comedy Tour, the Blacks Only Comedy Show, Mind The Gap and The Heavyweight Comedy Jam and there’s a strong possibility that you may have read about her in various magazines (not the ‘bikini’ mags – the girly ones).

Her shows, Doing It for the Money and Still Doing It with Tracy Klass has been a big Cape Town hit, as has her presence on 94.5 Kfm since 2003. It was her stage performance that led her to radio when, while being interviewed on the station, she was asked to join the team. "Let's be honest. If they'd told me I'd need to get up at 4am every day, I may have thought twice.” She giggles.

These days, she works behind the scenes producing the Phat Joe Morning Show on Heart 104.9fm ... when she’s not on stage, that is.

Mel's made it her mission to bring laughter, smiles and warmth to as many people as possible. Her philosophy on life: "You've got to laugh at it".

www.entertainment-online.co.za/meljones.htm
Mel@1049.fm

Patrick van den Hanenberg & Andisiwe Mbunje
The Netherlands/South Africa

Khayelitsha-Amsterdam

Patrick van den Hanenberg is a theatre journalist for the Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant. Teacher and Song writer. In Darling Andisiwe Mbunje and Patrick will play the show Khayelitsha-Amsterdam, a combination of song, dance and crosstalk:

Dutch journalist meets South African singer/dancer in Holland when she was on tour with the musical Amandla! Mandela - they became friends - he visits her in South Africa - he sees what life is about in Khayelitsha and in her home village in the Eastern Cape - they sing alot - they make a show together about Amsterdam meeting Khayelitsha - Africa meets Europe in Darling!

We can do this thing together
We live on different continents, that really doesn’t matter
We can do this thing together, Khayelitsha Amsterdam.

Rob van Vuuren
South Africa

“Rob van Vuuren-Live!”

“Rob van Vuuren-Live!” is the latest award winning stand-up comedy show written and performed by Rob van Vuuren who was, this year, once again identified by the Mail and Guardian as one of the 200 young South Africans you should take out to lunch.

“Rob van Vuuren-Live!” is an irreverent, honest and above all sidesplittingly funny perspective on many of Rob’s favorite subjects which range from dogs, flies, and Jehovah’s Witnesses to becoming a dad, adoption and giant mutant toenails.

This is a rare opportunity for Cape Town audiences to watch the guy who shot to fame as the short half of the cult comedy duo Corne and Twakkie of the Most Amazing Show, (the co-host of Crazy Games and SA’s Got Talent and the ou who Shucksed Shuster) do what he does best ... make you laugh.

www.robvanvuuren.com

Sima Mashazi
South Africa

Sima (accompanied by Ramon Alexander on piano) Is a vibrant young woman whose life long passion has always been singing.

She will keep you entertained with an array of music. You will hear beautiful South African folk songs in her mother tongue (Zulu) as well as in some of our other official languages. Sima will perform timeless jazz standards, sure to bring back fond memories as well as more recent home grown afro jazz tunes.

simamashazi@gmail.com

The Bone Collectors
South Africa

The Bone Collectors are a band of 5 merry misfits from the darkest cracks of Cape Town's Southern Suburbs. Featuring saxophone, guitar, and a manic percussion and rhythm section, their product is a Frankestein beast of blues, rockabilly and jazz, composed by moonlight and performed with passion.

The Cape Dance Company
South Africa

The Cape Dance Company is based in Tokai, Cape Town and was founded by Debbie Turner in 1995. The CDC is known for its excellent standard of dance, with performances that are uplifting and accessible, providing stimulating entertainment with a varied repertoire of superb dance works from both national and international choreographers. The dancers’ training is strongly based in the classical idiom enabling the company to explore a variety of dance styles successfully and with aplomb. The company has performed in key venues around South Africa and has presented seasons abroad at the Ailey Citigroup Theater in New York, the Edinburgh International Arts Festival and the Salisbury International Arts Festival in the United Kingdom.

www.capedancecompany.co.za

The Darling iAfrica Drama Queens
South Africa

info coming soon ....

Tina Schouw
South Africa

Singer/songwriter TINA SCHOUW launched her new CD, “WINDS CALL” at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch on the 27th February 2011. Tina on guitar and vocals was joined by a stellar cast of musicians, which included Kevin Gibson on drums; Wesley Rustin on acoustic and electric bass; Mark Fransman on piano, accordion and clarinet; Marc Maingard on harmonica; Jacqui Davies on cello; Gavin Minter on percussion and Lodi Paul Inga on guitar. Join Tina now for her solo show as she takes you on the journey of Winds Call. Her music and lyrics tell stories about her personal journeys of connection to the self, humanity and life. CD’s will be on sale at R120 (please bring cash). She will be signing after the show.

For more info checkout www.tinaschouw.co.za
tschouw@mweb.co.za
07824793758

Ubuntu B-Boys
South Africa

The Ubuntu Bboy crew serve as a lesson in action in securing one's own longevity in hip hop.Especially when executing feats of exertion like the holla Back night after night to the screams of Colosseum-like adoration rained down on you from the crowd. "Hype Mag"

UBUNTU CREW has been pushing on the battle scene since about 1998,with the experience assimilated over the years finally culminating in the creation of the Ubuntu B-Boys.These past ventures have stood us in Great stead! Duane founder of UBUNTU BBOY CREW. Also releasing solo debut Album

Jed has become the first Bboy to win the B-boy cup in France for 2 consecutive years in a competition where countries from All Around the World Compete Ubuntu B-Boys Representing our country in the International Scence Worldwide,Duane Expereiencing the Hip Hop CultureTravelling All around Europe, Usa ,Asia

UBUNTU B-BOYS company creating longevity in the Hip Hop scene by playing a huge Role in the Communties Around the Globe Teaching through Dance,Giving back to the Community Considered Role models Setting an Example Spreading Positivity! Creating ''SA Hip Hop Cup" Ubuntu B-Boys has made a Platform for dancers From around S.A and to compete to Win the title as The Top Dancers in South Africa UBUNTU BBOYS sends the Top Dancers to Compete for Glory at World Champs Internationally.Ubuntu has (Foundational Dvd's) Teaching Basics Moves to Power moves.

bboyduane@gmail.com
072 824 1809

Vera Vuković
South Africa

Lute player and singer Vera Vuković will be performing an intimate programme of predominantly 16th Century music written by some of the most influential and highly regarded composers of the Renaissance period. Her programme will include lute songs and music by the English composer, singer and lutenist John Dowland (1563 – 1626), and several examples of the complex polyphonic music written for the vihuela, one of the primary instruments of Renaissance Spain. Inspired by musicians such as Dowland, whose "heavenly touch upon the lute doth ravish human sense", Vera aims to treat her audience with something of the magic of Renaissance music.