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De Compleat Histry of Dbn (without the boring bits!)

De Compleat Histry of Dbn (without the boring bits!)

Date: 2015-10-02
The high energy theatrical romp through the history of Durban: De Compleat Histry of Dbn (without the boring bits!) is being staged by UKZN Drama and Performance Studies Students under the direction of Themi Venturas, and comes to the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre on UKZN Campus for a short season from Wednesday 30 September until Sunday 4 October.

This tongue-in-cheek potted history of our city is based on the storytelling and comic techniques of the Reduced Shakespeare Company inspired by the style of The Compleat Wrks of Wlm Shkspr (Abridged). Whilst the historical (or should we say hysterical) facts are all correct, the"story behind the story" is wildly imaginative.

The set includes a cartoon timeline designed by Iain "Ewok" Robinson, and a series of very interesting photographs of early Durban projected onto a big central screen.

The production has been created which sets out to celebrate the unique history (without the boring bits) of the town "discovered" on Christmas Day by Vasco de Gama, who, apparently, was on a voyage to get away from his nagging wife and a persistent taxman. The potted history seeks to tell the stories behind the historical facts, peppered with occasional ditties, parodies and traditional songs from the city's earliest history until today.

The play is dedicated to the late Tiki Nxumalo who passed away this year, and was part of the original cast when the production was first staged at the Catalina Theatre.

School-going drama students will enjoy seeing this production's interesting performance style,and for history scholars it inspires much conversation. A school's performance has been scheduled for Friday 2 October at 11am, and bookings should be made via Claudette Wagner on 031 260 3134 or wagnerc1@ukzn.ac.za