Tabla de contenidos para Issue 308 2022 en The Big Issue

It is almost impossible to define star quality. But we know it when we see it. Those who shine brightest have that je ne sais quoi that you can’t quite put your finger on. It makes them stand out on camera, and their off-screen presence is as commanding. And it’s not just the ‘easy-on-the-eye’ ones either. Once, on my way home from work one summer’s evening, strolling through leafy Leicester Square in London, I noticed in the stone forecourt, a ruby red carpet lined with golden stanchions, barricaded by chicken wire fencing. Curious, I stopped to buy a cooldrink at a nearby cafe, taking a seat to observe the scene. A plump, sweaty teenager holding a notebook and pen paced impatiently. As time passed, throngs of people gathered until, like…

In case you’re wondering, to achieve ‘bestseller’ status at the New York Times, not only do you have to sell at least 5 000 to 10 000 copies in one week, but these sales have to be diverse. That is, you can’t sell 10 000 books to a pre-existing list of followers through a personal website, or thousands from only one marketplace. Perhaps bestseller titles (unfairly) reflect a society obsessed with glamour and popularity, and are not a genuine reflection of literary gems. Either way, being a celebrity with a book means that you’re bound to discover the meat that the bones of an internet search won’t reveal. Enjoy. FINDING ME: A MEMOIR BY VIOLA DAVIS Viola: “In my book, you will meet a little girl named Viola who ran…

After watching a couple of outstanding West End productions in London, in 2010 I watched Grease, starring Jonathan Roxmouth, at Johannesburg’s Teatro in Montecasino. His live performance was riveting, unforgettable. His stage persona, compelling. World-class. Gobsmacked, and smitten with a new theatre hero, our media group took note, scrambling to find out more about Jonathan. Grease played to packed theatres, touring Cape Town, Johannesburg, New Zealand and Hong Kong. For his performance Jonathan earned his second Naledi Theatre Award nomination for Best Performance in a Musical. He has since commanded the stage with one hit performance after another, which got me thinking, how does one define star quality? Much like audiences’ approach to screen actors, we’ll fork out to watch a movie with a long-serving, stellar cast. Think Tom Cruise…

Did you make a New Year’s resolution the other night? I was asked by a journo to please send them a few sentences as to what my resolutions are. I emailed back: TO STAY ALIVE. They never went to print with that response. They wanted more. I didn’t have anything more. Aiming to stay alive is currently a big enough challenge. But even in the good old days before we washed our hair in sanitiser after someone sneezed within 8 000 metres of us, I was not really big on New Year’s resolutions. Mainly because I hate feeling like a loser. I’ve decided it’s best to keep your New Year’s intentions to yourself so that nobody is able to judge you when you fail. Some of those resolutions may not…

We appeal to you to donate to our vendors’ wish lists below, enabling them to further their self-made opportunities. Who knows, you could make a vendor’s dream come true if you are able to employ, teach or mentor someone. Rondebosch, Cape Town Name: Akhona Silevu. Vendor number: 1866. Find him at: Campground and Sandown Roads, Rondebosch. Skills and experience: Akhona joined The Big Issue in 2010. He lives in Delft, has experience driving a Hyster forklift, and can operate machinery like milling, moulding and extruder machines. Hopes and dreams: Hyster driver or truck driver (for which he would need to obtain a truck driver’s licence) and to learn how to operate a crane machine. WISH LIST: He would like to find a more stable job to support his four children.…

Visit www.weekendspecial.co.za for more arts and entertainment I am Megan Choritz, an actor, playwright, theatre director, writer and improviser living in Woodstock. I have spent my life imagining and performing or creating performances for stage. In September last year I swallowed my nerves and put out a call on Facebook to my theatre community and friends. For the duration of the pandemic, we had been locked down, cancelled, restricted, shut out, kept out and unconsidered. I was done. I explained that I couldn’t stand the ‘death of theatre’ narrative anymore and that I wanted to do something to move, or at least nudge away the black dog. MAKING THEATRE I wrote that I had this play, Clouds Like Waves, and it was written in such a way that the number…

ACT IT OUT! Act out each of these sentences. Be as silly as you can. It is hailing. Run for shelter to protect against hailstones! You have to cross a river on stepping stones but you have to avoid crocodiles in the river. You are a little mouse. Hide from a big, hungry cat. It’s your birthday. Someone has brought you a big surprise present. Act like an angry lion protecting its food. Your boat has tipped over at sea. Swim to the nearest island. Which emotion is it? What feeling does each picture show? Books and prizes! Soweto Tea Party by Nokuthula Mazibuko Msimang Nokuthula lives with her mum and dad in Soweto. Even though they live in an ugly, poor neighbourhood their home is always happy! Published by…

South Africa’s theatre fraternity reacted with heartbreak to the announcement that Cape Town’s famous Fugard Theatre closed its doors for good last year. Named after the playwright Athol Fugard, the theatre was established in 2010 and produced many landmark productions – such as the musicals King Kong (2017) and Kat and the Kings (2012). WHAT DOES IT MEAN THAT THE FUGARD CLOSED? The closing down of The Fugard means far more than just the loss of one more place where artists, technicians and arts administrators could have earned a living. The Fugard rose like a phoenix in democratic South Africa. It was located in an area that had once been demolished by apartheid’s bulldozers during the destruction of the mixed race suburb District Six as a result of the Group…

SET FOR STARDOM With spirited determination and attitude, the children from Ndlovu Youth Choir come from some of the poorest communities in the world. Many have the world on their shoulders. Some of them have had parents who have passed away, and they’re now looking after their siblings on their own. Yet, collectively, they have managed to find immense international success, particularly with their astounding performances in America’s Got Talent. The group has brought South Africa to international stages, with audiences screaming their thunderous applause. Mentored and led by the passionate and incomparable Ralf Schmitt, musician, conductor, composer and producer, the group it seems, was always set for stardom. INTERNATIONAL TREASURE Since its inception in 2009, the Ndlovu Youth Choir has become world famous. Their unique musical arrangements and powerhouse…

Marc Lettering has extensive experience in both theatre and TV, and has written no fewer than 16 one-man shows for the stage, earning him two Fleur Du Cap Theatre Awards, a Naledi Award and several nominations along the way. He has also penned two critically acclaimed musicals, Aunty Merle – The Musical, and Aunty Merle – It’s a Girl! Marc has performed in London, Toronto, Sydney, Perth, Melbourne, Auckland and Dubai. More recently, in 2020, he broke local online show records with his first online performance, when My Fellow South Africans sold more than 17 000 tickets. Marc says, “I’m happy to be able to perform to live audiences once again, albeit at 50% capacity. During lockdown, I essentially resorted to doing online shows, which initially was a nightmare for…