Diary

Lesley Magwood Fraser, Renee Leslie, Lara Mellon, Joan Martin and Maggie Strachan are all fascinated by Kwa-Zulu-Natal?s landscape, people and animals. See how these artists grapple to integrate their traditional ?scratching?/drawing techniques with the various surfaces of their chosen media. Details: Corner 9th Street and Rustenburg Road, Melville; tel 083 284 6226

African designers will be scoring the winning goal during the upcoming FIFA Confederations Cup in June, when the inaugural Africa Fashion Week takes place in Jo?burg. The eight-day showcase of the continent?s leading designers, including designers from more than a dozen African countries, will replace Jo?burg Fashion Week on this year?s spring/summer calendar, and is set to become an annual event that will also be held during the FIFA World Cup in 2010. Details: www.africanfashioninternational.com

Cobus Haupt received a national diploma in Fine Arts from the Pretoria Technikon in 1997 and has since won several awards, including first place in the PPC Cement sculpture competition. ?I work with industrial themes, where I combine figures with objects like I-beams, drainpipes and other industrial constructions,? says Haupt. ?My work is mostly expressionistic, with the expression not so much in the correctness of the anatomy, but in other formal qualities, like balance and rhythm.? Details: Corner 9th Street and Rustenburg Road, Melville; tel 083 284 6226

Car fundis can expect an interactive event filled with interesting personalities and? astounding gadgets. The Castrol Extreme Auto Show is now in its sixth successive year and includes car sound, in-car multimedia, sports wheels, street rods, muscle cars and much, much more. The Castrol Extreme Auto Show 2009 also promises the biggest and best custom car, modified car and classic car shows to date. Details: www.extremeautoshow.co.za

Last year, Alan Committie brought you the sell-out success, Stressed to Kill. Now, he returns with all-new material in his 11th one-man show, Bigger! Better! Faster! This time round, Committie explores the quirky issues that create stress in our lives. He looks at the stress of business, the motivational speaker, shopping, hotels and travelling, and investigates why we all aspire to be superheroes. The funnyman also casts his eye over self-help books and our desperate need to dumb down education. Committie?s alter ego, Johan van der Walt, will also put in an appearance to wax lyrical about marriage and relationships. Details: Pieter Toerien?s Montecasino Theatre; tel (011) 511-1988

Back by popular demand, Hard Love is a play about faith, hope and reality. Leading international playwright Motti Lerner?s play is set in Israel and investigates the controversial issue of secular/religious relationships. The production features Keren Tahor and Scandal star Ashley Dowds as childhood sweethearts whose religious views have changed after many years apart. Details: The Old Mutual Theatre on the Square; tel (011) 883-8606

Visit Thailand in Sandton at the Thailand Consumer and Trade Exhibition, which offers you the opportunity to explore every facet of Thai culture, from exquisite fashions, silks and jewels to skilfully detailed furniture, ceramics and glassware to Thai cuisine. Explore what Thai engineering has to offer. Experience the healing therapy of Thai massage. Bring the tranquillity and luxury of the traditional Thai spa home with gorgeous skin and hair-care products and cosmetics. Details: The Office of Commercial Affairs, Royal Thai Embassy; tel (012) 342-0835

Jozi will be dancing around the clock when the FNB Dance Umbrella 2009 celebrates 21 years of being the largest contemporary dance festival in Southern Africa! The Dance Umbrella 2009 will be jam-packed with new and exciting works from local choreographers such as Gregory Maqoma, Dada Masilo and PJ Sabbagha and international companies such as Dorky Park from Germany, Tuning into the Void from France and Nimrod Freed from Israel. Details: The Wits Theatre Complex in Braamfontein; Dance Factory & Market Theatre in Newtown; Johannesburg University Arts Centre in Auckland Park; tel (011) 482-4140; www.artslink.co.za/arts

Head to Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit for the South African leg of the A1 GP, powered by Ferrari. The race is being staged at Kyalami after being held in Durban for three years. The people of South Africa, and more specifically Gauteng, can look forward to an event like no other. It will be a feast for the senses, says A1 GP CEO Pete da Silva. A1 GP represents the first opportunity in any area of motorsport for nations, rather than drivers, to compete on a level playing field. Details: www.a1gp.com

Ravi Naidoos Design Indaba provides a cutting-edge platform for advertising, architecture, craft, dcor, film, fashion, graphic design, interiors, jewellery and more. Dont miss hearing Bruce Mau and Dai Fujiwara speak the latter celebrated for his debut collection as Issey Miyakes creative director, while Bruce Maus book and exhibition, Massive Change, is a design cult movement. Details: www.designindaba.com

Sure to be a treat for arts and culture aficionados throughout the country, this festival comprises of various Russian performers that are sure to dazzle and delight. The festival commences with a gala opening at the Unisa Hall in Pretoria on the 4 March, featuring the Opera Star Gallery XXI. This musical extravaganza will be followed by two performances by world renowned Russian crossover act, the Terem Quartet. The festival concludes with a Gala performance at the Baxter Theatre in Cape Town by Dell Arte the youth musico-choreographic theatre, which is celebrating its fifteenth jubilee this year. Details: Gala Opening featuring Opera Star Gallery 4 March, Unisa Hall Pretoria; Terem Quartet 5 - 6th March, Unisa Hall Pretoria; Silver Voices of Russia (Dell Arte) - Gala Closing 11 - 12th March, Baxter Hall, Cape Town. rob.shone@gmail.com 4-6 March and 11-12 March

The (Mis) Adventures Art Collective will feature a number of artists specialising in different disciplines. The exhibition includes, among others, The Mapula Embroidery Project and Carl Roberts. In addition to providing an income to women who are frequently the sole breadwinners in their families, Mapula Embroideries couples high levels of technical and visual artistry with topics that speak eloquently of public histories and women?s personal experiences. Roberts explores surrealistic imagery. Details: Gallery On The Square, Shop 32, Nelson Mandela Square, tel (011) 784-2847/8

Featuring the finest young local operatic talent, Princess Magogo is sure to be one of the most exciting and innovative musical events this season. Director Themi Venturas teams up with acclaimed artist and set/costume designer Andrew Verster, lighting designer Declan Randall, conductor Vincent de Kort, and the Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra for the internationally acclaimed South African opera. Details: The Mandela at The Jo'burg Theatre; tel (011) 877-6800

Motown Magic is a dynamic celebration of 50 years of great music from the legendary Motown record label. The show boasts nine local artists, including TV personalities and a seven-piece band, and covers more than 70 Motown hits. Motown's list of artists reads like a who's-who of the American soul and R&B scenes of the 1960s through to the late 1970s, including Diana Ross & The Supremes, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and many more. Details: The Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City, tel (011) 280-5000

Starring theatre doyenne Annabel Linder, Glorious will take audiences back to the early years of the 20th century to meet an American singer who couldn?t sing to save her life ? and seemed completely oblivious to the fact. Florence Foster Jenkins, a dumpy coloratura soprano, became a star by hitting all the wrong notes with great aplomb, yet her enthusiasm was contagious and her delighted audiences would often clamour for more. Details: The Old Mutual Theatre on the Square; tel (011) 883-8606

Jozi's Winter Circus will return to Gold Reef City this winter! This action-packed 40 minute show will feature some of the most amazing acts ever seen in the Hippodrome and entrance to this spectacular show is included in the admission price to the Theme Park. Two performances will take place daily at 12pm and 3pm during the school holidays. The Circus caters for the whole family, from toddlers through to grandparents and the all-new line-up brings with it many fresh and exciting performers, including acrobats, musicians, clowns, contortionists and so much more. Details: tel (011) 248-6800 or visit www.goldreefcity.co.za.

Join top chefs from Jo'burg and Cape Town who will creative innovative dishes specially selected to match a selection of local and international chardonnays. Guests will be able to sample the dishes and chardonnays while interacting with the chefs, who will include Bertus Basson (Overture) and Paul Gindra (The Radisson BLU). Details: tel (021) 881-3441.

This group exhibition, curated by Liza Essers and Storm Janse van Rensburg, brings together artists who dwell on questions of citizenship, nationalism, politics, propaganda and security. Details: 163 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood; Until 20 June

Join more than 25?000 women at the biggest dedicated women?s platform in the country, where you are invited to network, be informed and be entertained. This year, the Women?s Show will be hosted alongside the Natural & Organic Product?s Exhibition. Expect over 100 live performances and presentations, including informative lifestyle talks, business discussions, live music, movement techniques, fashion extravaganzas and more. The show will be emceed by entertainer Irit Noble. Details: www.thewomensshow.co.za

Join Hugh Masekela as he celebrates his 70th birthday year with two special performances. Interwoven with stories and anecdotes from various points in his career, Bra Hugh will perform all-time favourites, including Stimela, Thanayi, Happy Mama, Lady and Grazing in the Grass with his new band, which features Erick Paliani on guitar, Lee-Roy Sauls on drums, Fana Zulu on bass and Randal Skippers on keyboards. Details: The Teatro at Montecasino; tel 083 915 8000

Avant Car Guard is a Jo?burg-based, three-member visual art collective exhibiting and authoring as a single artist. Details: 373 Jan Smuts Avenue, Craighall; tel (011) 326-0034

Enjoy a night of stand-up comedy, music, singing, dancing and improvisation with the star of Whose Line is it Anyway? and Don?t Forget the Lyrics, the ever-versatile Wayne Brady. M-Net and HuntaLive present Making it Up, the show that has played to sell-out audiences in Vegas. Done in classic variety-show style, the production features a three-piece band led by musical director Cat Gray, and a chorus of dancers. Details: Big Top Arena, Carnival City; bookings at www.computicket.com