Calendar of many happy returns

Lessons in Six Weeks returns to the Auto & General Theatre on the Square. Dance lessons, yes, but life lessons too, as an oddly matched couple waltz, cha-cha, rhumba and tango their way to an understanding.

Another worthy see-it-again is Lord of the Dance. We are promised a new staging of the Irish dance classic in July at the Joburg Theatre.

In April, Joburg Ballet presents Swan Lake, in May the St Petersburg Ballet Theatre is back at the Teatro, and in June Veronica Paeper’s ballet Spartacus – the tale of the slave who challenged the might of the Roman Empire – is reenvisioned and set in Africa. We are promised a sumptuous production with overseas guest artists.

Also in June, the Geneva Ballet will be performing Romeo and Juliette, a new representation of Shakespeare’s everlasting tragedy, also at the Joburg Theatre.

In October there’s more Elvis, this time in Sean Bovim’s Private Presley, choreographed to some of the King’s greatest hits. It was also a hit in Cape Town.

Another Cape Town import is The Snow Goose, based on Paul Gallico’s story about an old lighthouse keeper and a young girl who set off for Dunkirk to bring the soldiers home during World War II.

That’s coming to the Auto & General Theatre on the Square, along with a strong line-up of good drama, including The Double Bass, Hinterland and Miss Dietrich Regrets, as well as music, jazz and comedy.

It’s not all returns – new on the boards is the first South African production of Sister Act, to be presented by the Joburg Theatre in July.

The musical is based on Whoopi Goldberg’s 1992 movie about a disco diva who has to take refuge from the Mob in a convent, which, much to Mother Superior’s dismay, will never be quite the same again.

Sister Act will be directed here by Janice Honeyman, who is planning to stage Sleeping Beauty as her yearend pantomime. The cast has been announced and includes Tobie Cronjé, Timothy Moloi, Christopher Jaftha, Michelle Botha and Lynelle Kenned.

In March the Joburg Theatre is putting on a series of concerts – 21 Songs for 21 Years of Democracy – with a number of guest performers, including Johnny Clegg, and in May you can sing along to the ’60s hits of Marvin Gaye at Let’s Get it On.

Heidi and Winnie the Pooh are coming back for the children, but there’s a new one too – that lovable ogre Shrek will be bouncing into town, no doubt with Fiona, Donkey and Dragon in tow. That should be fun.

And don’t forget the Fugard Theatre’s The Rocky Horror Show, which is at Montecasino until the end of this month. By the way, the Fugard Theatre is putting on Cabaret in Cape Town this year (hint).