UJ Arts releases Romeo and Juliet podcast adaptations

Sneziwe Dube improve African children. That also includes buying her books and donating them to schools and libraries, and seeking donations to help her travel to rural schools, or provide transport for rural children to attend the foundation’s activities in urban areas.

UJ Arts & Culture has released its educational podcast drama series featuring Robin Malan’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in English and IsiZulu.

The play was translated by Nkululeko Ndhlovu and edited by Nomusa Sibiya at UJ’s Multilingual Language Services.

Art gallery pays homage to prolific masterpieces

The theme aims to pay homage to some of South Africa’s most prolific masterpieces within the visual arts industry, while looking forward to the prospect of what is to come in this richly diverse and talented continent of artists.

Johannesburg - Absa has opened a new art gallery in the piazza of Towers Main in Main Street.

The gallery officially opened its doors with the first exhibition titled Voices, Past and Present, comprising artworks recently exhibited at the 2022 Klein Karoo National Arts Festival (KKNK).

The theme aims to pay homage to some of South Africa’s most prolific masterpieces within the visual arts industry, while looking forward to the prospect of what is to come in this richly diverse and talented continent of artists.

Senior specialist art curator at Absa Group, Dr Paul Bayliss said: “The new gallery gives us the opportunity to continue supporting and showcasing great work by artists from around the continent. The exhibition allows everyone the opportunity to view the wonderful art pieces that were showcased at KKNK. In addition, we are excited to finally open our doors to those who would like to visit the Absa Gallery from June.”

The virtual launch was hosted on the Absa Art Hot Spot platform, where visi-

Recorded by UJ Arts Academy students under direction of Nompumelelo Mtshali with mentorship by Dr Jerry Mofokeng, the series includes an educational segment presented by Ashalin Singh and Nompumelelo Mtshali. The project, made available online at no cost, is to assist learners who are required to learn the Shakespeare play to make a connection with the work.

Head of UJ Arts & Culture Pieter Jacobs says: “In an attempt to continue fostering appreciation for the arts and to ensure students continue benefitting from practising the arts during this challenging time, the intention of was to make learning material accessible to secondary learners at no cost.”

The isiZulu drama series features the voices of Bayanda Malevu, Nomthandazo Gumede, Tumelo Mogoane, Buqaqawuli Gobinca, Sinemivuyo Mpulu, Seakga Tladi, Nokukhanya Zulu, Nick Moyo, Fumo Chabalala, Ismail Skhosa- na, Siphesihle Ndzimande, Ismail Skhosana and Cindy Hlungwani. tors had an opportunity to view parts of the exhibition. Launched in 2021, the platform affords audiences the opportunity to experience arts and culture content that was traditionally only available through gallery visits.

The English drama series features the voices of Sinemivuyo Mpulu, Britney Adams, Fumo Chabalala, Buqaqawuli Gobinca, Nomthandazo Gumede, Tumelo Mogoane, Kagiso Shilabje, Seakga Tladi, Nick Moyo and Ismail Skhosana.

The podcast drama series is available at no cost on the UJ Arts & Culture’s website. To access it visit https://arts.uj.ac.za/events/shows.

While the opening of the new art gallery allows artists to showcase their work virtually, art lovers can visit the Absa Gallery in person and witness the work created by various artists.

The visits must be arranged by appointment via email gallery@absa.co.za.