By Nangamso Mabindla
23 May 2007

THE East London Guild Theatre has a hot line-up to keep theatre lovers warm during the chilly month of June.

Kicking off this winter season, on 1 June, is Eco-Wolf and The Three Pigs, directed by Daniel Buckland and performed by the Ubom! Eastern Cape Theatre Company. Theatre manager Zane Flanagan says the play is aimed at primary school learners.

"In this play an eco wolf is forced to save his beautiful home valley from the three pigs who threaten to ruin the valley forever with their pollution. This interactive show engages the audience on a colourful journey through the imagination and [offers] a thrilling exposure to the grounding realities of the world's pollution crisis," Flanagan explains.

Also on the first, Jag, the Western Cape band, performs live in concert. The band has recently returned from touring the United Kingdom, and will soon be jetting off again.

"This show is called Jag in Concert and we want to invite all music lovers to attend it as the group will be returning to the UK soon," Flanagan adds.

Of course, the season would not be complete without the Bard, and on 4 June there will be a performance of Hamlet.

"We will be showing Hamlet. In 1607 a British merchant ship, Red Dragon, was on its way to India. It stopped off the coast of Africa to re-provision. The sailors decided to put on an impromptu performance of Hamlet aboard the ship and invited the local African dignitaries to come and watch.

"The production we'll be showing is an imagined recreation of that historic 1607 performance," Flanagan says.

Another show that is sure to catch the eye is As You Like IT on 5 June; it's a modern production that uses present day Zimbabwe as its backdrop. "The themes of dictatorships, land ‘redistribution' and refugees are central to the action of the play."

But after this more serious fare comes a magic and comedy show by Stuart Taylor.

"Taylor, who's known for his role in the TV show Going Nowhere Slowly, fuses a lively combination of comedy, magic and standup woven together with a tread of personal commentary that will have audiences rolling in the aisles. Our audiences are sure to love this show."

Finishing off the month on 30 June is break-dancing competition. Dancers from all over the Eastern Cape will participate, and the winners will represent the province in the Western Cape break-dancing competition later in the year.

For more information about these shows, contact the Guild Theatre on 043 743 0704.