#BlueManGroup

So if you haven't heard of the #BlueManGroup yet, I suggest you check them out ASAP. So when I heard early last year that they would be visiting Joburg in 2017 I was super excited. It is a show that I have been wanting to see for ages now. Finally... They are here!

What started out as 3 college friends developed a bald & blue character called 'Blue Man', and then the Blue Man Group show, which is now an award winning show that has been performed in over 20 countries & has been seen by over 35 million people worldwide.

It is most certainly a very dynamic combination of art, music, comedy & the latest technology celebrating the human connection is something for everyone. And that I can reiterate. I saw the show on the opening night at the Teatro at Montecasino. An incredibly interactive show with the 'Blue Man' connecting & engaging with the audience throughout the show. 

It has been described as "The Only Show as Colourful as Life." It certainly lives up to that expectation. It is difficult to describe exactly it is what you are watching. I just know that it was super entertaining & a great show overall. Keeping the crowd fixated on their movements, expressions & actions is what really sells the show for me. 

They incorporate local music in their show too. Which was an added bonus for majority of the crowd when the late Mandoza's "Nkalakhata" sounded out from the stage & drums & everyone immediately recognised the tune. 

The Blue Man Group is on stage at the Teatro at Montecasino until 5 March & you can get your tickets at Computicket. I suggest you do that quickly. I rate they are going to sell out soon if the word spreads too quickly about how much everyone enjoys the show.

Check out these snaps that I took during the show.

The show ends in one collaborative play pen of throwing balls & streamers around like children.

 This is something that you don't want to miss out on... 

#BlueManGroup

Cirque Éloize iD

Cirque Éloize iD is here again...

So I saw this show 2 years ago, back in 2014 when they toured to Johannesburg at The Teatro at Montecasino. All I'm going to say is that I am very excited that they are back in SA for another show. The bewildering, high-energy production, which incorporates acrobatics and street dance will blow you away.

Starting off in Cape Town on 16 November and after only 15 performances the performance moves up to Johannesburg and will be back in the Teatro at Montecasino from 30 November until 24 December.

Under the direction of Jeannot Painchaud, Cirque Éloize iD is brought back to SA to you by Showtime Management after having been enjoyed by over 3 million people in over 4000 shows in almost 500 cities across the world in 50 countries since it's very first show in 2009. (If this doesn't scream International, then you should read this last paragraph again.)

Acrobats, Aerialists, Trail Bikers, Hip-Hop & Break Dancers have come together to create a society, in which 2 groups celebrate everyone's distinct identity with its high-energy blend of circus art & urban dance. Most definitely a production for the young at heart and featuring an inspiring soundtrack & innovative video projections.

The cast of 15 have worked together with composers Jean-Phi Goncalves & Alex McMahon to incorporate innovative multimedia elements with a rock & electronica inspired soundtrack.

"The runaway success of the show's first season in 2014 says it all - this is a unique & massively exciting show for the whole family," says Hazel Feldman of Showtime Management, who added. "This mind-blowing fusion of new theatrical circus and urban dance is an absolute must "do" on every year-end calendar!"

The trampoline-finale is quite spectacular. The energy & poetry of the show will surpass your expectations and is guaranteed to leave you in awe. This is honestly a show like no other and if you have not seen Cirque Éloize iD, then you have never seen anything remotely similar in SA.

Tickets are available from Computicket.

And we are running a competition on social media, where you can win 1 of 2 Double Ticket to the opening night on 30 November 2016 at Montecasino. 

How to Enter:
1. Follow me on Twitter: @Lloydi_Boy
2. Tell me who you will be bringing with you to the show and remember to use the #FLSwithLloyd

The Biggest Snow Show

#SlavasSnowShow

For those of you who have not yet heard, but #SlavasSnowShow is in town and boy will it blow your mind.

It is not easy to describe the performance and to tell you what the story is about really. So there is a clown, who goes on an adventure. And as the audience you get to travel with him and encounter all the interesting individuals and characters that he meets along the way.

There is no actual talking, but some mumbling and foreign words that you can make out. Instead, the show is told through the actions, facial expressions and music. Think back to what a Charlie Chaplin movie was like. This time, imagine it is a live performance of that movie & it is in colour with surround sound and you are in the show.

From songs like Mas Que Nada to O Fortuna the musical score is there to take you on a journey of emotions as you sit in bewilderment watching things evolve on stage in front of you. This is a rather interactive show with characters walking off the stage and into the audience, over and on the chairs. Then promptly opening water bottles and "making it rain" right there where you are sitting.

I never thought that I would sit inside an actual theatre and experience a snow storm along with every other theatre goer in attendance. You hear the wind and suddenly everything goes dark and with the bang of the O Fortuna, a bright light hits you from the front and there is a gush of wind from off the stage and it literally snows and you are part of this incredible theatrical display.

One thing I would most definitely say is that you need to be open-minded when coming to watch this. This is not your ordinary musical or theatre production. This is a theatrical experience that will bring out your inner child. (After the show, I was laying in the "snow" on the theatre floor having the time of my life playing like a little boy, throwing the "snow" in the air and making "snow" angels.) I think that children would love this show purely because they would watch it out of a different viewpoint as an adult. We tend to over-complicate things. So just watch it and watch it the way like a child would watch.

You seriously should not miss out on this opportunity to see this. On stage at Montecasino in Johannesburg until 14 August and then in Cape Town at the Artscape Opera House from the 17th to the 28th of August. You can get your tickets at Computicket.

Share in your experience online using the #SlavasSnowShow

#SlavasSnowShow

The world's  most illustrious clown, set to visit South Africa for the very 1st time.

Picture: P. Augie

The international stage sensation, Slava's Snowshow opens in South Africa at Montecasino's Teatro on Tuesday, 26 July. With the Russian Master Clown & Legend, Slava Polunin, traveling all the way to be seated in the audience of the opening show right here in South Africa.

A little bit of history around the legend himself:
Slava, being praised as one of the most illustrious clowns in the world, and being famous for his 'yellow clown' character - Assissai, went on to create the Snowshow in the early 90's, after being a performer as part of Cirque du Soleil, and for over 20 years, it has never stopped touring and has been seen by millions of people across the globe. Slava is not only an actor, but an artistic director and producer of full-scale, epic festivals and events, constantly uniting artists across various disciplines to create collective collaborative celebrations.

Picture: V. Vial

"Our show is not only different year from year - in fact, it is different every time, because it allows lots of room for improvisation and the show remains full of life," says Slava. "Expect a journey into your childhood, sparkling with your dreams, into mine - covered by the snowy blanket, into ours - filled with anticipation and dreams," Slava goes on to explains it is a trip into the world of bright colours, true feelings and important smaller details, the details that one only notices when you are young and that the magical aspect of the the show is the intimate, non verbal, communication with the audience. It is this subtle interaction between artist and spectator that creates the magic of theatre.

Picture: V. Vial

The SnowShow has a very special edge for each country's audience and it will be very interesting to see the response of South African's who get to experience the show. The team of SnowShow clowns are coming here to entertain, amaze and bring a sense of wonder, of magic and of joy as they transform the venues into a virtual playground.

Picture: V. Mishukov

The Teatro at Montecasino, in Johannesburg: 26 July - 14 August 2016
Artscape Opera House, in Cape Town: 17 - 28 August 2016
Tickets are available at Computicket.

Picture: V. Vial

Tony Feldman of Showtime Management said, "Slava seldom travels with The Snowshow, so we feel privileged that he is joining us for the opening performance in Johannesburg and we look forward to welcoming to welcoming Slava and The Snowshow to South Africa for the very first time."

Picture: V. Vial

#SlavasSnowShow

If you are not yet even slightly intrigued, I suggest that you go and check out these links now.

SlavasSnowShow coming to town.
SlavasSnowShow in Paris.