Get out your feather boas and tiaras… it’s party timefor the glitzy-est night of the year - the second Durban Theatre Awards to be held on November 22 at 19h30 at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre.

The success of last year’s inaugural Durban Theatre Awards ceremony proved that the local theatre community can “go it alone” – that is, without major funding but with the support of local businesses and the public. The event was a truly Durban-generated occasion.

The 2003 Awards ceremony recognised and acknowledged excellence in performance, direction and design in theatre. The 2004 Awards will be expanded to include categories not previously acknowledged: children’s theatre, choreography and sound design.

The successful format of the evening will repeated whereby excerpts of Durban’s 2004 festive season productions will be performed between the awards. These productions include Nunsense (Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre), Aladdin (The Grill Room, Royal Hotel), The All New Summer Holidays Adventures of Brer Rabbit and Friends (Courtyard Theatre), The Selfish Giant (Sneddon Theatre), Cinderella (Kwasuka Theatre), Squawk! (The Playhouse), Defending the Planet (Catalina Theatre), A Christmas Kerel (Catalina Theatre), and the Playhouse Festive Extravaganza (The Playhouse).

It is a significant coincidence when children’s theatre is being acknowledged for the first time that there should be five children’s productions scheduled for the 2004 Festive Season.

The Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre has again agreed to sponsor the venue for the ceremony which will be hosted by East Coast Radio personalities Jane Linley and Mel Massyn.

Bartel Arts Trust will sponsor a further series of Recognition Awards. Gift vouchers for awardees have been generously donated by La Lucia Mall and the Essenwood Craft Market and Troubadour Productions. Peter Bircham of The Garden of Earthly Design will once again sponsor the programme and certificate designs.

As Monday night is a “night-off” for most productions in Durban, audiences can expect to brush shoulders with the who’s who of Durban’s theatre scene. The Durban Theatre Awards has firmly established itself on the Durban calendar celebrating local theatre artists in glamour, sophistication and style.

Tickets are available at Computicket at R50 each. Computicket has kindly waived its usual service charge for the event. Credit card bookings can be made on 011 340 8000. R5 of every ticket sold will be donated to PANSA (Performing Arts Network of SA – KZN Chapter).