THE CASTLE OF SILENCE at Kalk Bay Community Centre Hall

Pedro "the music man" Espi Sanchis presents a new show to delight young and old audiences alike for the holiday season when THE CASTLE OF SILENCE has its South African premiere at the Kalk Bay Community Centre Hall this December. The show debute at the Caixa Forum in Madrid earlier this year. As with all of Pedro's shows, THE CASTLE OF SILENCE is packed with live music and lots of audience participation to captivate, entertain and educate young minds. The show is aimed at children from four to ten years old.

THE CASTLE OF SILENCE is a tale of adventure, kings and of course, beautiful African music. A good and wise old king who loves music governs the small kingdom on the coast of Africa. His granddaughter, Lulama, sings like a songbird and his castle is a happy place where children love to visit. The king plays mbira and every child plays in the orchestra - an African orchestra full of amazing instruments. The day comes for a new king to take over, but he has many wicked ways and is intent on destroying the music. High walls go up around his palace and it becomes a castle of silence. The children must find ways to make music, however they can, to restore happiness in the kingdom.

The show is a fun opportunity for children and their families to be introduced to African music and and to play music together. It includes ten fascinating instruments, such as flutes and horns from South Africa, harps from Central Africa, the talking drum from West Africa and the mbira from Zimbabwe. The show also features some very special songs from the South African songbook. Each child in the audience will be given a booklet with information about all the instruments in the show. After the show, Pedro will be on Dalebrook Beach, opposite the venue, with his instruments, for those who are able to stay and play.

"This is a captivating new show from Pedro," says writer-director Lisa Espi, who has collaborated with Pedro on many shows including THE MERMAID FROM ZANZIBAR. "Why not come early to avoid the traffic and make a leisurely day of it in Kalk Bay, or even catch the train?"

Pedro is one of South Africa's much-loved music icons. For more than thirty years, his mission has been to inspire people of all ages with the joy of African music through workshops, live shows and his popular children's television show, PEDRO THE MUSIC MAN. He has helped established African music courses and departments at several South African universities and his MadoJazz project explores the connection between the earliest roots of jazz and the best contemporary expressions of the genre.

THE CASTLE OF SILENCE will be performed at the Kalk Bay Community Centre Hall from 13 December to 10 January, on Tuesdays through Saturdays at 14.30pm daily, except 25-26 December and 1 January. The hall is situated on Main Road, Kalk Bay, opposite Dalebrook Beach. Parking is available on Main Road or in the nearby parking area on the sea side of Main Road. The venue is a short walk from Kalk Bay train station. Tickets to the preview on 13 December cost R30. Tickets to other shows cost R45. For groups of 8 or more and pensioners, tickets cost R40. To book contact musicman@iafrica.com or call 084 230 0683.

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