Page 6 - Playhouse Annual Report 2021:22

4. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S OVERVIEW
Name
Precious Lynda Bukhosini
Title
Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Director
As the year under review promised the gradual easing of restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, we applied ourselves with renewed vigour to carrying out our mandate of serving the artistic needs of all the communities of our City and Province, as well as the thousands of visitors who cross the threshold of The Playhouse Company.
One of the milestones was the commissioning by The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture to produce Days of Culture Without Borders. This was performed and recorded for broadcast in Russia as part of the BRICS initiative. The benchmark production featured a stellar bill of artists, headed by Thandiswa Mazwai, with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, Thee Legacy, Mbuso Khoza and Afrikan Heritage Ensemble, and many more, each bringing their own flavour of their “South African-ness” to the experience.
Also, the Themba Mkhize Jazz Experience proved an evening to remember, as Mr Mkhize and his son, Africa, mesmerized Jazz-lovers with their evocative programme, staged in salute of one of our country’s iconic stars, the late Sibongile Khumalo.
The Playhouse Company stepped up the mark, to bolster the mental health of artists suffering from the ravages of stress and financial instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. A series of Awareness Community Conversations were held, which aimed to deal with the devastating effects of Gender Based Violence (GBV). Artists engaged with GBV victims, and this initiative resulted in a production that toured High Schools in township and rural areas within KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) promoting good lifestyle habits.
The Playhouse Company working closely with the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (CCIFSA) staged the Okwethu Community Arts Festival in 11 Districts of KZN seeing more than 580 artists performing their works.
The year under review has seen 132 productions, 689 performances, 3985 artists employed and 361 607 audiences participate in our programmes. This is no mean achievement during the challenges of COVID-19. In addition to this The Playhouse Company continued in its trajectory and worked hard in achieving its 12th successive, clean audit report. I humbly acknowledge the unstinting loyalty and hard work of our Council and Staff members. You have my profound gratitude. As indeed do the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture; KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport, Arts and Culture; the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa, media and audiences.
Thank you, one and all!
“ Despite the challenges of COVID, we achieved a well- ” presented artistic programme. And we pulled off our 12th
successive clean audit report.
ANNUAL REPORT INFORMATION
PRODUCTIONS PERFORMANCES ARTISTS 132 689 3985
4
The Playhouse Company
AUDIENCE
361 607