14 May 2009 Presented by the Playhouse Company, the hit stage musical Jimbo makes a welcome return to the Durban stage for a two-week season in the Playhouse Drama Theatre from 24 July  to 9 August 2009.

Scripted by Hamish Kyd, Jimbo depicts Durban’s coloured community during the 1960s and ’70s. It is set to original music by Siva Devar, with lyrics by Kyd and Themi Venturas, who directed the musical play’s hugely successful premiere production at the Playhouse in 1993.

Jimbo was the first stage musical to be written about coloured people in Durban. Charged with vitality and graphic humour along with its own brand of pathos,  its  evocative story of back-street life is played by a sharply-drawn cast of characters, headed by two hobos who tell of life lived between heaven and hell.

The play evokes distinctive landmarks such as Durban’s Indian Market and Warwick Triangle as they were 40 years ago. It remains a moving and highly entertaining tribute to the people who lived, loved, laboured and died in the area.

Themi Venturas is back in the director’s chair. R & B singer Percy Smith returns to reprise his successful portrayal of the title role, appearing opposite Kyd, the only member of the original cast, who returns to the play’s other principle role of Vishnu.
  Other principal casting includes Jayloshini Naidoo, set to reprise her 2006 stage triumph as Natasha, and Sam Marais here making his role debut as Stets, the 1950’s gang leader. Others in the cast include Marcia Mzindle, Nomonde Matiwane, Grant Jacobs, Teboho “T-Bone” Hlahane, S’lindile Nodangala, Gareth Purchase,  Mario Ogle, Thomie Holtzhauzen,   Thabo Mnguni,   Rory Booth, Afzal Khan and Vivien Moodley, among others
           Early booking is advised for Jimbo, which enjoyed strong box office pull during its previous seasons at The Playhouse. Tickets booked through Computicket at 0829158000 or the Playhouse box office at 031- 3699596 or 031-3699540  range from R60 to R80. Tickets at the door will cost between R90 and R110.