After a sold out three month season in Cape Town, the Queen bids a royal farewell to the Mother City and heads to the City of gold for two months from Wednesday, 4 November until January 2016.
Madame Zingara's new production, The Celebration, that has been wowing critics and audiences nightly in the Mother City, opens at Montecasino in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 4 November.
The Celebration is a sensory experience showcased in the world's largest mirrored palace, the speigeltent, known as The Queen of Flanders. After 14 months of pre-production, the show is dinner cirque entertainment at its finest, with the Theatre of Dreams pulling out all the stops in celebration and commemoration of 15 years of Madame Zingara magic. Richard Griffin, the founder of Madame Zingara, and the creative genius behind the brand, directs the production, assisted by Marc Colli.
The Celebration showcases performers from 11 countries and South Africa, including former Cirque du Soleil aerial pole artist Saulo Sarmiento from Spain, the Diabolo Girls from China, the Quick Star duo from South Africa and Argentina, a Ukrainian hand balance and contortion trio, a teeter board act from Montreal, the tiniest showgirl Miss Lola La Plume, and so much more. Aviation goddess, Cathy Specific, struts her stuff as the glamorous MC, and even the waiters contribute to the delectable madness as they dart between tables in an array of quirky costumes, serving the delicious four-course dinner that has been created by top Madame Zingara chefs Emile Goliath, Heinrich Koen and Linda Beuken.
Advanced digital sound and intelligent lighting have been added to the theatrics, taking the production to new heights. Gearhouse Group, South Africa's leading technical supplier, has partnered with Madame Zingara for the season, and have further enhanced the production that has been holding audiences spellbound.
The Queen of Flanders is a three story high 650-seater handcrafted mirrored palace, boasting upper-level balconies, opulent interiors, and dripping with decadence. Built in Belgium by Rik Klessens and Family, it is the biggest of its kind in the world. Think 3200 mirrors, six tons of aluminium, 5.2km of steel rods, 30 tons of galvanised steel, 70 000 floor screws, 1800m of velvet and 1200m of gold tassle, and you have an indication of the vast scale of the 12m high plush venue.
Lighting design is by Mannie Manim, choreography by Sam Kotze and Craig Leo, who is also responsible for the stage design. Vocal arrangement is by Glenn Swart, and the senior wardrobe designer is Nikki Smuts assisted by Widaad Albertus.
For more information, visit www.madamezingara.com. Alternatively, connect with them on Facebook or on Twitter.