The Time of the Writer international festival features a week-long programme of readings, presentations, discussions and book launches nightly at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. As part of the festival’s ongoing effort to promote and nurture a culture of reading, writing and creative expression, the presence of writers is spread across Durban and surrounding areas in wide-reaching day activities that include school visits, a prison writing workshop, an educators’ forum, a publishing forum, and other seminars and workshops. The festival provides a stimulating platform for dialogue and exchange between writers, and an opportunity for the public to gain insight into the creative processes and perspectives which inform their writing.

Now in its 30th consecutive year, the Durban International Film Festival will present over 200 screenings of films from around the world, with a special focus on films from South African and Africa . Screenings will take place throughout Durban including township areas where cinemas are non-existent. The festival will also offer an extensive seminar and workshop programme featuring local and international filmmakers.

More than twenty poets, predominantly from South Africa and elsewhere on the African continent, participate in the Poetry Africa international poetry festivals in Durban during the month of October. The extensive week-long programme includes performances, readings, music and book-launches Monday to Friday at the Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre (University of KwaZulu-Natal) with a festival finale at the BAT Centre. Day activities include seminars, workshops, open mic opportunities, and school visits. A schools poetry competition will also take place.

JOMBA! features a host of international and local contemporary dance theatre performances, with a full programme of dance workshops running alongside. The key focus of the festival is on celebrating the dance works of the African continent. Fluidity, grace and a rhythmic excitement unique to Africa, combine in an exciting programme of cutting-edge performance by local and international dancers and choreographers. JOMBA! also features an open fringe programme and a free youth fringe day, plus a host of free dance classes and workshops.

Musho – Zulu for an enthusiastic praise response, something similar to “Bravo!” - embraces all true and accepted forms of theatre: from mime to physical theatre, drama to comedy-theatre. It pays tribute to the smaller works featuring one and two performers. The festival showcases the most innovative, interesting, articulate, sophisticated and cutting edge theatre available currently and is a feast of contemporary and acclaimed fresh new works sourced from throughout South Africa and abroad. The festival is presented by PANSA (The Performing Arts Network of South Africa) and is staged in January on an annual basis.

Now in its sixteenth year, the Witness Hilton Arts Festival in the KZN Midlands is absolutely entrenched as an event on the South African arts calendar. With a reputation for excellent theatre and music, embraced by an outstanding atmosphere, the Festival has become a regular feature of thousands of people’s lives. The value of this event to Hilton College is immeasurable. For many people, their first experience of Hilton is the Festival. On the Sunday morning of last year’s Festival, one man was overheard to say, “We’re visitors from England. We popped in for tea while driving past, and two days later, we’re still here. This is fantastic!”

The Catalina Theatre is the dream of Durban thespian, director and producer, Themi Venturas. Built on the site of the old Catalina flying boat control tower at Wilson's Wharf, the theme, decor and personality reflect the ambience of a creative and dramatic flying machine.

This complex is Durban's largest theatre venue, featuring award-winning dramas, ballet and opera, as well as a programme for emerging directors. Before the curtain rises, you can relax in the opera-bar lounge area or coffeeshop.

The Heritage Theatre in Hillcrest is an intimate, 220-seater, purpose-built Supper Theatre in the style of the ‘Old Time Music Halls’ of yesteryear.

Since our inception, we have received rave reviews form the media, public and corporates. We are the only Supper theatre in South Africa to be recognised and awarded membership of The Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society, devoted to promoting fine dining and "les Arts de la Table".

In the four years since our opening we have staged many shows of international standard and received the Mercury Theatre Awards for Best Musical Review for 2007 and 2008.

Situated at the Sibaya Casino and Entertainment Kingdom and seating 593, this venue tends to host comedy, musical theatre and large-scale productions.

The centre was opened in 1995 and is administered by the Bartel Arts Trust, a charitable trust established by the late Hugo Bartel. It has several art studios, galleries, dance studios and retail shops and is worth a visit even if you do not intend to take in a show. Workshops and dance, art, music and writing classes are held on a regular basis and the venue features a lot of spoken-word and open-mic sessions.

A high-brow theatre that stages professional productions, film festivals and an annual literary festival. The university also has two other venues, The Open Air Theatre and Square Space Theatre, where student productions are often hosted.

This is a quirky community theatre sustained by volunteer love and labour, and benefitting many charity organisations in the surrounds. It has a casual atmosphere "you can smell the braai (South African name for barbeque) outside" and the walls are adorned with wartime memorabilia as befits its location in the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (Moth) Hall. It is a popular venue for drag shows.

Publicity Matters is an award-winning Durban-based business specialising in event, arts, entertainment, tourism, sports and leisure promotion, public relations and publicity. The company is run by Illa Thompson and her sister Sophie, with various interns and associates.

artSMart, a co-production of Caroline Smart Services and Durbanet, is a constantly updated source of news about the arts in Durban and the rest of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

What is on in KwaZulu-Natal? WORD OF MOUTH in KZN is a free service, providing information to residents and visitors alike on what is going down in our province.

Artslink.co.za News specialises in connecting audiences to artists. Members of the public can browse the news on the site or subscribe to receive, via e mail, news tailored to their interests and area (art, dance, literature, music, theatre, province, etc.), the weekly summaries ArtWrap, FilmWrap, ShowBuzz and weekly articles by various journalists.