Theatre by the Sea festival opens in Durban on Sunday

Durban will host the first Theatre by the Sea Festival this Sunday, 25 October 2026, according to IOL. The event runs from 9am to 4pm next to the Port Natal Maritime Museum and is built around stories about the sea, spirituality and heritage.

Ten groups, two provinces

Ten groups will each stage a performance. Seven come from KwaZulu-Natal, while the remaining three travel from the Eastern Cape. The Department of Arts and Culture backs the festival, and the National Arts Council (NAC) provides the funding.

Vumile Madlanga, who organises the festival and co-founded the Rooted Twins Community Arts Organisation with his twin brother Vuma, said the idea grew out of people’s love for nature and the ocean. "In theatre, we tell stories through dance, music and acting," is how he put it, according to the report.

One piece is Amanzi Amadala, or The Old Waters, written by Durban resident Nduduzo "Javu" Masibekela. Silondokuhle Cebekhulu acts in it, and Lindo Kuhle Mbambo supplies the percussion and music. Masibekela said, "we cannot pull water with our hands". He described people lost at sea, to migration, to violence and to history as not truly lost, but present in the old waters.

Yamkela Mbele, who performs as Dr Godide Sompisi, comes from the Eastern Cape with ILIZWI LOMOYA, which means The Voice of Nature. The play looks at how people, the natural world, faith and ancestry are connected. Mbele leads Ingqayi KaNtu Entertainment, which he founded. He said he wants audiences to think about respecting nature and to embrace who they are without fear or shame.

Mbele said the idea came from watching people slowly lose touch with nature, cultural identity and spiritual heritage.

Safety messages and work opportunities

Madlanga said the performances will also teach communities about water pollution, how to stay safe when swimming in the ocean, and which times are safer or riskier for a swim. He believes the sea should be kept clean, much like a person, because it connects people with nature and their ancestors.

The organisers also want the day to help performers beyond the stage. Madlanga said stakeholders from several municipalities will attend, along with casting directors for South African soap operas and telenovelas, series producers and representatives of theatre festivals. The aim is to help performers find long-term work in the industry.

What to know if you want to go

• Date: Sunday, 25 October 2026
• Time: 9am to 4pm
• Place: Alongside the Port Natal Maritime Museum, Durban
• Entry: Free
• Refreshments: Visitors are encouraged to bring their own

For Durban families, it is a free way to spend a Sunday, and for local performers it is a chance to be seen by people who hire for television and theatre.

This story is based on reporting by IOL.