The Red Mango Arts Festival is returning to Durban for its second edition. The event will take place from July 22nd to 25th at the historic Shastri College in Greyville, bringing together a vibrant celebration of local art, storytelling, and community engagement.
This four-day festival was founded by renowned South African actor, playwright, and director Rajesh Gopi. It is held in partnership with Shastri College, Red Mango Creative Arts (NPC), and the Shastri Alumni Association.
The main objective of the festival is to promote contemporary South African narratives, intercultural stories, and public connection. The 2026 festival will feature a diverse program covering theatre, live music, literature, comedy, and special youth development initiatives.
According to Gopi, 'Red Mango is ultimately about people.' He emphasized that the festival allows artists to be seen, communities to reconnect, and youth to discover opportunities through creativity, helping Durban reassert itself as one of South Africa's great cultural centers.
This year's program offers entertainment for all art lovers. Theatre enthusiasts should attend Kurt Egelhof's production of 'Sydenham Lightie, Global Ballie,' as well as Rajiv Joseph's dramatic work 'Letters of Suresh,' which received a Pulitzer nomination.
The literary segment includes the official launch of Imran Kuwadi's latest book, 'Enemy of the People.' For those seeking spiritual sounds, 'Sufis, Mystics and Qawali' will be presented—an evening of music, poetry, and spiritual storytelling.
A high-energy performance group from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) will also perform on stage with their lively production of 'Mamma Mia!', alongside Tonian Koenderman's cabaret show 'Growing Old Disgracefully.' Comedy lovers can enjoy a performance by popular Durban entertainer Jayloshni Naidu and her character Auntie Rumba in a special one-off show.
In addition to the main performances, festival attendees can participate in discussions with industry experts and interactive zones for networking and cultural exchange, aimed at ensuring the long-term sustainability of creative industries across KwaZulu-Natal.
The Red Mango Arts Festival, taking place at Shastri College from July 22 to 25, will feature a comedy evening with actress and television star Jayloshini Naidu in the role of Aunty Rumba.
Fans can enjoy continuous laughter during this special performance, which is scheduled for Friday, July 24, at 8:00 PM. The Red Mango Arts Festival returns to Shastri College after last year's success and celebrates the diverse cultural heritage of South Africa.
The festival program includes theatrical productions, musical concerts, poetry readings, heritage preservation events, youth development initiatives, industry discussions, and collaborative international projects. Special attention will be given to intercultural narratives, contemporary South African stories, and works addressing themes of humanity, identity, social justice, and healing.
Festival Director Rajesh Gopi emphasized that 'Red Mango is ultimately about people.' He noted that the festival provides artists with visibility, communities with opportunities to reconnect, and youth with avenues for self-discovery through creativity, helping Durban reassert itself as one of South Africa's great cultural centers.
Aunty Rumba is Naidu's comedic alter ego, characterized by sharp wit, amusing observations, a decisive approach to problem-solving, and a unique worldview. She blends humor, funny stories, and memorable characters, celebrating local talent and everyday life with an unmistakable South African flavor.
The popular theatre and television actress is known for her role as Jennifer Kandasamys in the Kandasamys film series. She has collaborated with the Durban-based production company KickstArt and regularly works with Gopi.
Other highlights of the festival include Sidenhams Light's show 'Global Ballie,' written and performed by Kurt Egelhoff, which is a witty autobiographical piece blending stand-up comedy, cabaret, storytelling, and sketches exploring the intersection of Indian and Coloured identities in Durban. It is scheduled for July 22 at 6:30 PM, July 23 at 10:00 AM, and July 25 at 5:30 PM.
In the moving drama 'Letters of Suresh,' a Pulitzer-nominated playwright, Rajiv Joseph reveals personal secrets through a series of letters between strangers, friends, daughters, and lovers, many of whom are little alike but yearn for human connection. This work was called 'wonderfully daring, inventive, and compassionate' by the New York Times and will take place on July 23 at 1:00 PM and July 25 at 3:00 PM.
There will also be a presentation of Imran Kuwadia's latest book, 'Enemy of the People; Sufis, Mystics and Qawali,' which will feature an evening of music, poetry, and spiritual narration as part of a special star concert. Kuwadia is a South African novelist, essayist, and scholar, and the director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Cape Town. This event will occur on July 23 at 7:30 PM.
The group from Tshwane University of Technology will return with a fun performance of 'Mamma Mia!', utilizing ABBA classics woven into the story of searching for a young man's biological father. This is scheduled for July 25 at 11:00 AM.
Cabaret star Tonya Koenderman will present her solo show 'Growing Old Disgracefully,' a humorous, lighthearted, and bold look at the challenges and triumphs of aging, including reimagined musical classics and wit. Her performance is set for July 24 at 6:30 PM.
The program also includes a concert in honor of Women's Day (July 24 at 11:00 AM) and two shows for youth: 'Sthandwa and the Nature Thieves' (July 25 at 10:00 AM) and 'Magiculous' (July 25 at 12:30 PM). The grand finale concert is scheduled for Sunday, July 25, at 3:00 PM.
Shastri College, the venue for the Red Mango Arts Festival, is located in Greyville near the historic Curries Fountain stadium. This location holds deep historical and cultural significance and has long been considered a landmark educational institution for coloured communities, symbolizing Durban's rich socio-political past.
