Over 350 productions to choose fromThe National Arts Festival Fringe is traditionally a feast of the arts but this year South African performers are ensuring that ‘amazing’ is not just a word. Grahamstown, aptly nick-named the city of ‘Saints, Sinners and Students’, is host to a delightful menagerie of all things good, bad and (very) naughty.
Theatre productions include some highly acclaimed pieces such as Lara Foot Newton’s Karoo Moose, Susan Danford’s I, Claudia, Hennie van Greunen’s Shirley Valentyn, and Craig van Zyl’s Some Father’s Sons. Alongside these gems are some South African and world premières – Wim Vorster’s Kruispad, Brink Scholtz’s Breed starring Andrew Buckland, Oskar Brown’s adaptation of ETA Hoffmann’s Der Sandman – Black Sand, and Mpho Osei-Tutu’s Convincing Carlos, directed by Craig Morris.
International collaborations include After School, a youth opera conceived by the Melodi Music School in Pimville, Soweto, supported by Interactions SA-NL of the Netherlands, and Rivonia Trial, co-produced by the Siyaya Cultural Organisation and the Impul Switzerland Theatre Company. A once-off production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet, where the audience assigns the roles, is a spin-off from sold-out performances in England. The Factory UK, under the direction of internationally acclaimed director, Tim Carroll, collaborates with SA’s Blue Sky Productions to present an ‘open performance session’ of Hamlet – once off – June 26 only.
The Music Theatre component says ‘hi’ to The Dahlings in Cinema Wow and ‘welcome back’ to Danielle Pascal in Pascal Sings Eartha Kitt. Bongani Linda’s triumphant Shaka Zulu – Ilembe takes to the stage once more, as does Twist and Trumpet featuring young whiz trumpeters, Nolubablo and Siyamthando Plyoso (previously on the 2006 Main Studio Festival programme). Malawian company, Nanzikambe, bring Makwatcha HipOpera to town, Jeremy Quickfall’s My Grand (ma se) Piano makes its Festival debut, and perennial favourites Belles & Beaux are back to enchant once more.
The Comedy scene is awash with familiar names – David Newton, Mark Sampson, Stuart Taylor, Siv Ngesi, Dr. Stef, Louw Venter, Bruce Little, Matthew Ribnick, Shamiel Adams, Rob van Vuuren and Ben Voss are all making ‘die groot trek’ to Grahamstown. In addition, Craig Wainwright airs Kung Fu Crazy for a second hilarious, high-kicking, mop-twirling bout, James Cuningham directs Taryn Bennet, Helen Iskander and Dorian Burstein in the tragic-comedy première, Kaput!, and Bruce Little’s Little Poof! promises to be a laugh-a-minute ‘homofabulous show’!
The third in Justin Wilkinson’s whodunit series, Butlers and Bridesmaids, will keep the audience on its toes, and The Strange Case of the Missing Phantom is Annie Robinson and Paul Spence’s latest in a series of murder-mystery dinner theatre experiences. Meanwhile, Bevan Cullinan brings his ‘incisor-sharp’ wit to Grahamstown in the form of MNet’s TV phenomenon, Gary, The Tooth Fairy.
Theatre for Africa’s Raiders series comes of age in Grahamstown in 2010 – many happy returns to Nick, Luke, Liz and the rest of the Raiders crew. The 21st edition is Raiders of the Lost Aardvark and for those who haven’t been able to catch a 10h00 performance over the past 20 years, there is a once-off 19h00 performance on July 2. Don’t miss this phenomenal Festival favourite.
On the Physical Theatre programme there’s Pieter Bosch Botha’s acclaimed Hats, Richard Antrobus’ (back-by-popular-demand) Stilted, UK artists Dave Toole and Lucy Hind’s (“one with no legs, one with no clue”) Extra-Ordinary, and Sello Pesa’s reworked Same But Not Different. Janine Lewis and Princess Mhlongo team up to present the mesmerising Without Blood, Mongi Mthombeni stars in The Butcher Brothers and Neil Coppen returns with the internationally acclaimed Tin Bucket Drum. Botswana’s Kamhlaba Productions elaborate on the power of love in Malena and PJ Sabbagha collaborates with the Matchbox Theatre’s Nicola Haskins and Bailey Snyman in “a physically and emotionally charged duet that will leave you gasping for air”, High Rising.
The Festival now boasts three popular music venues: the Cuervo Music Room which will play host to Autopilot, D-Seven, Outside the New, Reburn, ETC Crew, Acoustic Liquid, Shoe Lace, and Karen Zoid, amongst others. The groovy new licensed venue, the OBs Basement @ PJ’s, where you can catch Guy Buttery, Brent Kozak, Nibs van der Spuy, Steve Newman, Louwtjie Rothman, Meri K, Gary Thomas, and Luna Paige, plus more. And The Urban Lounge, where you can chill until late with Tumi, Blk Sonshine, Louis Mhlanga, Twigga Mension, Nungarin, Zabalaza, Four Forty and more.
Not to be outdone, there’s classical, choral and orchestral performances, too: Valerie Kerr’s Pianistic Imagining; Barbara-Ann Horsfield’s Reflections; the Boulevard Harmonists’ Goosebumps, Madrigals & More; the Hoërskool Randburg’s South African Echoes, plus the Bella Voce’ Choral recitals, the Tshwane/SYSO Orchestra concerts, the CAFCA Music Ensemble performances; the WITS Choir’s Charting Africa series, and the Keiskamma Music Academy recorder concerts. There’s also jazz from Dudu Manhenga & Color Blu (Towards Alignment), Gospel from Solly & the Messengers and Spiritfest’s Celebrate Africa concert with Concorde Nkabinde, and reggae from Nathi B, Sugah and Psalm 87 in One Luv, One Heart.
Dance comes in all shapes and forms – Pantsula for Life from Emonti Arts Company; Just Tap from the Tap Talk Rhythm Company; new South African choreography in contemporary dance and ballet from the Cape Dance Company, the Out of Africa Dance Academy, and the Northern Dance Project; Pharonic, Indian and Oriental dance in the Ishtar Dance Theatre’s Shaman; and Japanese and Butoh dance intertwined with South African traditions in Sibikwa Art Centre’s The Eye of the Storm, Then there’s African ritual and ceremonial dances from varying cultures – the Pumelela, Kwantu Emthonyameni, Nampre, Nyandeni Yakumdepha and Nomvusi dance groups celebrate their traditions with a veritable peacock’s display of cultural costumes, indigenous instruments, hypnotic beat and incredible, rhythmical abilities.
There’s also film, visual art, performance poetry, Spiritfest, family theatre, bus tours, open mike, art walkabouts, workshops, street theatre, free stages, live footy matches (after all, it is the FIFA World Cup), crafts, buskers, street parades, a deluge of food from all quarters, and more… a lot more!
The National Arts Festival is a designated cultural activity of the Soccer World Cup, and is on in Grahamstown from June 20 to July 4, 2010. To get the full festival experience online, click on the National Arts Festival’s advert on this page which will link you through to their website.
Pick up a copy of the Booking Kit / Programme at selected Exclusive Books and Standard Bank branches, and Computicket Outlets. Call the Festival hot line for all enquiries – 046 603 1103 and follows the NAF on Twitter @artsfestival or on Facebook: facebook.com/nationalartsfestival
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The Eastern Cape Government, The National Arts Council, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, The Sunday Independent and M Net.
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