AARDKLOP 2010

Aardklop National Arts Festival to offer more than 70 productions.

The Aardklop National Arts Festival offers an outstanding programme with more than 70 productions from September 28 to October 2 this year.

These include an opera and dance and brand-new drama productions by award-winning writers. Popular productions from other festivals can also be seen at Aardklop, such as the site-specific Betésda that won numerous awards at the KKNK.

Aardklop is held annually in Potchefstroom, 120km from Johannesburg and 180km from Pretoria.

With Aardklop’s mission to develop new works, audiences can look forward to debut productions from three Hertzog prizewinners: two brand-new works written by Ingrid Winterbach and Marlene van Niekerk, respectively a new drama and a literary cabaret, while Deon Opperman presents a new production of one of his successful dramas, last performed in 1999. Hertzog prizewinner Pieter Fourie’s popular farce Die Proponentjie will also be staged at Aardklop. Dood van ’n Verkoopsman, Arthur Miller’s timeless drama, makes a comeback under the auspices of director Bobby Heaney with, amongst others, Ben Kruger and Bettie Kemp.

After last year’s success with the three short comedies, three different writers were approached to keep audiences laughing: Nico Luwes, Hélène Truter and Leon Kruger.

On the English front, two productions will debut at this year’s festival: a new dark comedy by Mike van Graan and the Magnet Theatre returns with another surprise after last year’s standing ovations for Every Year, Every Day I Am Walking. Acclaimed director Sylvaine Strike, known for her magical productions, stages the entertaining and moving Pregnant Pause, featuring Michael Richard and Charmaine Weir-Smith.

A highlight on the classical programme is the concert with the outstanding British violinist Daniel Rowland with the Chamber Orchestra of South Africa performing 8 Seasons – a programme with Antonio Vivaldi’s ánd Astor Piazzolla’s Four Seasons. A bonus is the performance by Toeac – two accordionists from the Netherlands conjuring up astounding classical sounds from their instruments.

Lovers of light music won’t be disappointed. The festival features a cappella groups (including Wishful Singing from the Netherlands), the big rock and jazz concerts, a touch of boeremusiek and Huisgenoot is back with its popular daily programme. Tickets are available at Computicket.