(David Dennis in Brothers in Blood, part of the Mike van Graan showcase. The
production was seen at the 2012 Witness Hilton Arts Festival)
On
the eve of the National Arts Festival’s 40th anniversary, the
Festival programme continues to push boundaries, and presents a
thought-provoking line-up in Grahamstown, from June 27 to July 7, 2013.
As
always, the backbone of the main programme is comprised of the work of the
Standard Bank Young Artists. The first ever Young Artist for Performance Art,
Anthea Moys, presents a series of contests entitled Anthea Moys vs the City of
Grahamstown. Young Artist for Dance Fana Tshabalala’s
engagement with cleansing ceremonies is explored in his new work titled Indumba. Young
Artists for Theatre (Prince Lamla) and Visual Arts (Mary Sibande), use
historical incidents as the points of departure for their offerings – Asinamali and
The purple shall govern,
respectively; with SBYA for Music Runette Botha
paying tribute to three centuries of composition in her recital, and SBYA for
Jazz Shane Cooper pushing the envelope
with his compositions and collaborations.
The
Dance programme will feature the Johannesburg Youth Ballet (JYB)’s Hansel and
Gretel; Gregory Maqoma’s embodiment of the traditional, historic
and heroic, Exit/Exist; Jazzart Dance Theatre’s translation of
Biko’s
Quest - For a
True Humanity from one art form (photography) to another (dance and
performance) and a showcase of Rhythms of the Eastern Cape. Nicola
Elliott interrogates the traditional notion of dance in Run!,
presented on the Arena
The
Performance Art programme will feature two of Swiss artist/performer Yann
Marussich’s works: Bleu Remix and Bain Brisé;
Gavin Krastin’s eccentric creativity in Rough Musick; and a collaboration
with stellar local musicians in an experimental project, Untitled
#310, co-ordinated by international artist Francisco López.
Mbongeni
Ngema also returns to the Festival’s Main stage this year with the South
African premiere of The Zulu, and Hearts and Eyes Theatre Collective will present My Name is Rachel Corrie, based on the true story of the protagonist’s death. Cry Havoc
is an unnerving East-West love story set in a small apartment in Cairo, and
marks the UJ Theatre’s professional debut on the National Arts Festival’s Main
stage. Canadian playwright Morris Panych’s award-winning black comedy Vigil promises
to leave an impression on audiences; while SA theatre legend Tim Plewman of Defending the Caveman
fame, stars in The Last Moustache
- an outrageous one-man satire with a serious bite; reminding us
that what we are sold as truth is often far from it.
The
political is a strong theme, with satirist Pieter-Dirk Uys returning to the
Festival with Adapt or Fly and An Audience with Pieter-Dirk EISH. The
Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (PACOFS) presents Madonna of
Excelsior, adapted from the novel by Zakes Mda set in 1971, when 19
citizens of Excelsior in South Africa’s white-ruled Free State were charged with
breaking apartheid’s Immorality Act, and a showcase of work produced under the
umbrella of The Market Theatre features Woza Albert (directed by Standard Bank
Young Artist Prince Lamla), Cadre (Om philo Molusi), The Island
(directed by John Kani), The Line (directed by Gina Shmukler).
The
Music programme will see the return of regular crowd favourites such as the Gala and Symphony Concerts, Conduct Unbecoming, KZN
Ensembles and the Chanticleer Singers.
Also to look forward to: a project comprising compositions by contemporary
composers entitled Hidden Treasures; recitals by the
internationally award-winning
BenSchoeman and Anzél Gerber;
Ed Jordan and Nicholas Nicolaidis in the children’s concert Beautiful Creatures; Frank Sinatra & Friends ; the
vibrant community-based Jazz at Dakawa,
and South African National Youth Orchestra.
The
Standard Bank Jazz Festival, Grahamstown 2013 incorporates a variety of
disciplines into their programme. The Standard Bank National Youth Jazz
Festival takes place alongside a diverse programme that features Mainstream,
Blues / Funk / World Music, Afro-Jazz, Modern Jazz and Youth; with highlights
such as Jonas Gwangwa, Vusi Mahlasela, former SBYA Gloria Bosman, Steve Turre
from the Juilliard School of Music, the Soweto String Quartet and new
sensations MiCasa, and late night jazz jam session or blues gigs at the new Standard Bank Jazz & Blues Cafe at the Lowlander, St.
Andrew’s College.
This
year’s film programme features an eclectic mix of seminars and local and
international films, considering topics such as The Marquis De Sade and His Contribution To The South African Struggle
For Liberty, Mytho Therapy: The Magus, The Master & The
Anti-Psychiatrist, Documents And Soundtracks for the End Of Time,
Matinee Screenings at The Bioscope. Films to flag Include Underground:
The Julian Assange Story, Bail Out: The Age Of Greed, Meat, The Marat/Sade, The
Magus, Beware Of Mr Baker, The War Around Us, and The Naked
Prey.
The
photographs of anti-apartheid photographers, Benny Gool, Zubeida Vallie and
Adil Bradlow, are brought together in a group exhibition entitled Martyrs,
Saints and Sellouts; while Women, Our Treasure!, celebrates the strength
of South African women and the manner in which they have held family structures
together. Based on selections from the Standard Bank Corporate Art Collection, The Art of
Banking: celebrating through collections provides different a
journey through South Africa’s history, using art works as points of departure,
or triggers, for telling a story about various eras, episodes, circumstances
and events. Two exhibitions showcase the work of photographer / filmmaker Brent Meistre,
and an exhibition of Wilma Cruise’s work is entitled Will you,
Won’t you, join the dance?
This
year’s Festival will see a focus on the work of Mike van
Graan, in a pilot
project that will attempt to put the spotlight on a Festival Playwright. There
will also be a showcase of work produced by the PE Opera
House, as
well as the Market Theatre showcase. Student Theatre will feature 17 student theatre productions
sponsored by the South African Post Office.
The
Arena programme continues to showcase the work of artists recognised through
the Standard Bank Ovation Awards and International Fringe Juries as being on
the cutting edge; and the open-access Fringe always generates a plethora of
audience opportunities.
This year's Think Fest
programme, which brings together thought leaders, trendsetters and
provocateurs, is sponsored by the Embassy of Netherlands and City Press will be
the media partner.
The Film Festival is
sponsored by the National Film and Video Foundation.
The
39th edition of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown will take
place from June 27 to July 7 2013. The National Arts Festival is sponsored by
Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape
Government, Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council, City Press
and M Net.
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