Cutting edge and innovative theatre
directors who have made their mark on the National Arts Festival’s fringe
programme are being engaged as mentors to assist Eastern Cape companies that
will be at the Festival this year.
Director Tara Louise Notcutt and 2012
Standard Bank Young Artist for Theatre, Princess Mhlongo, are the first two
Creative Consultants who will spend a weeklong residency at the Port Elizabeth
Opera House. Four additional directors will be announced next month.
The Creative Consultancy Project is a
partnership between the National Arts Festival and the Port Elizabeth Opera House.
Its two-fold objective is to give emerging companies in the Eastern Cape the
opportunity to work with directors from other provinces who are young, but fast
making their mark both nationally and internationally. It is also hoped that
the Creative Consultants will become proactive ambassadors who will share their
experiences with other artists who may have an interest in presenting work at
the Port Elizabeth Opera House. The project is funded by the Eastern Cape
Provincial Arts & Culture Council (ECPACC).
“This is a fascinating project. I’m
delighted to be amongst first directors to be given this opportunity, and look
forward to working with artists from the Eastern Cape”, said Tara Louise
Notcutt. Notcutt’s 2012 production of Three
Little Pigs was one of the most successful productions at the 2012 National
Arts Festival. After its huge success in Grahamstown, it was invited to the
Perth Fringe, the Amsterdam Fringe, the New York Fringe, the Edinburgh Festival
and the Hilton Arts Festival.
Princess Mhlongo also has a growing
international profile. Last year, she was the first Black woman director from
Africa to be selected for the Salzburg Festival. Her production And the Girls in their Sunday Dresses
received glowing accolades when it was staged at the Edinburgh Festival in
2012. “This is an awesome initiative. Although the project is located in the
Eastern Cape, the impact of bridging artists from the Eastern Cape with
directors from other provinces will benefit the arts industry at a national
level. It helps to break down provincial barriers that keep artists apart from
each other”, said Mhlongo.
General manager of the Port Elizabeth Opera
House, Monde Ngonyama, is excited about these new developments and expressed
that he and his team are all geared up to welcome the first two Creative
Consultants who will spend a week-long residency at the theatre.
The Port Elizabeth Opera House will stage
six productions in a Showcase Season at the Festival this year. Ngonyama
explained that this year’s season will set the groundwork for the next six
productions and next six Creative Consultants that will be unearthed for their
participation in the 2014 Festival.
Ismail Mahomed, Artistic Director of the National
Arts Festival, adds: “Our commitment to growing the arts is informed by
creating opportunities for artists. Peer mentorship is probably one of the most
powerful ways in which to grow success and foster mutually beneficial results. The
Creative Consultancy project is one of several development opportunities that
we strategically devise and manage at the Festival. We are grateful to the
Eastern Cape Provincial Arts & Culture Council for their vision to fund the
project. In the long term, this will only benefit and develop a more
competitive and sustainable creative industry in the Eastern Cape.”
The 39th edition of the National Arts
Festival, Grahamstown will take place from June 27 to July 7 2013. Click on the
banner at the top of this page to link to the festival’s website.
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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