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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

THE WITNESS HILTON ARTS



(Dame Janet Suzman & Khayalethu Anthony in “Solomon and Marion”. Pic RuphinCoudyzer)

The annual Witness Hilton Arts Festival, KZN’s foremost and respected arts festival, turns 21 this year and takes place on the beautiful grounds of the Hilton College from September 12 to 15, 2013.

The annual Witness Hilton Arts Festival is broadly considered to be KZN’s premier arts and culture festival and one of the top festivals in the country which consistently produces an unmatched programme of cutting-edge drama, comedy, music and music revue, as well as an impressive array of arts and crafts appealing to all who visit the festival each year.

The festival attracts an enticing mix of phenomenal South African performers and artists gleaned from the most prestigious stages around the country including the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown in July.

Building on from last year, this year’s festival starts with two full days’ (September 12 for primary and September 13 for high schools) programme of age-specific arts-events aimed at schools. Over a thousand learners will experience the thrill of the performing arts. It is a celebration of all that is young, new and vibrant and has been dubbed “Jongosi” which is designed to educate, entertain and allow learners to expand their world view. Now in its third year, Jongosi has been a phenomenal success so it is being further developed for this year. Schools wishing to participate, should sign up as soon as possible on theatre@hiltoncollege.com; sh@hiltoncollege.com

There is also a full programme of theatre and events for young people during the main festival weekend.

The drama programme is particularly strong this year. The Witness Flagship production is Solomon and Marion. The Hilton festival is delighted to welcome Dame Janet Suzman who appears opposite Khayalethu Anthony in Lara Foot’s multi award-winning play.

Among the drama highlights are Vigil - Morris Panych’s award winning black comedy, with Graham Hopkins and Vanessa Cooke directed by Christopher Weare. An Unromantic Comedy – a funny, painful and poignant look at contemporary relationships written by Rosalind Butler, directed by Craig Freimond stars Charmaine Weir Smith, Jaci de Villiers and Antony Coleman.

Crazy In Love is devised and performed by Andrew Buckland and Liezl de Kock under the direction of Rob Murray with design by Jayne Batzofin and is the tragicomic story of a father-daughter search for his missing bride and her mother. From the same stable is Hoss – Ubom tipping its hat to the great Western movie tradition in a piece which again teams up Andrew Buckland and director Rob Murray.

Doubt, A Parable is a provocative and gripping story of suspicion and suspense, starring Fiona Ramsay, James Alexander, FaniswaYisa and Janna Ramos-Violante with direction by James Cuningham, set design by Vaughn Sadie. CUT and lighting design by Tina Le Roux.

Mike van Graan’s latest drama, Rainbow Scars joins the line up; as does One Woman Farce which features Louise Saint-Claire who has teamed up with writer-director Greg Homann. Homann also directs the hilarious bonsai production of the Pirates of Penzance, featuring five actors and one piano!

The List - Leila Henriques directs celebrated South African actress, Susan Danford, in this award-winning play by Canadian playwright Jennifer Tremblay, produced by The Baxter Theatre.

Hilton will host the debut of Janna Ramos-Violante's new work, Phobic, starring Glen Biederman and Jenna Dunster. The Epicine Butcher and other Stories for Consenting Adults – features Jemma Kahn in an award winning hilarious, profane and utterly original production using the Japanese story-telling art of Kamishibai

The Witness Hilton Arts Festival in association with The Market Theatre presents The Line. Written and Directed by Gina Shmukler; it is made possible by DAC’s Mzanzi Golden Economy Touring Venture. It was nominated in 2013 for five Naledi awards and is a piece of theatre no South African can afford to miss. Set against the backdrop of the xenophobic attacks of May 2008, The Line explores the ‘fragility of goodness’ and engages with both victim and perpetrator.

Also on the line up is storyteller Gcina Mhlope; Greig Coetzee’s poetry programme, Rhymes with Orange; Jacobus van Heerden is Super Chop; the Rise of the Insanity League features Ben Voss, Aaron McIlroy and John van de Ruit; Frank Graham’s Springbok Radio retrospective, There Was a Time...; Actors Unemployed present A Guide to the Theatre and the Gothic mystery, The Erl King.

As always, there is a supper theatre murder mystery, this year it is The Strange Case of the North Coast Sugar Baron.

Complementing the astonishing theatrical line up is always some great diverse music. Christopher Duigan will present his Music Revival Concert Series this year featuring ten carefully-chosen concerts sponsored by Park Lane SuperSPAR. A free concert – Christopher Duigan in Concert – is sponsored by Marriott. There is an extensive programme of revues, cabaret and light music and live music for free on the public stages at the festival.

As well as the performances, there is also Mindscape: a series of lectures, debates, movies and workshops covering a variety of themes. There will also be a Story-session event, film auditions and book launches. For arts industry practitioners there is a Hands on! Masks Off! session presented by National Arts Festival Director, Ismail Mahomed.

As productions confirm and details are finalised they will be announced on www.hiltonfestival.co.za, or like the Facebook page ~ Witness Hilton Arts Festival or follow the festival on Twitter ~ @HiltonFest. All enquiries on 033 383 0126 /7 or theatre@hiltoncollege.com

It is strongly advised those requiring accommodation book early at one of the many B&Bs and hotels in the area.

The festival would not be possible without The Witness / Media 24; Hilton College; Grindrod Bank; Black Coffee; SPAR; TOPs;  KZN Dept. of Arts & Culture,  SAB, Budget Car Hire; Zultrans; Marriott; Stayeasy; Fern Hill Hotel; BASA; Park Lane SuperSPAR; LTJ Travel; Clavitech and SAPPI