(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
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