Deadline: May 31, 2016
The popular Cape
Town Fringe Festival will be back in 2016 – and, as they call for production
proposals from artists, organisers are promising a longer festival, with more
opportunities for learners and young South Africans to be part of a ‘new
generation’ of theatregoer.
The 2016 Cape Town
Fringe festival will run for a bumper 17 days – from September 22 until October
8, offering the residents of South Africa’s cultural capital even more
opportunities to enjoy the heady and eclectic mix of theatre, comedy, music and
magic.
“We’re helping to
grow a new generation of theatregoer,” says Tony Lankester, the Chief Executive
of the Cape Town Fringe. “By making the Fringe six days longer than last year,
the programme will extend into the school holidays, giving learners and their
families a chance to participate fully in one of the freshest cultural events
of the year. Fringe Festivals are ‘shorts and t-shirt’ events, changing the
perception that theatres are formal, stuffy spaces. They bring a new energy to
their host cities – and the Cape Town Fringe is no exception.”
To fit in with the
rhythm of a working city, shows will start late in the afternoon on weekdays,
while weekend shows will run from the morning and late into the night. Cape
Town’s welcoming and accessible City Hall will be reincarnated as the home and
heart of the Fringe, with a pop-up restaurant and bar – The Fringe Club – open
for the duration of the festival.
Organised by the
same team that puts together the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown every
year, the Cape Town Fringe is being staged for the third time in 2016. As part
of the call for proposals, Lankester named former artistic director of the
Amsterdam Fringe Festival and Cape-based director and producer Rob Murray as
this year’s Guest Artistic Director. Murray replaces Ismail Mahomed, whose
resignation from the National Arts Festival was announced recently.
“Around the world,
Fringe festivals showcase work that is bold and provocative as well as popular
and accessible,” Lankester said. “Rob brings with him an artistic sensibility
that not just matches that boldness, but urges theatre makers and audiences to
get out of their comfort zones. I’m looking forward to seeing what emerges from
the selection process.”
Artists from across
the country are invited to submit proposals for consideration as part of the
programme for the 2016 Cape Town Fringe Festival.
“We are looking for
innovative and experimental works that not only have high audience value but
also high quality production values,” says Rob Murray, the Guest Artistic
Director of the 2016 Cape Town Fringe.
The Cape Town
Fringe seeks work that is bold and unconventional, socially aware, relevant and
challenging but also rewards audiences for their adventurous spirit and gives
them a broad diversity of experience. “We are looking for any form of live
performance – from theatre, to dance, to comedy and music, and for work that
will help us reach new audiences and build audiences for the future” Murray
says.
A selection panel
will review all proposals received and build the Fringe programme. “The
business model is one of shared risk between the Fringe and the artist. We
build the venues, market the event and sell the tickets; the artist brings
their work to the stage. The box office is split with the artist, who gets
around 70% of the takings,” says Lankester.
“The Cape Town
Fringe gives a platform to performers from Cape Town and beyond who may not
otherwise find a space to present their work,” Murray explains. “We will also
draw from critically acclaimed works performed at the National Arts Festival,
giving Cape Town audiences the chance to discover some of these gems. Continued
relationships with theatre projects such as the Baxter’s Zabalaza Theatre
Festival, ASSITEJ, PANSA and others will ensure that the exciting work coming
out of these initiatives reaches new audiences and stages.”
The Cape Town
Fringe programme encompasses theatre, dance, comedy and music. Artists wishing
to submit proposals should review the guidelines for entry available on the
Cape Town Fringe website. The application form and the guidelines are available
at www.capetownfringe.co.za/artist-info/
All entries are due
by May 31, 2016
For further
enquiries, email fringeproposals@capetownfringe.co.za or visit www.capetownfringe.co.za
Follow Cape Town
Fringe on Twitter @CTFringe; Facebook www.Facebook.com/capetownfringe and Instagram @ctfringe - hashtag #CTFringe
The Cape Town
Fringe is managed by the National Arts Festival. The City of Cape Town is the host
sponsor, while Standard Bank is the presenting sponsor.
(To link direct to the
National Arts Festival website click on the large banner that runs across the
top of this blog)
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