The Fresha Festival is a brand new free fun family al-fresco
theatre festival to be staged for the first time on Durban’s North Beach for
three days on January 20, 21 and 22.
Festival Director Emma Durden considered: “What could be
more quintessentially Durban than a summer festival of free theatre, and an
early morning Saturday dance class, right on the beach?”
The festival programme runs on January 21 and 22, from noon
until 17h00, offering a full afternoon of diverse, family-friendly free short
shows. Each day will culminate with a Sundowner Showcase under the
especially-erected beach Bedouin tent on the Bay of Plenty Lawns at 17h00. All shows are free of charge. However
although the evening shows will be free, there will be a donation box available
should audience members wish to contribute towards the cost of the performance
– on a pay-what-you-can donation basis.
A varied day-time line-up of carefully-chosen participants
takes place on the beach-promenade and has been selected to ensure that the
programme is diverse, fabulous and entertaining. Among the performers are the
multi award winning Moving into Dance Mophatong in Road choreographed by Oscar Buthelezi who recently returned from
Germany with a handful of international awards for the work; fun street theatre
comedy interventions by Gerard O – a street performer from the Netherlands;
physical theatre pieces by respected Durban choreographers / performers Mdu
Mtshali and Shelby Strange; an installation by Doung Anwar Jahangeer; Feedback: a comedy / physical theatre
piece by TQ Zondi and Mpilo Nzimande; productions from various theatre groups
working with the innovative Twist Theatre Projects; a piece by Durban Deaf mime
artist, Sibo Masondo, and guest productions from Isil Vos of the Netherlands.
Each production will have two 15 minute performances over
the weekend.
As part of the festival, there will be a free dance class for
all levels of dancer – from inexperienced, so social to serious, on Saturday
morning from 08h00 to 09h00 on the lawns. Entry is free and all are welcome.
Fresha Fest replaces the popular Musho! Festival. After 11
great years, the Musho! Theatre festival of one and two hander theatre had its
final festival in January last year. With the simultaneous closing of the
Catalina Theatre in Wilsons Wharf and the KZN offices of the Performing Arts
Network of SA, Musho! in its current incarnation, was no longer viable. It
should be noted, however, that the wharf side theatre’s management company,
Catalina Unltd is still very much operational and has a full year plan for
2017.
The Fresha Festival is directed by Emma Durden and Roel
Twijnstra and is presented by Twist Theatre Development Projects. Twist is
funded by The National Lotteries Commission. Additional funding for Fresha has
also been graciously provided by the Department of Arts and Culture KZN and the
KZN Performing Arts Trust. The festival would not be possible without the
support of eThekwini Municipality.
Fresha is a hip and happening street / beach open-air
festival – the perfect event to wrap up the Durban summer holiday season. For
more information and a list of events, visit www.freshafestival.co.za. / or email
info@freshafestival.co.za. And
find us on social media for regular updates.
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