Arts lovers and Festival fans are grabbing
their coffee, credit cards and calendars because the National Arts Festival’s
2017 programme is now online and open for booking at www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.
Newcomers to the Festival may feel a little
overwhelmed by the 700 productions on offer, so this is a short guide to
navigating the programme.
The key Festival programme comprises a Main
and Fringe programme.
The Main
Programme showcases works that have been selected by a 21-person artistic
committee after a lengthy application and consideration period. Dance, theatre,
music, performance art and visual art are all represented in this mix and
audiences flock to these popular shows which include the work of the 2017
Standard Bank Young Artists. The Main Programme also features international
work and a lot of brand new work from South Africa’s top talent.
The Arena
is part of the Main Programme and showcases the work of previous winners of the
National Arts Festival’s Standard Bank Ovation Awards as well as international
award-winning fringe productions.
The Fringe
component of the Festival also sees a mix of works across genres but these are
not curated or selected. Anyone with a performance looking for an audience can
enter to be on the Fringe and the result is an exciting lucky packet of shows.
From bold new work to remakes of the classics, from debuts to familiar faces
and everything in between - they are all on the Fringe. The National Arts
Festival is part of the World Fringe Alliance and draws on a pool of Fringe
talent and talent-spotters to stimulate an exciting and innovative global
energy for both performers and audiences.
The Student
Theatre portion of the programme is a platform for interesting new work
from the universities and colleges of South Africa. Expect to see young
creatives flexing their muscle both on stage and behind the scenes as they
receive an invaluable introduction to the experience of performing at the
Festival.
Think!Fest is a non-performance element of the Festival. The ideas, emotions
and conversations surrounding the Festival programme play out in this space,
where speakers, groups and panels swap opinions and create an open floor for
robust discussion
Heading to the screen, the annual Film Festival is a collection of
seldom-seen films that are making an impact through their content and
creativity. The programme features work from South Africa and abroad and
reflects on some of the themes and ideas in the Festival’s stage programme.
The Standard
Bank Jazz Festival is a hot highlight of the National Arts Festival.
Bringing some of the best talent locally and globally to the stage, it is here
that once-off collabs between musicians are either seen once and never repeated
or form the basis for ground-breaking new projects between artists. The Dakawa
Jazz Series is another music highlight, a project of the Eastern Cape’s
Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, the series brings Eastern
Cape jazz musicians to the stage for an annual showcase of the region’s
talented artists.
In association with the Cathedral of St
Michael and St George, Grahamstown, SpiritFest
explores faith through a series of workshops, discussions, book launches and
performances.
This year Grahamstown’s Child Welfare
celebrates its 100th anniversary and there are plenty of
family-orientated shows, talks and workshops at the Festival, as well as a
daily story time where children will be read to by actors and others. Check in
on the Family Fare section of the programme for more.
There is also the Children’s Art Festival, held at St Andrew’s Preparatory school,
with a daily programme of events for children aged 4-13. It is an ideal way for
families to engage with the National Arts Festival at their various age and
interest levels, and for parents to enjoy the Festival knowing that their
children are being stimulated and entertained in a safe environment.
Beyond the scheduled programme there is
always lots going on in Grahamstown during the Festival with a free daily SAfm
Sundowner Concert at the Monument, street performances, the Fingo Festival,
markets and free entertainment stages and the annual closing Street Parade through
the streets of Grahamstown. The restaurants, cafes and bars buzz until late at
night as Festival-goers debate ideas, mingle with artists and share their top
tips.
Tickets range from R20 to R150 and can be
booked directly on the National Arts Festival’s website (see below)
For a guide to planning and booking of
accommodation and travel, visit the National Arts Festival’s hospitality guide and FAQ’s on the website.
Printed programmes will be available from
the end of May in KZN at the following Standard Bank Branches: Amanzimtoti
Galleria, Durban North, Empangeni, Gateway Agency, Hillcrest, Kingsmead Branch,
Kloof, La Lucia, Margate, Musgrave Road, Newcastle Mall, Port Shepstone
Pavilion, Pietermaritzburg, Pinetown, Umhlanga and Westville
They will also be available at the
following Exclusive Books branches in KZN: Gateway, La Lucia, Midlands Mall and
King Shaka International Airport
The National Arts Festival is grateful to:
the Department of Arts and Culture, Eastern Cape Department of Sport,
Recreation, Arts and Culture and the Office of the Premier, and Standard Bank
of South Africa. Media partners include MNet and City Press.
(To
link direct to the NAF site, click on the large banner that runs across the top
of this blog
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