(Chuma Sopotela in “Karoo
Moose”)
Booking is now open for KZN’s premier arts festival: the
25th annual Hilton Arts Festival will once again be hosted in the picturesque
Hilton College from September 15 to 17, 2017.
The festival invites the crème-de-la-crème of what is hot
and happening in the creative industries in South Africa: theatre; dance;
comedy; musical theatre; family theatre; classical music; music revue;
band-music; visual art and crafts, as well as a series of mind-scape lectures,
events and discussions.
Among the productions making their way to KZN are Hedwig and the Angry Inch (a scoop from
Cape Town) starring Paul du Toit and Genna Galloway. Also not to be missed are
the Lara Foot-directed Baxter productions, Karoo
Moose and The Inconvenience of Wings,
both of which are multi award winning productions. These three productions represent
three different genres and are a prime example of what the festival strives to
achieve as the leading arts event in KZN.
Comedy lovers will not be disappointed by Mamba Republic; three different stand-up
shows headlined by John Vlismas, and the irrepressible 2017 version of Raiders – a show that has been a number
one hit in Grahamstown for nearly 30 years.
Music lovers are well catered for as well. There are serious
concerts in the Chapel; a tribute to the great wartime star, Vera Lynn – A Nightingale Sang; music
revues; Ian von Memerty’s Keyboard
Killers and a tribute to Paul Simon.
Smaller, more experimental theatre, will be represented by a
collective of managements and will include actors James Cairns, Tarryn Bennett,
work by Jenine Collocot, Tara Notcutt and Peter Mitchell. Their work includes The Old Man and The Sea (by the makers
of The Snow Goose), The Devil and Billy Markham, Making Mandela,
After Dark and The Blue Period of
Milton van der Spuy.
There is a carefully curated range of art exhibitions this
year: a showcase of the work of legendary Italian film director and
screenwriter, Federico Fellini; the Living Art Exhibition hosted by Grant Woods
and Tony Durrheim; A Life Less Ordinary
– images of Nelson Mandela by Matthew Willman, and the International Photo
Exhibition.
The Hilton Festival will offer a range of dining options for
festival goers again this year – from fabulous Steam Punk coffee, to unhurried
Bistro dining to gentle music (to be managed this year by Jackie Cameron School
of Food and Wine, based in Hilton); to the lively Castle Lite SAB Beer tent
with a myriad food stall options and a music stage, to interesting healthy
vegetarian fare.
There are two mini festivals embedded in the main programme:
The Jongosi Festival takes place on September 15, and has a specifically,
carefully-selected age-appropriate programme aimed at Grades 6 to 10 and
Assetej hosts a programme of theatre for young audiences.
The whole programme is available as a PDF on www.hiltonfestival.co.za
Booking is open on line via the website; also during office
hours at the Hilton College Theatre box office.
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