(Nicholas Ellenbogen will present “Raiders
of the Caribbean”)
Attention
all teachers and learners! There is an exciting programme for the young at
Hilton. Make a day of it on September 15 and join in the fun.
Keeping
arts alive for future generations, the Hilton Arts Festival is working
proactively to introduce young people to the wondrous all-encompassing world of
live performance and to this end is offering a Jongosi youth component as part
of the main festival.
This
year, the festival invites schools to attend the eighth Jongosi Festival.
Teachers are invited to save the date if they would like their learners, in
particular drama, music or dance classes, to experience the best of live
performances on offer in the country.
The
Jongosi Festival embedded in the main festival, takes place on September 15 and
has a specifically, carefully-selected age-appropriate programme aimed at
Grades 6 to 10.
Festival
Director, Sue Clarence stated: “The day is structured to ensure that learners
will be fully-occupied attending a variety of fabulous, innovative theatre. The
aim is to instill a love of the performing arts, and to provide enjoyment and to
stimulate thought and discussion.”
A
carefully-considered line-up has been curated to form the Jongosi programme.
The final schedule is not yet finalised at this stage, although some of the key
elements are in place.
For the
younger audiences, grades 6 to 9: highlights include the boisterous fun Raiders of the Caribbean by former
Playhouse Head of Drama now based in Cape Town, Nicholas Ellenbogen and his
Theatre for Africa. Billed as a swashbuckling musical set in the beautiful
Caribbean, audiences are invited to join Luscious Lola and Jude the Cruel in
the quest for the Jewel of the Caribbean treasure.
“But
beware, young traveller all good stories have a dark side!” After Dark in the Groot Marico is a
two-hander created by Tara Notcutt which reconsiders and enlivens some of the
favourite Oom Schalk Lourens stories by master story teller, Herman Charles
Bosman.
Making Mandela is an innovative story by Jenine Collocott,
acclaimed member of the team that created The
Snow Goose. The new, captivating production, Making Mandela, is the story of what influenced the rural boy to
become a global legend. The production is an imaginative journey through the
childhood of Mandela, featuring colourful characters, vividly portrayed in
masks, with physical performances supported by emotive sound and theatrical
styling.
For the
slightly older learners, in grades 10 to 12, there is a wide variety of options
available including The Baxter’s Karoo
Moose which chronicles the story of a young girl named Thomaza who lives in
an isolated village in the Karoo region, who ends up killing a moose. Strange,
enchanting and definitely different, Karoo
Moose is devised by Baxter CEO and multi-awarded playwright Lara Foot.
Mamba Republic is a rapid-paced satirical sketch-comedy
which reunites the talents of Ben Voss (Beauty Ramapelepele) and John van de
Ruit (Spud), Mamba Republic takes a savagely funny look at all that is wrong and
very wrong in the Rainbow Nation.
Also on
the cards will be a stand-up comedy show - specifically designed for a youthful
audience. Details here are still strictly under wraps!
From
closer to home is Greig Coetzee’s much-loved, delightful, melancholic and
quirky solo piece Blue Period of Milton
van der Spuy, produced by Peter Mitchell from UKZN Pietermaritzburg campus
and featuring Francis Mennigke who is a graduate of Rhodes University and a
master’s student at UKZN.
The
makers of Snow Goose, James Cairns
and Taryn Bennett, star in this production of the Ernest Hemingway classic, The Old Man and The Sea. The story
recounts the perils of a fisherman Santiago on his voyage to break 84 days
without a catch.
Over and
above the shows, there are a wide variety of free arts-related workshops,
exhibitions and interactive engagement opportunities to explore between shows.
Give pupils
the opportunity to submerge themselves in quality performance at the 25th
Hilton Arts Festival this year at Hilton College from September 15 to 17. Schools
interested in booking their learners should contact the festival office on festival@hiltoncollege.com or 033 383 0127.
For more
information, visit www.hiltonfestival.co.za or contact the Festival Office.
The festival would not be possible without
the generous support of Hilton College, Times Media Group, Grindrod Bank, Black
Coffee, DWR, PWC, Bidvest Car Rental, Indwe Risk Services, Assitej South
Africa, Loud Crowd, Sappi, Redlands Hotel, Zultrans, KZN Dept of Arts &
Culture, BASA, Castle Lite, Maritzburg Sun, Caxton, KZN Weddings &
Functions, Midlands Stretch Tents, Ken Forrester Wines
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