(A scene from Fresha
Festival 2017. Photo: Harry Lock)
The Fresha Festival of free fun family al-fresco theatre
will be staged for the second time on Durban’s North Beach, at the end of the
holidays for three days on January 19, 20 and 21.
Festival Director Emma Durden considered: “What could be
more quintessentially Durban than a summer festival of free family theatre…. on
the beach?
The Fresha Festival starts late afternoon at 17h00, on January
19 with a performance showcase to provide an overview of the weekend ahead. The
festival is on Saturday, January 20, and Sunday 21, from 13h00 until 17h00,
offering a full afternoon of diverse, family-friendly free short shows.
A varied day-time line-up of carefully-chosen participants
take place on the beach-promenade and have been selected to ensure that the
programme is diverse, fabulous and exciting.
Each production will have two performances of approximately 15
minutes, over the weekend.
Both days (Sat 20 and Sun 21) start with an hour long free,
open dance class at 08h00 with the Movement Lab; followed by a free open street
theatre class starting at 09h00 led by Netherlands street artist, Gerard
Oldthaar.
Fresha Fest was hosted for the first time this year as the
new incarnation of the Musho! Festival – it is the phoenix which has arisen
from Musho’s ashes: a hip and happening street / beach open-air festival – the
perfect event to wrap up the Durban summer holiday season.
The Fresha Festival is directed by Emma Durden, supported by
Roel Twijnstra and is presented by Twist Theatre Development Projects which
focuses on the development of community theatre groups in KwaZulu-Natal, and on
creating sustainable relationships and networks for theatre development, both
locally and abroad.
Twist is funded by The National Lotteries Commission and the
Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Additional funding for Fresha has
also been graciously provided by eThekwini Municipality and the Department of
Arts and Culture, KZN.
For more information, visit www.freshafestival.co.za.
/ or email info@freshafestival.co.za.
Find Fresha Festival on facebook and @freshafest on twitter.
All festival events are at the Bay of Plenty lawns, North
beach, and are free of charge. There is a tent for rainy days, so come down
whatever the weather!
FRESHA FESTIVAL
PROGRAMME
FRIDAY, JANUARY 19
17h00 Opening event -
procession and performance showcase
SATURDAY, JANUARY 20
08h00 Free, open
DanceXercise class with the Movement Lab
09h00 Free street
theatre workshop with Gerard Oldthaar
13h00 Fresha …. (Performance art - doung Anwar
Jahangeer)
13h30 Gerard O (Street
comedy - Netherlands)
14h00 Abafana Bizarre
(Dance, Wushwini)
14g30 Dustbins (Street
Theatre - Thandimpilo)
15h00 The Kitchen Symphony (Street Theatre –
Clinton Marius and Bongani Mbatha)
15h30 Fragile (Dance - Kristi-Leigh Gresse)
16h00 Sibo (Street mime)
16h30 Dludlu Dladlala (Dance – Musa Hlatshwayo
and The Movement Lab – which won an Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival
in Grahamstown)
SUNDAY, JANUARY 21
08h00 Free, open Zumba
dance class with the Movement Lab
09h00 Free street
theatre workshop with Gerard Oldthaar
13h00 Fresha …. (Performance art - doung Anwar
Jahangeer)
13h30 Gerard O (Street comedy - Netherlands)
14h00 Abafana Bizarre (Dance, Wushwini)
14h30 Dustbins (Street Theatre - Thandimpilo)
15h00 The Kitchen Symphony (Street Theatre –
Clinton Marius and Bongani Mbatha)
15h30 Fragile (Dance - Kristi-Leigh Gresse)
16h00 Sibo (Street mime)
16h30 Dludlu Dladlala (Dance – Musa Hlatshwayo
and The Movement Lab)