The Fresha Festival of free
fun family al-fresco theatre will be staged for the third time on Durban’s
North Beach at the end of the school holidays for three days on January 18, 19
and 20, 2019.
The Fresha team has selected a programme of
vibrant, engaging works that are non-verbal and last just 15-20 minutes. All
the shows are in the daylight, in the open-air and free to all. The format of
the day for Saturday and Sunday is similar with shows which are accessible to
people of all ages, family-friendly and from all walks of life. Festival Director Emma Durden considered: “What could
be more quintessentially Durban than a summer festival of free family theatre?”
The festival starts on January
18 in the late afternoon, at 17h00, with the opening procession
along the promenade and a performance showcase on the Bay of Plenty lawns
providing a scintillating trailer package of all the participants to give
opening audiences a taste of what is in store during the festival.
The programme for the festival proper starts on
Saturday morning, January 19, at 07h00 with a free, open yoga class to gently
greet the day, followed by a free, open dance class led by last year’s Standard
Bank for Dance, award-winning Musa Hlatswayo and his group of dancers to up the
pace. Saturdays dance will be DanceXercise while
Sunday will be a Zumba class.
09h00 sees a selection of public participative
workshops on street theatre; parkour and recycled art. On Saturday join in with Mzansi Arts
Development Ensemble for a workshop on creating art out of waste. Join Gerard O
for a masterclass in street performance on Sunday: Whether you are an aspiring
actor, comedian or just want to entertain yourself - come and explore the mad
world of this acclaimed Dutch performer for an hour. Free of charge. All day
every day, add your wisest bit of advice from your favourite song in our open
art exhibition: Advice from Songs.
Inspired by Swiss artist Marcus Kraft and his work - PopMusicWisdom.
The first show of the festival starts at 13h00 with
a dramatic much-anticipated one-hander performance by Durban-based conceptual
artist Doung Jahangeer whose challenging and visually-astonishing work has
opened both previous Fresha festivals. Charming, innovative and funny,
Netherlands comedy street performer Gerard Olthaar – also a Fresha regular –
will amuse audiences with his antics, before a contemporary dance piece at
14h00: Tran(ce)itions by Sizwe Hlope.
Street theatre continues with two pieces by Township Arts Academic and 034
Drama group.
At 15h00 there will be a performance with puppets,
entitled The Thing About Wolves
created and performed by the Mahlekahlathini Mask & Puppet Players from the
KZN Midlands in collaboration with puppeteers from the acclaimed
Handspring Puppet company. Zamokhukhanye Productions follow with a
street theatre piece. Deaf performer Sibo Masondo charms the audience with some
innovative original mime. At 16h00, Jarryd Watson’s tenacious group of dancers
from Wentworth Arts and Culture will perform an electric street-dance piece,
full of tricks. The final two performances of the day celebrate physicality –
with Unyezi Productions doing a physical theatre piece and InnoV8 Gym /
Bluefire Productions wrapping up the theatre programme for the day with an
aerial act.
On both Saturday and Sunday, the days will end with
fabulous sundowner music concerts on the lawn. On Saturday it will be the turn
of The South Jersey Pompoms and Sunday an unusual combination of Afro-Blues and
Opera featuring Zulu Blue and La Canta Rosa.
During the day there will be all-day art and
interactions to enjoy: I Speak for the
Trees exhibition of recycled art – a project of Mzansi Arts Development
Ensemble featuring life-size trees made of garbage found along the Durban
beachfront by young artists in a mentorship programme led by Christine Adams.
Between acts, visitors will be invited to make a
hand-written poster inspired by Advice
from Songs – a participative project by Swiss artist Marcus Kraft.
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 provided by eThekwini Municipality, the Department of Arts and Culture, KZN and the KZN Performing Arts
Trust.
“Here is to a brilliant third edition of the Fresha
Festival!” says Durden!
For more information, visit www.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!
FULL
PROGRAMME
Opening Procession - January 18, from 17h00: Join us for an hour of strange and unusual
happenings to kick off the festival. A taste of the weekend to come.
Yoga - January 20 & 21 from 07h00 to 08h00: Join
us at 07h00 to salute the sun! An easy open yoga class for all ages and all
levels. Bring your own yoga mat or towel to sit on.
Free, open dance
classes: DanceXercise on January 19:
08h00 to 09h00 / Zumba class on January 20: 08h00 to 09h00. No
matter how many left feet you have - join us for a fun, free class to get the
year started on the right foot (or the left one).
Get involved!: January 20 & 21 from 09h00 onwards: On
Saturday join in with Mzansi Arts Development Ensemble for a workshop on
creating art out of waste. Join Gerard O for a masterclass in street
performance on Sunday: Whether you are an aspiring actor, comedian or just want
to entertain yourself - come and explore the mad world of this acclaimed Dutch
performer for an hour. Free of charge. All day every day, add your wisest bit
of advice from your favourite song in our open art exhibition: Advice from Songs. Inspired by Swiss
Artist Marcus Kraft and his work - PopMusicWisdom.
Missing: Performance
Art: January 19 & 20 January at 13h00. Thought-provoking,
uncomfortable, yet beautiful to watch. Concept and performance by doung Anwar
Jahangeer.
7 Chairs: Street
Theatre: January 19 & 20 at 13h20.
A simple act with 7 chairs and 7 actors who expect that something will
happen. Presented by Ithubalabasha Arts.
Gerard O: Street
comedian: January 19 & 20 at 13h40.
Dutch street comedian, Gerard Olthaar has performed at festivals around
the world. Back at Fresha for the third time, anything can happen!
Tran(ce)sitions: Contemporary
Dance: January 19 & 20 at
14h00. Sizwe Hlope presents an outstanding work exploring
the ties that bind and ropes / umbilical cords / railway pathways / roots.
The Goal: Street
theatre: January 19 & 20 at
14h20. On the pitch and off the pitch. Women versus men -
the eternal game of courtship without the usual rules. Umlazi Arts Academy.
Promises: Street
satire: January 19 & 20 at
14h40. When politicians promise rain on Fridays, no more
dying, and more love for all; who can we trust? Who do we vote for? 034 Drama.
The Thing about
Wolves: Puppets: January 19 & 20 at
15h00. A delightful collaboration between puppeteers from
the Handspring Puppet company and the Mahlekahlathini Mask & Puppet
Players.
Cats and the
Curse: Dance: January 19 & 20 at
15h20. When two boys are cursed and turned into cats they
have to fight to win the heart of a beautiful girl. Zamokhukhanya Productions.
Street Mime: Mime
artist: January 19 & 20 at
15h40. Sibo Masondo delights kids and adults alike with
his gently observed comedy and perfectly timed mime.
Old skool vs new
skool: Street Dance: January 19 & 20
at 16h00. Award-winning choreographer Jarryd Watson and his
dance troupe from the Wentworth Arts Organisation present all the tricks and
kicks of street dance.
Love is stronger:
Physical theatre: January 19 & 20 at 16h20. In a society
where we can be killed for who we love, maybe love can be stronger than death.
Look up: Aerial
act: January 19 & 20 at 16h40. The amazing
entertainers from Innov8 gym wow us way up above the ground.
Sundowner
Showcases - Live Music:
Join us for live music on the Bay of Plenty lawns
to dance and watch the sun go down.
The South Jersey Pompoms: January 19 at 17h00. Sassy and sharp,
slightly Burlesque and joyously off-kilter; these happy rebels bring you their
catchy tunes performed in German, French, Italian, English & Spanglish.
Zulu Blue and La Canta Rosa: January 20 at 17h00. An awesome
collaboration between a wonderful Afro-blues outfit and an opera quartet. Think
Busi Mhlongo with a touch of Puccini and a little bit of Miriam Makeba!
For more info, visit
www.freshafestival.co.za Find Fresha Festival on facebook and @freshafest on
twitter.
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