(“Brutal
Legacy” features Jessie Wolhuter, Charlie Bougenon & Natasha Sutherland)
Rooted in spoken word performance, The
Hilton Arts Festival taking place from September 13 until 15, 2019, is perhaps
best known for its carefully-curated selection of quality plays, and, true to
form, offers a great line-up of topical dramas this year.
‘I want you to behave like our house is on
fire. Because it is,’ so said Scandanavian Greta Thunberg, 15-year-old climate
activist, just a few months ago.
Climate change and how the planet addresses
it, is an issue close to the heart of the youth. The Hilton Festival is proud
to host Well Worn Theatre, a young, dynamic theatre company devoted to
environmental theatre. Their work appeals to young and old alike and is
inventive and packs a punch.
Under the overall creative genius of Kyla
Davies they will present three works, both as part of the Jongosi programme and
on the Saturday of the festival. Burning
Rebellion takes a close look at exactly what Thunberg is championing. From
the next generation, the plea is simple: Governments! Politicians! Big
business! Grown-ups! Let’s fix this mess. Before it is too late. Galela
is the thirst-quenching story of a small community deeply affected by South
Africa’s water issues, while Plastocracy
looks at the mountains of plastic being created by mankind. Particularly well-suited
to the young, this piece features an endearing puppet. Tissues are advised.
The issues of abuse, bullying and women’s
rights are also currently topical and are constantly engaged with by the
younger generation. Hilton proudly
presents Evil, Brutal Legacy and
Sainthood. “We are hoping to create intense and meaningful conversations,”
says Sue Clarence, the Festival Director.
(Right: “Evil”
features the award-winning Jaques de Silva)
Evil is the chilling real-life account of the teenage years of Erik
Ponti. A victim of an abusive stepfather and drawn to petty crime, he is sent
to an elite boarding school where institutionalised bullying is the currency of
a violent student council. It features
the award-winning Jaques de Silva in a riveting solo performance hot from the
Edinburgh Festival.
Brutal
Legacy is based on Tracy Going’s recently published
story of survival and triumph over abuse and adversity. When South Africa's
golden girl of broadcasting, Tracy Going's battered face was splashed across
the media back in the late 1990s, the nation was shocked. Sensational headlines
of a whirlwind love relationship turned horrendously violent, it threw the
"perfect" life of the household star into disarray. What had started
off as a fairy-tale romance with her perfect Prince Charming, quickly descended
into a violent, abusive relationship. The rosy love-cloud burst after only five
months when she staggered into the local police station, abused and bruised. Starring
Natasha Sutherland with Charlie Bougenon and Jessie Wolhuter.
(Left: The cast of “Sainthood”
– pic by Jeremeo Le Cordeur)
Making waves as a young new theatre creator
is Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni. She is
the imagination and talent behind Sainthood,
hailed as a breakthrough by a new generation of dynamic theatre makers and
playwrights.
It is a busy week for the students of St.
Gabriel’s School for Boys. With exam preparations underway and open day coming
up, matric boarding house mates, Tebogo, Zwi, Will, Siya and George are … well
… a little more pre-occupied than usual, especially when five friends find
themselves in the centre of a serious investigation that not only threatens to
unravel the tragic intricacies of the St. Gabriel's community but what little
is left of their innocence.
The youth is sending a message to the older
generations. The Festival management hopes all ages will book to see these
important works and then talk about them. Theatre should inspire conversation.
Let’s talk and act!
For details of all of the above, please
refer to the website for details after August 11, 2019. The Hilton Arts
Festival, now in its 27th takes place from September 13 to 15, 2019.
The full programme will appear in KZN
copies of The Sunday Times on Sunday August 18. Booking opens on August 12, and
the programme will be live on the festival website from the morning of August 12.
For more information, visit
www.hiltonfestival.co.za or contact the Festival Office on
admin@hiltonfestival.co.za or 033 383 0127.
The Hilton Arts Festival is presented by
Hilton College and tiso blackstar group, in association with Grindrod Bank; Black Coffee; Extreme Events;
DWR; Bidvest Car Rental; FNB, Stella Artois; BASA; the KZN Department of Arts
and Culture; Tsogo Sun; Redlands Hotel; the Caxton Group; Maritzburg Sun; Loud
Crowd Media, The SA Artist and Sappi.
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