Bookings for the 49th National Arts
Festival are open! It's a one-stop experience on www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
where you can explore the programme and make your bookings directly on the
online portal.
Happening live in Makhanda (formerly Grahamstown) from June 22 - July 2, 2023, the NAF is your annual arts immersion and the programme is packed with diverse shows from South Africa and the world.
Visit the first programme reveal here: https://nationalartsfestival.co.za/news/a-first-look-at-the-2023-programme/
(Above: I.N.C.O.K.O by Ezinyaweni Zam returns to the NAF Fringe in 2023 - image Mark Wessels)
Dance, music and more
This year's Festival programme is strong on dance with shows from Gregory Maqoma, Mamela Nyamza, Jazzart and 2022 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance Thamsanqa Majela firing up the winter stages. The Fringe is also packed with dance with shows like I.N.G.O.K.O, Afrika Sings, The Story of Fire and Whistleblowers to mention just some of the shows to see.
(Left: The Boston Youth Orchestra - image Hilary Scott)
The Boston Youth Philharmonic Orchestra is coming to the Festival from the USA and will be performing the symphony concert and the children's concert this year. The NAF is also looking forward to announcing some exciting headline music acts and the Makhanda National Jazz Festival programme soon.
(Right: Brendon Peel will present multiple
shows at NAF 2023 - image Mark Wessels)
From fun to freaky - it's all there
An antidote for gloomy times, the Festival programme is packed with fun shows from late night and naughty to family friendly. In NSFW Not Safe for Woke recent Comics Choice Award Winner, Kagiso KG Mokgadi, returns to the National Arts Festival with a one-man-show that covers everything from lockdown babies and World War III to Tinder swindlers and all the digital vibes in between.
Illusionists/mentalists Brendon Peel and Li Lau will be back in Makhanda with Double Bluff: An Extreme Magic Show after an international television appearance on Got Talent All Stars in Madrid; selected from the best of performances from the Got Talent stable of shows (Peel and Lau were on Britain’s Got Talent and Romania's Got Talent previously). Eastern Cape-born Peel will also present a host of solo shows at this year's Festival where he has been performing regularly since he first began his career.
(Left: See family show “How to Hold the World” at NAF 2023 - image Mark Wessels)
Younger audiences can look forward to How to Hold the World starring James Stoffberg, a tale of a young boy tasked with holding up the world as he faces the scary (but rewarding) prospect of growing up. He learns that being alone doesn't mean being strong, being helped doesn't mean being selfish, and bravery is about being open to imagination and friendship. This play offers lessons in life for children and parents to share.
(Right: Makhanda is famous for its donkeys. Here a donkey cart passes a mural by Ralarno Coutts for the Nature is Louder project at NAF2021- image Mark Wessels)
How to Search the Programme
If you're new to the online programme, here’s a quick tour:
Hop onto www.nationalartsfestival.co.za and
you'll arrive on the home page.
From there you can explore by choosing to see shows in the genre you are interested in - just click on the genre button to see works in that genre only.
You can also view the programme by category (such as Curated, Fringe or Standard Bank Young Artists) at the top of the home page.
To see the full programme at once click VIEW FULL PROGRAMME on the right-hand side of the home page and head straight into the alphabetically listed collection of all of our shows together.
Once there, you can not only see all the
shows together but you can also filter the programme to see it as a DAILY
programme schedule or a CALENDAR schedule by selecting the tab buttons. This is
very handy for planning your time at the Festival.
Back on the home page you can also keep scrolling down to see the FRINGE PROGRAMME only. This is also where you can check in on the growing list of Standard Bank Ovation Awards winners as the Festival progresses.
Once you've decided to book a show, click on that show's window and choose the Venues and Time button. This is where you can select the time and date of your show and book your tickets. To pay for tickets you will need to register. The next time you come back to purchase tickets, you'll just log back in. The 'My Tickets' function means you can see all your purchased tickets in your account.
The NAF team is standing by to assist if you need help navigating the programme or making your bookings. Call them on 0860 002 004.
Great discounts for Standard Bank
customers
Standard Bank cardholders qualify for a
discount of up to 25% when using a valid Standard Bank debit, cheque or credit
card to purchase tickets for the National Arts Festival. The discount is
applicable to online purchases or at the Festival Box Office. This offer is
subject to availability. Terms and conditions apply.
Making it possible
The National Arts Festival is made possible
through the generous support of partners, the Eastern Cape Government,
Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Standard Bank. The NAF would also
like to acknowledge Distell, the National Arts Council, Eastern Cape Parks and
Tourism Agency, Eastern Cape Development Corporation, Sarah Baartman District
Municipality, Makana Municipality and Business and Arts South Africa as well as
the Social Employment administered by the Industrial Development Corporation.
To click directly to the NAF website,
click on the advert running above this article.
Posts
