The sleepy student town of Grahamstown comes alive tomorrow with the start of the 38th National Arts Festival. With artistic performances by South Africa’s best, from the brand new to the stalwarts of the industry, ten days of imaginative indulgence are guaranteed.
For the 28th year running young artists will be celebrated at the Festival through the Standard Bank Young Artist Awards. The winners in five categories will all be showcasing their talents to the discerning crowd. Afrika Mkhize (jazz), Bailey Snyman (dance), Princess Zinzi Mhlongo (theatre), Mikael Subotzky (visual arts) and Kelibogile Boikanyo (music) have all been recognised for superlative talents in their respective fields, and from tomorrow festival goers will have the chance to see why.
Familiar faces to the South African arts scene are set to electrify the Main programme at the Festival. Controversial but celebrated performance artist Steven Cohen returns to the local stage with the now 90-year-old Nomsa Dhlamini who helped raise the artist during apartheid. Titled The Cradle of Humankind, this show sheds light on the pair’s relationship tackling issues of homosexuality and racism in the process.
Athol Fugard’s newest play The Blue Iris will have its world premiere in Grahamstown. Directed by the award-winning Janice Honeyball, The Blue Iris is an emotionally evocative story of a Karoo farmer and his housekeeper whose secrets are revealed when they begin the clean up after a ravaging fire.
Cape Town City Ballet will present Giselle, a love story centered around a peasant girl. With music by the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, this production will have no problem getting bums on seats for all three performances.
Another sure sell-out is South Africa’s satirical genius Pieter-Dirk Uys, who will present his life in theatre for one night only. Along with some of the 80 characters from his 38 years in the political arena, Uys will brandish his weapon of mass destruction – his humour – in a show titled An Audience with Pieter-Dirk EISH!
With one of the largest Fringe programmes in the festival’s history, audiences will also be treated to hundreds of exhibitions, dance, physical theatre and music performances outside the Main program. This immense selection of shows offers everything from comic relief to melancholic ponderings at a host of venues around Grahamstown.
Guests at this year’s Festival will also be saying bonjour to the beginning of the France-South Africa Season 2012 & 2013, an exciting two-year series of artistic exchanges and collaborations between France and South Africa. The French Season comprises of over 70 projects in various fields, the first leg of which includes performances at the National Arts Festival in both the Main programme and the Standard Bank Jazz Festival.
Other staples at the Festival, like the Village Green will once again keep visitors stocked up on yummy food and drinks and the best in craft, clothing and other knick-knacks. Street performers and public art performances are set to surprise on random street corners while the local pubs are ready to switch their student clientele for thirsty appreciators of the arts.
In the next ten days, the hungry audiences will consume every type of creativity imaginable and if you’re not going to be there, gorging yourself on the Festival feast, keep an eye on www.VISI.co.za for regular updates.
More information: www.nationalartsfestival.co.za
