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Productions A-Z
A listing of all the productions at this year's National Arts Festival, organised alphabetically by production title. Click on the letter below to jump to the relevant page. To search for a production by something other than title, go here.Event
Fringe / Theatre
In the quiet town of Vanderbijlpark, the Khumalo family goes on with their lives like any average working class family. The passing of Mr Khumalo brings up family secrets that threaten to break-up this family. Brother and sister Vicky and ...
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Fringe / Wordfest
T G Motsaathebe. Basadi, lwa reng? (Setswana). A novel tracking the life of a woman activist.
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Fringe / Theatre
This drama production uses dialogue, mime, acting and humour to tell the story of the social, religious and political conflict of a father who wants his children to live his way, educationally and culturally. He is the only one who ...
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Fringe / Music Theatre
A DOUBLE BILL:
Tapestry is a musical about three lonely and needy friends that get the opportunity to fall in love with the same man, only to discover that they have to sacrifice their love and obligation for each other. Tapestry ...
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Main / Student Theatre
Cast: Bianca Binneman, Zano Mthembu, Megan Wright, Edward Pepperell, Dumisa Lengwati, Bryce Woodiwiss, Elisha Mudly
A secluded weekend away leads to some dark and intriguing discoveries for a gathering of people. As an intruder is brought into their fold, what ...
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Fringe / Performance Poetry - Story-telling - Readings
Gavin Bonner returns with tales gathered from his travels around the world. Expect live music, traditional tales, personal stories and Gavin's incredible improvised poetic stories! Tellin' Tales received rave reviews from several national newspapers last year! This year promises to ...
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Main / Film
When three friends meet in a restaurant and dream up a movie, they believe they can become big players in the game of life. Fate steps in when a reclusive stranger (Stanley) presents them with a script which is his ...
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Fringe / Music Theatre
She wants forgiveness. He needs acceptance. They must all unlock their past. The key is Eléna De Mist and although her time is up she will do whatever it takes - even using unsuspecting hotel guests like the young Mbali ...
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Fringe / Dance
Haskins and Snyman have joined forces with PJ Sabbagha (The Forgotten Angle Theatre Company) resulting in a work that is beautiful, emotional, unpredictable and innovative. The Anatomy of Weather follows the unpredictability of relationships in a work that is both ...
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Fringe / Performance Poetry - Story-telling - Readings
The Awakening, written and directed by Nelisa Kala, is a multi-art production which comprises spoken-word poetry and original afro-jazz music. The production promotes a spiritual awakening of emotion, positive creative expression and change. It explores emotion as it moves through ...
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Fringe / Performance Poetry - Story-telling - Readings
The Awakening, written and directed by Nelisa Kala, is a multi-art production which comprises spoken-word poetry and original afro-jazz music. The production promotes a spiritual awakening of emotion, positive creative expression and change. It explores emotion as it moves through ...
COMMENT/REVIEW (0) | Event details
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Main / Film
This award-winning film provides a cinematic recreation of the Algerian struggle for independence from France (1954-1962). It is a provocative and powerful depiction of this conflict which combines revolutionary fervour with careful, cool analysis. It is considered an important and ...
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Main / Film
aka Le Boeuf sur le Toit
Another stylistically audacious work from Wits academic, Jyoti Mistry, sailing across disparate narratives and international locations - Johannesburg, Helsinki, Vienna and New York. The result is a kaleidoscopic snapshot of urban spaces and ...
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Main / Theatre
Set in 1950 South Africa, a tiny family butchery is run by a prematurely retired ballroom dancer and his ever loyal servant, Boy. The ridged routine of their lives is interrupted by the unexpected arrival of a slumberous parcel. ...
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Fringe / Music Theatre
Acclaimed South African performer, Keri Hiles ignites the stage in a tender love story set on the Wild Coast in 1740. The musical, with a cast of versatile performers follows the riveting tale of Bessie, an orphan of the ocean ...
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Main / Jazz
Guitarist David Ledbetter made his first mark on the Jazz Festival in Grahamstown nearly two decades ago as leader of the very funky young group of UCT Jazz School graduates The Truly Fully Hey Shoo Wow Band, who stole the ...
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Main / Music
Winners of the 2010 Old Mutual National Choir Festival
Conductor: Wiseman Mkhize
The Clermont Community Choir emanates from the Clermont Catholic Church Choir and was founded in 1992. The choir is a registered non-profit organisation, specialising in a ...
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Main / Film
COURTESY OF VIDEO VISION
Thirty years ago the renowned conductor of the Bolshoi orchestra was fired for hiring Jewish musicians. Now a mere cleaning man at the Bolshoi, he intercepts an official invitation from the prestigious Theatre du Chatelet ...
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Fringe / Film
Step into the lives of six artists sculpting South Africa's future from the fragments of tumultuous past. Born into different areas of the formerly-segregated country, the artists separately recraft history - and the remaining impacts of apartheid - in their ...
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Fringe / Spiritfest
The Divine Spark - Poetry readings and music from the period of the KJV. The Cathedral's Director of Music, Barbara Stout, and English Literary enthusiasts, Paul Walters, Malcom Hacksley and Jeanette Eve.
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Main / Student Theatre
"We didn't know where we were going until we were there. And once we were there, we didn't remember where we had come from. That's what I loved so much about The Domain. And this is why I knew I ...
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Fringe / Theatre
This production tells the story of Khotso Sethuntsa, a medicine maker and healer, who people visit in order to get rich - 'ukuthwala'. The people who visited Khotso, the Abathwali were, at times, forced to sacrifice their family members. Through ...
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Fringe / Physical Theatre
Based on Ovid's Myth of Narcissus & Echo, this is a tale of reinvention in our world of wasted dreams. Uninspired and socially inept, Neville believes his life complete on receiving an auspicious letter. But instead, he has to re-evaluate ...
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Fringe / Dance
Back in Grahamstown bringing spontaneous combustion to the dance floor, this talented tap team will include all the glitz and glamour that you've come to know and love, plus the contemporary tap genre so rife today. Fast, furious and fascinatingly ...
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Main / Music
KWA ZULU-NATAL PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Conductor: Richard Cock
Soloists Ben Schoeman - piano
Magdalene Minnaar - soprano
PROGRAMME Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896) Mignon Overture Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) To a Wild Rose Ambroise Thomas (1811-1896) Je suis, Titania Johannes ...
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Main / Film
Courtesy of Nu Metro
Luftslotten som sprangdes
Stig Larsson's phenomenally successful Millennium Trilogy (10 million sales worldwide) seems remarkable. Larsson, who sadly passed away in 2004, was an expert on the rise of the new right wing in Sweden and ...
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Main / Film
COURTESY OF NU METRO
Flickan som lekte med elden
Stig Larsson's phenomenally successful Millennium Trilogy (10 million sales worldwide) seems remarkable. Larsson, who sadly passed away in 2004, was an expert on the rise of the new right ...
COMMENT/REVIEW (0) | Event details
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Main / Film
COURTESY OF NU-METRO
Man som hatar kvinnor
Stig Larsson's phenomenally successful Millennium Trilogy (10 million sales worldwide) seems remarkable. Larsson, who sadly passed away in 2004, was an expert on the rise of the new right wing in Sweden ...
COMMENT/REVIEW (0) | Event details
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Main / Music
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Divertimento in E flat, K. 563
Zanta Hofmeyr (violin), Morkel Combrink (viola), Wessel Beukes (cello)
Among the greatest works ever penned in the realm of chamber music Mozart composed his sublime and masterful Divertimento in E flat, ...
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Fringe / Music Theatre
A group of slaves have been captured and placed in a dungeon which they call "The belly of the stone monster", while waiting to be sailed across the sea. They recount their troubles - why they were captured and brought ...
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Main / Theatre
Director: Alan Swerdlow
Design & Lighting: Jannie Swanepoel
CAST: Graham Hopkins, Michael Richard, LouiseSaint-Clare, Theo Landley, Clyde Berning, David Schlachter, Matthew Lotter, Gopala Chetty, Asher Stoltz, Roberto Pambo, Jeremy Richard, Marcelle Richards
Pieter Toerien has earned his stripes ...
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Main / Film
COURTESY OF THE PRODUCER
A wonderful surprise! If the first Son of God can turn water into wine, Arthur, the self-proclaimed second son of God can make stony hearts beat again. The story of psychiatric patients in a boarding ...
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Fringe / Family - Children's Theatre
Award-winning Ubom! is back again with a rip-roaring ride of fun and sheer awesomeness! Tat'omkhulutellsa's magical, intriguing tale of friendship and kindness in a faraway land. Told in an interactive, physical, and visually exciting style, this is superb family theatre ...
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Fringe / Dance
A collaboration between the Amaphiko Township Dance Project, choreographed by Sifiso Sikhakhane, and the Kingswood College Concert Band, conducted by Stephen Holder. A family's memory is pieced together through a song; a song with legendary powers to connect those who ...
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Main / Music
The Lectures of Professor Glaçon, the Automatic Guitar and Other Fascinating Yet Forgotten Episodes of Music History
Lecturer: François Sarhan With: Mathieu Metzger (saxophone), Gerrit Nulens (percussion) and a musician from crWth Original idea, text, music scores and images: François ...
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Fringe / Spiritfest
The remarkable story of how the book was produced that shaped the English language.
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Fringe / Music
Having played together for ten years, the Mee Brothers have crafted a warm, harmonically captivating sound. Their blend of bright acoustic tones, vocal sincerity and stirring lyrics will keep you entertained and leave you inspired.
COMMENT/REVIEW (0) | Event details
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Fringe / Music
Having played together for ten years, the Mee Brothers have crafted a warm, harmonically captivating sound. Their blend of bright acoustic tones, vocal sincerity and stirring lyrics will keep you entertained and leave you inspired.
COMMENT/REVIEW (0) | Event details
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Fringe / Comedy
The Most Amazing Show is back! The cult comedy duo, Corne and Twakkie, what changed forever the face of comedy in South Africa and also the way we speak is going to take this k*k to a whole new level. ...
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Main / Think!Fest
Listeners to Talkradio 702 and 567 Cape Talk will know Chris Smith as the "Naked Scientist” through his energetic and fascinating weekly on air chats with Redi Tlhabi. When he’s not on the radio, Smith is a doctor and a ...
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Fringe / Music
Kurt Egelhof finally breaks out of the musical closet with a compilation of original compositions that skipped an entire generation, before seeing the light of day! A collection of unpublished South African pop-genre works from the seventies, eighties and last ...
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Fringe / Family - Children's Theatre
The six-year-old son of an ogre discovers his nature and decides to escape his destiny. Drawing on Ntsomi storytelling traditions, this haunting and magical tale crosses cultures and continents to bring you "an audacious and beautiful creation ... that gives ...
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Fringe / Theatre
Kaalvoet on a dusty road; striding high-heeled down the streets of Jozi; pacing a stoep on aged feet at twilight: South African women from all walks of life come alive in this fresh and provocative two-hander.
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Main / Jazz
The Ploctones is the vehicle for Anton Goudsmit, a highly innovative Dutch guitarist whose playing spans all conceivable guitar styles and whose infectious stage presence will stay with you long after the gig. In the past year he won the ...
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Fringe / Family - Children's Theatre
The Well Worn Theatre Co. presents Craig Morris and Jaques De Silva, two storytelling maestros, as they take you on a high-octane, action-packed, carbon-kicking adventure. From the emerald depths of the Amazon to the frenetic streets of Future Jozi, you'll ...
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Main / Dance
Musical Director: Neo Leleka
Society can be defined as a group that is made up of various individuals held together by societal bonds. Within the collective, individuals are seen to be neutral entities, but actually serve either as positive or ...
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Main / Film
Aka: The Secret Glory of SS Obersturmfuhrer Otto Rahn
Combining rare archival footage, old letters and photographs to tell the story of Otto Rahn (1904 - 1939), who worked in the Occult division of the Nazi hierarchy. Rahn was ...
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Fringe / Music
A production featuring a cappella singing in its most basic form. The sound is raw, beautifully unique and allows the singing of any style of song. Voices are accompanied by a beat box.
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Fringe / Theatre
Philemon is middle-class and happy. One day, he hears that his wife is having an affair, and he catches her in flagrante. Her lover jumps out of the window but leaves behind his suit. Philemon then dreams up a strange ...
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Main / Theatre
Concept and direction: Sylvaine Strike
Dramaturge: Craig Higginson
Devised by: Sylvaine Strike and the full company
Design and Decor: Chen Nakar and Sasha Ehlers
Music: Sam Sklair and the company
Lighting Design: ...
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Fringe / Theatre
The Three explores what is means to live in an environment where crime and drug addiction are the norm. The play follows three men and the difficult choices they are forced to make as they are catapulted on a journey ...
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Main / Film
COURTESY OF VIDEO VISION
Das Weisse Band
This latest film from the modern master of ennui, Michael Haneke details the strange and disturbing events which take place in a small parish village in the north of Germany during ...
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Main / Jazz
EfraïmTrujillo (sax) is based in Amsterdam and has specialised in the vibrant rhythms of the Caribbean, touring as diversely as Cuba, Tunisia, Jamaica and Senegal. Per Thornberg (sax) comes from Halmstad, Sweden, and when he performed in Grahamstown in 2008 ...
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Fringe / Physical Theatre
This Church explores deceit, greed and corruption. A hard-hitting story about some foreign nationals who come to South Africa to seek political and economic asylum. In due course, they prey on believers who submit to anything religious in the quest ...
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Fringe / Dance
A theatrical dance explosion of technique, athleticism and artistry. Technically awe-inspiring dancers, unfold the intricacies and diversities of choreographic works by some of the proudest South African choreographers. The most outstanding quality of Kmad.com is their passionate expressiveness in each ...
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Fringe / Theatre
To Be like This Rock is the harrowing story of five girls who come together working in a quarry breaking rocks. Taken from their homes into human trafficking, their lives feed the sex trade. The story is told through powerful ...
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Main / Workshop
Create your own cartoons at this interactive immersion into the world of comic art, facilitated by local and international artists. The best participants will be selected to proceed to the more advanced Co/Mix Master Classes (see below). In ToonLab 1, ...
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Main / Workshop
Create your own cartoons at this interactive immersion into the world of comic art, facilitated by local and international artists. The best participants will be selected to proceed to the more advanced Co/Mix Master Classes (see below). In ToonLab 1, ...
COMMENT/REVIEW (0) | Event details
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Fringe / Theatre
Tore the Chain deals with the struggle and the experiences of black people during apartheid. It tells the story of a young man called Tumelo, who sacrificed his life to the struggle. It also shows how Tumelo's family felt the ...
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Fringe / Theatre
Torn Apart is a play about conflict within a family. The story revolves around a mother and her two sons from different fathers. She doesn't give the boys the same love and favours her younger son. The older son is ...
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Main / Student Theatre
We are born clean and unconfused. We touch the world and the world touches us. But as we grow its no longer as easy as "playing house". Responsibilities and temptations will darken our souls. And before we know it - ...
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Fringe / Wordfest
Trevor Emslie - Anti-Imperial War Poetry from Anglo-Boer War, Harry Owen & environmental poets opposed to the fracking of the Karoo then Open Mike.
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Main / Public Art
Director: Richard Antrobus
Assistant Director: Tristan Jacobs
Created in collaboration with: Phezulu Project Via Kasi (Township Movers) Bionic Breakers Sakhuluntu Cultural Group Masidlale Productions and also featuring a number of guest performers and musicians.
Loosely adapted from the Antoine De ...
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Main / Jazz
Vocalist Tutu Puoane has a long history in Grahamstown: as a UCT Jazz student she was selected for the National Youth Big Band in 1999 that toured to New York, and she returned to the Festival in 2004 as the ...
COMMENT/REVIEW (0) | Event details
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Main / Jazz
Vocalist Tutu Puoane has a long history in Grahamstown: as a UCT Jazz student she was selected for the National Youth Big Band in 1999 that toured to New York, and she returned to the Festival in 2004 as the ...
COMMENT/REVIEW (0) | Event details
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Main / Theatre
Conceived, written and performed by Nomhle Nkonyeni and Val McLane
This blanket once rainbow knitted by loving female fingers knotted by domestic duty rent in two in 1967 woven together with gossamer thread by four girl-child hands ten years ...
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Another project by:
