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Theatre tackles politics
Mike LoeweTHE National Arts Festival drew to a close in glorious weather with festival bosses expressing optimism that the earlier reported increases in attendances could be sustained through to the end.Artists applauded as a series of Ovation Awards, Student Festival Awards and invites for 13 SA shows, including two theatre company’s to perform at fringe festivals in New York, Brighton ...
Fundamental theatre
A pervasive atmosphere of violence in society prevents us from engaging with each other as fellow human beings. Instead, constantly on guard with our desire to protect ourselves, our immediate family and property, we retreat into what is familiar, colouring ‘the other’ with our own – often unacknowledged – prejudices.Race and religion are the dominant markers of ‘the other’, and ...
Just Business: not a mirror but a hammer.
“Art is not a mirror held up to reality, but a hammer with which to shape it.” – Bertolt BrechtCan somebody please tell me, why was I sitting in an audience of about ten people when the play is written by one of South Africa’s best playwrights - Mike van Graan, directed by thé Fred Abrahamse and acted by some of South Africa’s top actors – André Jacobs, Kurt Egelhof and Mbulelo ...
Simon says: A 10/10 for Dirt
Grahamstown was quite full this weekend but the start of the 2nd week drop away will likely kick in on Monday before numbers pick up again about mid-week (hopefully). Most performers I have spoken to are reasonably happy but with a thread of technical difficulties running through everyone's comments. The time is here when the festival organisers should look at the quality of techs on the ...
Fest Forward Episode 9 sits up and waves
Fest Forward Episode 9 - young directors, Lebo Mashile, Sylvia Glasser, Threads, Mike Van Graan, The Game, best of the festFeatures: Young directors - we speak to the hopefuls on the fringe, Threads – more on this unique collaboration between Lebo Mashile and Sylvia “Magogo” Glasser.Regulars: The Best of the Fest – the best of the next 24 hours; The Fringe Minute of Fame – The ...
Venue dulls Bafana Republic’s sharp edge
Warmth and a lack of fresh air is a sure-fire way to promote sleep. And this is unfortunately what happens in Mike van Graan’s Bafana Republic 3: Penalty Shootout. This is no fault of the fast-moving, witty and colourful piece of satire in which Lungi Pinda stars. The jokes are sharp and Pinda is a ball of comedic energy putting his talent through a number of characters, such as a hygiene ...
