Section 16 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes freedom of the press and other media; freedom to receive or impart information or ideas; freedom of artistic creativity; and academic freedom and freedom of scientific research.” 2 CONTENTS 4 Festival Messages 255 2016 Call for Proposals EASTERN CAPE 6 Acknowledgements 260 Booking Procedures SHOWCASE 8 Index 261 Map 47 Music 12 Standard Bank Young 54 Jazz Artist Award Winners ARENA PROGRAMME 112 Exhibitions 15 2015 Featured Artist 41 Dance of the Year 92 Theatre 17 17 Main Programme SOLO SEASON 27 95 Student Theatre 88 Theatre 152 Fringe Programme 256 Village Green MAIN AT A GLANCE 55 71 DANCE 17 MUSIC 27 88 JAZZ 55 102 THEATRE 71 SOLO THEATRE 88 95 STUDENT THEATRE 95 104 PERFORMANCE ART 102 VISUAL ART 104 116 THINK!FEST 116 127 FILM 127 PUBLIC ART 142 142 FAMILY FARE 147 147 2015 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME UPDATE We will be publishing an update to our Programme which will be available in Grahamstown throughout the Festival, at all of our Box Offices and Information Kiosks. This pocket- sized booklet will contain updated information on performances and events, changes, cancellations and additional shows, a daily diary map, local emergency services number, etc and is a must-have for all Festival-goers. 3 160 FRINGE AT A GLANCE 153 DANCE 160 PHYSICAL THEATRE 153 168 POETRY 171 171 ILLUSION 173 DRAMA 198 COMEDY 168 173 226 FAMILY FARE 226 231 CABARET & MUSIC THEATRE 235 CLASSICAL 231 MUSIC 198 241 236 236 CONTEMP- ORARY MUSIC 241 FILM 243 VISUAL ART 235 254 254 SPIRITFEST Disclaimer: The Festival organisers have made every effort to ensure that everything printed in this publication is accurate. However, mistakes and changes do occur, and we do not accept any responsibility for them or for any inaccuracies or misinformation within advertisements. Artists provide images, logos and advertisements and we accept no responsibility for the 243 quality of reproduction in this publication. 4 LAUNCH YOURSELF INTO THIS FEAST Ayanda Mjekula, Chairman: National Arts Festival Board here was always a risk Young Curator, Lerato Bereng, see them support us through Tthat, after our special on the Visual Arts programme; until the end of 2017. To them 40th birthday celebrations in by turning the spotlight onto – and to our other friends, 2014, the Festival this year freedom of speech through sponsors, supporters and would feel like something of Satire; and by including a host partners, most notably the an anticlimax. I’m happy to of productions from not just National Department of Arts say, though, that our team South Africa but the rest of the and Culture; National Lottery have pulled a spectacular continent and the world. Distribution Trust Fund; programme out of the bag Eastern Cape Department and, if anything, this year’s These initiatives all serve of Sports, Recreation, Arts Festival promises to be more to help us view the world and Culture; MNET and City exciting than ever, with plenty through fresh eyes, and to Press as well as our two to get your heart racing and to challenge our everyday radio partners, SAfm and move you in a way that only thinking anew. Classic FM, we say thank the arts can. you for injecting resources, No less important to the intellectual capital and, most Reinvention is critical to an sustainability of the arts is the importantly, passion into the institution such as ours, as contribution of our sponsors. arts through the Festival. is constant reflection and And so we are especially innovation. And so I am grateful to Standard Bank And that leaves nothing for delighted that we are seeing who, this year, have renewed you, our audience, to do the creative team push those their commitment to the apart from launching yourself boundaries even further this Festival by entering into a into this feast and having an year – by including a Featured new 3-year contract that will amazing time with us. CELEBRATE THE LIVELY AND PULSATING RHYTHMS OF SOUTH AFRICAN CULTURE Dr Pemmy Majodina, MEC for Sport, Recreation, Art & Culture, Province of The Eastern Cape rom the open and humble fields of are inspired by the poets, dramatists and FQunu in the Eastern Cape, Nelson writers who craft their stories drawing from Rolihlahla Mandela grew up to become an the ethos that Madiba advocated. We are internationally celebrated and respected moved by the diverse forms of creativity icon of the struggle against apartheid and all and cultural expressions that give young forms of racism. It is also here in the Eastern audiences a sense of hope. After all, it is the Cape where he came to find his final resting future of young people that was often at the place where his triumphant spirit can inspire heart of why Madiba never gave up on his and nurture our ongoing commitment for struggle. social transformation. This year, the Eastern Cape Department Madiba, as he was affectionately known, of Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture has was passionate about the arts. He dedicated its programme of performances acknowledged the role that the arts have and exhibitions to celebrate Madiba’s spirit played in South Africa’s liberation struggle. of freedom, forgiveness, reconciliation and In a post-apartheid society, he called on triumph. These universal values will be South Africa’s artists to use their talents powerfully expressed in the Eastern Cape and creativity to heal our society from its Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts & past; and to offer solutions to the many Culture’s Indigenous Ensemble Concerts, challenges that arise as we continue Arts Exhibition, Crafts Exhibition, Word to transform our society. For the past Fest programme and the Jazz at Dakawa two decades, South African artists have programme. celebrating the vibrant and pulsating responded to Madiba’s call with passion, rhythms of South African culture and to give integrity and excellence. The 2015 Festival takes place against the to the Festival’s visitors – both local and background of celebrations of twenty-one international – stimulating experiences that Madiba’s values, as a president, international years of democracy, and sixty years of The will draw them back to experience even peacemaker, statesman and Nobel Peace Freedom Charter. It is true that this Festival greater parts of our province. Prize winner give the Eastern Cape province has opened the doors of education and – his birthplace and the place of his burial culture to all South Africans. I take this opportunity to thank the – an undisputable sense of pride. We rejoice National Arts Festival for driving a dynamic in being both custodians and advocates of As you gather at the Festival in programme that contributes to the local his legacy. Grahamstown, I also urge you to consider economic development and the Provincial experiencing the richness and cultural Growth and Development Strategy which We are grateful to the many musicians diversity that makes the Eastern Cape a assists to combat poverty and to stimulate who continue to keep his legacy alive truly unique province. I urge our artists the economic growth in the Province of the through the songs that they compose. We and crafters to rise to the challenge of Eastern Cape. 5 CELEBRATING OUR BRIGHTEST AND OUR BEST Sim Tshabalala and Ben Kruger, Chief Executives, Standard Bank Group nce again The National Arts Festival This is a wonderful place for young people Ohas arrived and the Standard Bank to discover the arts and to grow audiences Group looks forward to the exciting arts for the future and so we’re very pleased to journey that lies ahead as Grahamstown be able to keep the Festival – and South doubles its population for 11 days. Africa’s cultural life – moving forward. Over the years the Festival has served as Rooted in Africa, Standard Bank has made a rich and diverse representation of South a firm commitment to continue its support Africa’s cultural landscape. It plays a vital and make a difference. We firmly believe role in the artistic life of our country while that the Festival is one of South Africa’s also providing a vibrant meeting point for treasures – a working model of what African and global artistic communities to we all want South Africa to be: vibrantly come together and share their talent. creative, deeply African and confidently cosmopolitan. Standard Bank’s association with this iconic cultural event dates back to 1984 Important, too, is that Standard Bank when we became the title sponsor, with places great value in being in a position, the Eastern Cape Government joining us created by the Festival, to support and 12 years ago. stimulate the economy of the greater Grahamstown area and of the Eastern We are delighted to continue our annual Cape Province. sponsorship of the Standard Bank Jazz Festival which includes the National Youth On behalf of Standard Bank, we would like Jazz Festival; the Standard Bank Young to thank everyone involved in making the Artist Awards; the Children’s Festival; the Festival the success it is. daily newspaper Cue and the Standard Bank Ovation Awards which celebrate the Here’s to a celebration of our brightest and best of the Fringe. our best. VIBRANT FORCE FOR ADVOCACY AND CHALLENGING THE CONSCIENCE Message from the Artistic Committee he 2015 programme of the National challenged, delighted and inspired by them. international collaborations. Whilst we TArts Festival has been shaped by retain our long held partnerships with diverse threads: the heated national debate The Featured Artist of 2015 is the genre of companies and festivals in Europe, our surrounding the legacies of South African “Satire”.