G-Fest

The 39th annual National Arts Festival is currently taking place in the small academic town of Grahamstown in  the Eastern Cape. Whilst we're incredibly sad that we're missing all the amazing productions and art show pieces taking place there, we're humbled and comforted by the fact that we are represented in a small way by the presence of our resident artist Gavin Krastin who is showcasing his work there as well as Mazwi Mahlase who is covering the festival for Joule City.

The festival takes place from 27 June to 7 July 2013 and showcases some of the best in South African theatre, film, art, comedy, performance and music. 

Gavin Krastin's work, Rough Musick, interrogates hierarchical social dynamics and explores the emotional effects of shame in a half performance/half social experiment piece.

Gavin Krastin's Rough Musick Photo by Cat Pennels

Some highlights of this year's festival include works produced within the Market Theatre such as Woza Albert, directed by Standard Bank Young Artist 2013 (Theatre) Prince Lamla, a graduate of the Market Theatre Laboratory; The Island, directed by the legendary John Kani; The Line, directed by Gina Shmuckler and Cadre, starring Omphilo Molusi.

University of Johannesburg Theatre, which is quickly becoming a leader in new and groundbreaking work makes its first appearance at the festival with "Cry Havoc" by Tim Coash which challenges notion of religion and patriotism. Another politically infused play is the Palestine/Israeli inspired piece titled "My name is Rachel Corrie". 

CEO Tom Lankester said that "Thematically there is a real sense of South Africanness - 

looking back where we came from forward to the kind of society that will emerge"

South African theatre is strongly present with Mbongeni Ngema's premier of The Zulu, a dramatisation of the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, marking Ngemas return to stage as an actor. Soweto Theatre also features for the first time on the festival's main stage with the production of Asinamali - We have no money in Zulu, written by Ngema, depicting the 1983 rent strike in Lamontville, KwaZulu Natal. 

Mbongeni Ngema's The Zulu: www.nationalartsfestival.co.za

Seminal playwright, Mike van Graan brings four productions to the festival, in association with the Artscape Centre; a world premiere of Writer's Block, as well as Brothers in Blood, Rainbow Scars and Panic

In the realm of dance, Indumba, a piece about cleansing rituals by Standard Bank Young Artist 2013 (Dance) Fana Tshabalala is a must-see. Biko's Quest, a collaboration of Jazzart Dance Theatre and the Steve Biko Foundation is another dance highlight.

Biko's Quest: www.portelizabethbuzz.com

Music features heavily on the program from musical theatre to jazz, classical, opera and commercial music. Some heavy weight jazz artists such as Jonas Gwangwa make appearances as well as emerging talents such as bassist Shane Cooper winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Winner 2013 (jazz) brings together a quintet comprising of two past winners of the prestigious award, namely pianist Bokani Dyer, drummer Kesivan Naidoo and Justin Bellairs on sax accompanied by Reza Khota on guitar. Other notable musical inclusions are Mike Rossi Project, Rus Nerwich and the Wondering Who, and Mark Fransman, appearing at the festival as Makeson Browne. This year, a special feature includes the establishment of the Standard Bank Jazz and Blues Cafe at the Lowander at St. Andrew's College, showing the growing prominence of jazz in the country. 

Shane Cooper: www.standardbankarts.com

Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape Government, Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council, City Press and M-Net sponsor the National Arts Festival. 

For a full programme: http://www.nationalartsfestival.co.za/