The 969 Festival – G-town back in J-burg
We know a number of Joburg people who suffered major withdrawal symptoms from the Grahamstown festival this year… have no fear… the 969 festival is kind of like a mini G-town festival… and the bonus is it comes to you in Joburg! Some brilliant creative directors work on show… including Sue Pam-Grant, Andrew Buckland and the young Paul Noko.
Here’s how we described it l…
ast year: “What a stunning concept – the National Arts festival is held in Grahamstown which is 969 Kilometres from Johannesburg – a selection of fabulous productions on offer at G-town will travel those 969 kms all the way to J-burg so those that didn’t make it get to have their peice of the festival in Joburg!!!”
The 969 Festival 2006
Kicking yourself for having missed the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown? Don’t worry, the Wits Theatre can remedy that.
Fresh from the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown, we bring you:THE 969 FESTIVAL 2006
[ 969 kilometres from Grahamstown to Johannesburg ]
from 18 – 29 July 2006
The 969 Festival provides an extended run for Joburg-based productions that have had a successful run at the NAF, Grahamstown. Following the successes of the 2004 and 2005 969 Festivals, the 969 Festival 2006 returns to the Wits Theatre Complex with seven hot new productions fresh from the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. Not to be missed!
The 969 Festival provides an extended run for Joburg-based productions that have had a successful run at the NAF, Grahamstown. Following the successes of the 2004 and 2005 969 Festivals, the 969 Festival 2006 returns to the Wits Theatre Complex with seven hot new productions fresh from the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown. Not to be missed!The 969 Festival 2006 is hosted by Wits Performing Arts and is generously sponsored by the City of Joburg.
The exciting 2006 969 Festival line-up includes the following:
Downstairs Theatre; COUPý – presented by The Fortune Cookie Theatre Company, directed by Sue Pam – Grant; ” The magic of trains, the sound of them churning in the darkness, this exhilarating experience we call a journey. are the visions that beckoned to me.” The cast includes Sylvaine Strike (Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winner for Drama, 2006), Brian Webber, Gerard Bester and Toni Morkel; music composed by Philip Miller Opening of ‘Coupý’ and launch of the 969 Festival, Tuesday 18 July at 18h30; all other performances are at 19h00; run ends Saturday 29 July (no performance on Sunday 23 July).
Amphitheatre; Untouchable Productions presents HERO – a new work created by Stuart Stobbs, Craig Morris and Andrew Buckland. Directed by Andrew Buckland and performed by physical theatre performer Craig Morris – ” Evil is attacking the City of Gold and stalking its citizens indiscriminately. Will the Fris Four, led by Captain Bliksem, be able to save them? A heroic, physical hour of fun!”. Tuesday 18 July – Saturday 22 July at 20h30
Amphitheatre; WE SHALL SING FOR THE FATHERLAND – written by Zakes Mda and directed by Michael Matsie. Written in the early 70’s by a young Zakes Mda, We Shall Sing For The Fatherland is about power and collective responsibility as opposed to personal struggle. Michael Matsie is a WSOA 4th year drama student majoring in Television and Drama, he has worked in Finland on Beyond Stereotypes , stage managed Love Crime and Johannesburg at Wits Theatre and I Mike What I Like at the State Theatre; he was also lighting designer for the Actor’s Centre’s Shakespeare Festival. We Shall Sing For The Fatherland is Michael’s first full length play that he is directing. The cast includes Thabo Mongane (WSOA drama graduate) , Wesley Makgamatha (BADA II) and Tshepiso Konopi (WSOA drama graduate). Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 July at 20h30
The Nunnery; Ecce Homo! by Tim Miller (USA); adapted and performed by Ashraf Johaardien; directed by Neville Engelbrecht. Ecce Homo is based o the work of internationally acclaimed performance artist Tim Miller. The play charts the sexual, spiritual and political topography of contemporary gay identity. Fresh from it’s premiýre at the NAF, Grahamstown, this risquý performance piece is lyrical yet edgy and sparkles with beautiful words and striking imagery. Friday 21 July at 20h00
The Nunnery; Salaam, written and performed by Ashraf Johaardien; directed by Neville Engelbrecht. Salaam is an enchanting tapestry that effortlessly weaves storytelling, humour, politics and the history of the Cape Muslim community into compelling and entertaining theatre. Following a recent premiýre in London earlier this year, the play features playwright and performer Ashraf Johaardien in an all-new solo performance based on his award-winning play. Saturday 22 July at 20h00
The Nunnery; DOUBLE BILL: From Nowhere. conceived and directed by Jayne Batzofin (BADA IV), ” a simple tale with a big heart and a magical soul’, [and] Sunday written and directed by Gordon Lindsay (BADA IV); “a lighthearted look into the complexities of relationships between men and women.” The Double Bill: From Nowhere. and Sunday, the Wits School of Arts’ official entry into the National Festival of Students Drama, Grahamstown, returns to Johannesburg. Tuesday 25 – Saturday 29 July at 20h15
The Nunnery; THE VERY NEXT BREATH . a contemporary morality tale directed by Paul Noko (a new young director from Soweto) and workshopped by the cast (Market Theatre Laboratory students; the company of The Very Next Breath graduates at the end of 2006) “From the very first breath you take until the last, you obey one instinct: to survive! Every second counts. What would you do to survive? “. The production is facilitated by Daniel Buckland, Dan Robbertse and Monde Mayephu. Monday 24 – Saturday 29 July at 18h00
Tickets for ‘Coupý’, ‘Hero’ and ‘We Shall Sing For The Fatherland’ are R 50.00 (full price); R 30,00 for students, scholars, pensioners and block bookings of ten or more.. Tickets for ‘Ecce Homo’, ‘Salaam’,’The Very Next Breath’ and the ‘Double Bill: From Nowhere. [and] Sunday’ are R 30,00 (full price); R 20,00 for students, scholars, pensioners, block bookings of ten or more. Book at Computicket. For more information contact: Cathy Pisanti 011 717 1376 or email
********************************************
JULY 2005
What a stunning concept – the National Arts festival is held in Grahamstown which is 969 Kilometres from Johannesburg – 8 new fabulous productions on offer at G-town will travel those 969 kms all the way to J-burg so those that didn’t make it get to have their peice of the festival in Joburg!!!
COMPETITION!
We have apair of tickets to give away to each of the shows at the WITS complex. Please send an email to Editista and tell us the name of the show you would like to watch. Answer this question: Name the three main venues hosting the 969 festival. Please include your name and contact details in the mail.
The 969 Festival
(969 kilometres from Grahamstown to Johannesburg)
The festival is Bigger and Better than before with three venues instead of one:
The Wits Theatre Complex, The Market Theatre and the Dance Factory:
14 – 24 July 2005.
In 2004 the 969 Festival was a joint venture between Wits Theatre and City of Joburg and following the success of the first 969 Festival, which played to full houses, the 969 Festival 2005 (supported by City of Joburg EDU, Johannesburg Development Agency and Arts Alive), returns to Johannesburg with eight new productions hot from the Grahamstown National Arts Festival.
The 2005 969 Festival line-up includes the following:
The Wits Theatre Complex:
Andile Yenana, Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winner 2005 for Jazz (piano), in two shows only, Friday 15 & Saturday 16 July @ 7pm in the Wits Theatre.
Andile will perform his own material, notable for its evocative, soulful power and showcasing the sensitivity of his touch.
The Travellers, presented by the Fortune Cookie Theatre Company and directed by Sylvaine Strike in the Wits Downstairs Theatre, 19 – 23 July @ 7pm, featuring Toni Morkel, Daniel Buckland and Shelley Meskin.
On the tiniest stage in an abandoned world, three travelling players strut and fret, surviving the apocalypse through magic, illusion and delusion. The producers of ‘Black and Blue’ bring you this miniature delight whose magnitude is sure to capture your heart!
Mampatile, written and directed by Tsepo Wa Mamatu (best remembered as Tebza from Yizo Yizo 3), in the Nunnery, Wits, 19 – 23 July @ 7pm (featuring a young and energetic cast from the Wits School of Arts).
‘Mampatile’ challenges traditional roles, placing the spotlight on a domestic servant and his employer, ten years into the South African democracy; the ultimate question ‘Mampatile’ asks, ten years later, is “whose side are you on?”.
Not The Princess, written and directed by Megan Godsell and selected as the official Wits School of Arts’ entry into the National Festival of Student Drama, Grahamstown, returns to the Wits Amphitheatre, 19 – 23 July @ 7pm.
Not The Princess is a collection of fairytales in which women rescue themselves rather than succumb to the stereotype of ‘damsels in distress’. The play speaks of the great strength needed to be a whole woman, in the fairytale world and in the real world.
Market Theatre:
Hostile Takeover written by Mike van Graan (‘Green Man Flashing’), directed by Malcolm Purkey. With Lindelani Buthelezi, Mpho Molepo and Martin Le Maitre.
The Barney Simon Theatre, 12 – 24 July @ 20h15
After the tremendous success of ‘Green Man Flashing’, The Market Theatre is proud to present the brand new Mike van Graan political thriller. ‘Hostile Takeover’ promises to provoke and intrigue. It is a brilliant and witty drama written in a style uniquely South African. When the smooth young businessman enters, the drama takes an unexpected turn, which will provoke many a post-performance discussion.
Hoot written and directed by Geraldine Naidoo and featuring Matthew Ribnick (‘Chilli Boy’).
The Laager, 20 – 24 July @ 20h15
‘Hoot’ is the colourful journey of a rich white man who loses everything and ends up becoming a min-bus taxi driver. The play is a cross-cultural comedy of epic proportions focusing on a white man in an unfamiliar ‘un-white’ world. Matthew Ribnick brings a cast of over twenty characters to life in this humorous play.
The Toilet written by Peter Ngwenya and Bongani Linda
Cast: Smangele Mbatha, Nokwanda Sikotoyi, Moitheri Pheto, Nomsa Buthelezi and Sibusiso Skhakhane
The Laager, 13 – 17 July @ 20h15
‘The Toilet’ is a fun, realistic play that delves into the lives of four schoolgirls. A fast-paced gripping story that gets your attention from the very first line, it is set in a high school girls’ change room, one of the most visited places in the school for these four young girls. With strong characters and authentic stories that deal with real issues, such as peer pressure, drug abuse, unprotected sex, illicit affairs, HIV/Aids and other problems that all teenage girls go through.
The Dance Factory:
PJ Sabbagha, Standard Bank Young Artist Award Winner 2005 for Dance, presents his newest work, Petra, a compelling dance theatre performance created in collaboration with Jennifer Ferguson, Athena Mazarakis, Craig Morris and Dawid Minnaar, .
Friday 15 July at 19H30; Saturday 16 July at 18H00, Sunday 17 July at 14H30
For more information contact:
The Wits Theatre Complex: Cathy Pisanti 717-1376
The Dance Factory: Yongama Magida 833-1347
The Market Theatre: Lusanda Zokufa 832-1641
—–
