July 11, 2005
By Buhle Makabane
AS THE curtain closes on the Grahamstown Festival, the best of the shows start a 969km trip north to Johannesburg, to give the city's theatregoers a taste of the annual winter event.
The 969 Festival, supported by the City of Johannesburg through its economic development unit, the Johannesburg Development Agency and Arts Alive, runs from 14 to 24 July.
Launched last year, the festival has expanded for its second running, with performances taking place at three venues, namely The Wits Theatre complex, the Market Theatre complex and the Dance Factory.
Malcolm Purkey, the artistic director at the Market Theatre, says the City's support is highly prized and the spin-off from the funding will have a positive effect on the production of artistic work.
"The financial support afforded to us will go a long way in making the festival a success. The festival generates a lot of work opportunities for individuals in the city and helps to develop talent. The Market Theatre is very pleased with the partnership."
Andile Yenana, the winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz in 2005, performs twice - on 15 and 16 of July at 7pm in the Wits Theatre.
On at the smaller Wits Downstairs Theatre on the 19 to 23 July at 7pm, is the play Travellers. Presented by the Fortune Cookie Theatre Company, it is directed by Slyvaine Strike.
Mampatile, which challenges traditional roles, places the spotlight on a domestic servant and his employer, 10 years into democracy. Written and directed by Tsepo Wa Mamatu, best known as Tebza from Yizo Yizo 3, it is on at the Nunnery at the Wits Theatre complex from 19 to 23 July at 7pm.
Over at the Wits Amphitheatre, catch Not The Princess, a collection of fairy tales in which women rescue themselves rather than succumb to the stereotype of damsels in distress. It is written and directed by Megan Godsell and is showing from 19 to 23 July at 7pm.
The Market Theatre shows Hostile Takeover, written by Mike Van Graan and directed by Malcolm Purkey. It stars Lindelani Buthelezi, Mpho Molepo and Martin Le Maitre. Watch Hostile Takeover at the Barney Simon Theatre from 12 to 24 July at 8.15pm.
Role-swopping is a standard comedy device, used in Hoot. It follows the colourful journey of a rich white man who loses everything and ends up as a mini-bus taxi driver. Taking an unfamiliar look at a white man, it focuses on stereotypes and crossing cultures. It is in the Laager from 20 to 24 July at 8.15pm.
Don't let the name put you off: The Toilet is a fun, realistic play that looks at the lives of four schoolgirls. A fast-paced, gripping story that gets your attention from the first line, it is set in a high school girls' changing room, one of the most visited places in the school.
It relies on strong characters and authentic stories that deal with real issues faced by teens today, like peer pressure, drug abuse, unprotected sex, illicit affairs and HIV\Aids. The Toilet is in the Laager on 13 to 17 July at 8.15pm.
This year's winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Dance, PJ Sabbagha, presents his newest work at the Dance Factory at 7.30pm on 15 July and 6pm on 16 July. A compelling dance theatre performance, it features Jennifer Ferguson, Athena Mazarakis, Craig Morris and David Minnaar.
Award-winning choreographer PJ Sabbagha's latest work Petra is at the Dance Factory
Tickets for all performances are available from Computicket, and cost R50, or R20 for students and pensioners.
For those culture lovers who did not make it to Grahamstown this year, the days are drawing closer for the 969 Festival. It might be just the remedy for you.
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