As we move into the last few days of the National Arts Festival we are asking (as we usually do at this
point) whether Fest has been a success or not, and as usual it is a question of perspective.
As we move into the last few days of the National Arts Festival we are asking (as we usually do at this
point) whether Fest has been a success or not, and as usual it is a question of perspective.
Was it a success, and if so, from whose point of view? Supporters will argue that it has been an amazing success because of certain remarkable performances of the highest order.
Indeed, there have been a number of plays, dance performances and music shows that compare favourably with the best ever and these shows have been packed to capacity almost every day since the Festival started.
On the other hand, critics say that Fest has fallen short of expectations because some performances have played for almost empty theatres.
Dissatisfied traders will also argue that their sales figures are down on last year because there have not been that many people around.
They say that even if their sales are the same as in recent years, their expenses have been greater because they have had to keep their businesses running for 15 instead of ten days.
Part of the problem could be attributed to the disappointing number of foreign soccer tourists coming to the Festival.
At a performance in a packed Guy Butler Theatre, renowned conductor, Richard Cock asked foreigners among the more than 900-strong audience to raise their hands.
Everyone was surprised to learn that there were less than half a dozen foreigners present. It may be true that there were others who did not see any good reason to advertise their presence, but the point is that there really haven’t been an unusually high number of foreigners at the current edition of our Festival.
It may be that traders who are doing well have been too busy to complain, while those who have not enjoyed a steady flow of customers have had plenty of time to grumble about their situation.
There are also people who feel that moving the Village Green further up the hill has done little to improve the racial harmony of the Festival, and of Grahamstown.
