He’s back. Fans of long-time Grahamstown drama stalwart, Andrew Buckland, will be pleased to hear he will be treading the boards again in this year’s National Arts Festival, in the production The Harmful Effects of Tobacco.
He’s back. Fans of long-time Grahamstown drama stalwart, Andrew Buckland, will be pleased to hear he will be treading the boards again in this year’s National Arts Festival, in the production The Harmful Effects of Tobacco.
This production is one of a power-packed theatre programme this year, which includes a line-up of eight productions written, directed, or adapted by previous Standard Bank Young Artist winners. Together, they represent some of South Africa’s most contemporary and cutting-edge theatre-makers. Festival is proud to be staging: Lara Foot’s Fishers of Hope; Aubrey Sekhabi’s Marikana – The Musical; Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom’s Protest; Geoffrey Hyland directing Slowly; Marthinus Basson’s Macbeth.Slapeloos; and Princess Zinzi Mhlongo directing Cooking with Elisa.
The Programme also features exciting inter-genre collaborations such as Ubu and the Truth Commission – with original direction and animation by William Kentridge – and this revival directed by Janni Younge, and Cargo: Precious a unique collaboration between four Young Artist Award winners: director Sylvaine Strike, choreographer PJ Sabbagha, musician, Concord Nkabinde and dancer, Fana Tshabalala.
The work of accomplished director, Sylvaine Strike, comes into focus at the Festival this year, with her being named as the Featured Artist on the programme.
Since her first break-through at the National Arts Festival in 2002, Sylvaine Strike’s work has moved hearts and minds to earn her many accolades. Strike’s Featured Artist programme comprises five productions, namely Cargo: Precious on the Festival’s dance programme; On the Harmful Effects of Tobacco with Buckland, and the much-awaited return of Black and Blue, all on the Main Festival.
Two of her latest shows, Agreed and The God Complex appear on the Fringe Festival.
“Now, perhaps more than ever, the role of the artist in South Africa has reached a critical point and demands redefining: courage in the face of political, social and economical adversity; and producing work of high quality that cannot afford to compromise its purpose or voice on any level,” said Strike.
