13-08-2014: Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival Electrifies Joburg with Theatre!
From one man shows to ensemble pieces; musical delights to dance, the 2014 Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival (JAAIF)’s theatre programme boasts an eclectic mix of local and international productions with themes that celebrate the human spirit.
The programme also promotes artistic synergy with a showcase of works from established and young artists.
With performances happening at the Market Theatre in Newtown, the Joburg Theatre in Braamfontein, the Auto & General Theatre on the Square in Sandton and the Thusong Youth Centre in Alexandra, the variety offers a chance to indulge your cultural tastes in the different corners of the bustling Joburg city.
“We at Joburg Theatre are delighted to be ‘joining hands’ this September with the Market Theatre, Auto & General Theatre on the Square and Thusong Youth Centre in celebrating the excitement of ARTS ALIVE 2014 throughout our complexes,” says Bernard Jay, Executive Producer at Joburg Theatre. “Our institutions exist for the same principal purpose: that of entertaining and enriching the souls of Joburg’s diverse communities through the arts. There is nothing like the eclectic mix of programming each year from JAAIF to assist us all in fulfilling this mission.”
For a diaspora tone, the Joburg Theatre presents award winning American actor and playwright, Charles S Dutton’s renowned, one man play, From Jail to Yale: Serving Time on Stage in the Fringe Theatre. This autobiographical story traces Dutton’s time in prison where he discovered theatre. Dutton is a veteran actor with Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe nominations to his credit as well as films like Cry the Beloved Country and A Time To Kill. From Jail to Yale runs at the Joburg Theatre from September 3 to 6.
The Auto & General Theatre on the Square hosts 9 Parts of Desire by Heather Raffo which forms part of the Shared History Festival within the JAAIF. The internationally acclaimed one woman play, is based on playwright, Raffo’s visit to her father’s homeland, Iraq. It follows the voices and lives of nine Iraqi women during the two gulf wars and examines their survival and how war shaped them. The play is directed by theatre and Bollywood star, Lillete Dubey and features her daughter, Ira. This is on from September 4 to 6.
At the Market Theatre there’s Dark Cell by Themba Mbuli; Lewis Nkosi’s Mating Birds, adapted and directed by Mpho Molepo; Venturing South by Jeff Tshabalala and Skierlik by Philip Dikotla.
“I have directed plays in the last two years of the Johannesburg Arts Alive International Festival and this time I wanted to hand over to other directors. Together we have come up with theatre pieces that talk to each. And with the 20 years of freedom it’s important to create dialogue,” says Market Theatre Artistic Director, James Ngcobo.
Fresh from showing his work at the National Arts festival in Grahamstown, choreographer, Mbuli explores the mind as man’s worst prison with his powerful dance piece. Using imagery of ex-political prisoners on Robben Island, Dark Cell works with the concept of a prison cell as a metaphor for mental imprisonment.
Mpho Molepo has adapted Lewis Nkosi’s iconic novel with a contemporary eye. Set in Durban in the 50s, it’s the story of young South African black man obsessed with an English girl and is then accussed of raping her. The two hander features seasoned theatre actors, Sputla Sebogodi and Martin Le Maitre who haven’t been seen together since Paul Slabolepszy’s Mooi Street Moves.
Mating Birds and Dark Cell run at the Market Theatre as a double bill from September 4 –7.
Phillip Dikotla and Jeff Tshabala are young artists to watch. Tshabalala is enjoying artistic residency at the Market Theatre. Dikotla received the Arts and Culture Trust (ACT) 2012 Impact Award for theatre and the 2014 Fleur du Cap, Best Performance for his award winning play Skierlik, It was awarded Best production at the 2013 Zabalaza Festival. Skierlik the production, is derived from the horrific events that occurred in the North West informal settlement called, Skierlik, just outside Ventersdorp. 17 year old Johan Nel shot and killed four people including a four month old infant and injuring eight others in a manic shooting spree in January 2008.
Skierlik and Venturing South are at the Market Theatre Lab as a double bill from September 5 – 7.
The Thusong Youth Centre in Alexandra hosts the fourth annual Theatre Night in partnership with the JAAIF, boasting a vibrant mix of theatre, music and comedy.
“The Alex Theatre Night is a true reflection of how rich we are as a society in terms of arts and culture. It sees the coming together of Alexandra artists celebrating their achievements through this platform,” says Twilight Theatre programme director, Thabo Makgaretsa.
For one night only on September 5, you can look forward to live music by legendary Caiphus Semenya; a musical theatre production called Via Alex and comedy from leading vernacular comic, Mashabela Galane.
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