Those who can’t make the 969km trek to the Grahamstown National Arts Festival needn’t fret: the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) 969 Festival will soothe the souls of culture vultures stuck at home during the holidays.
The 969, held at the Wits Theatre in Braamfontein from 15 to 27 July, promises a great line-up, boasting some of top drama acts from Grahamstown. Tickets are great value at R50 online and this year’s programme offers audiences the opportunity to see as many as three shows per evening.
The worldwide hit The Three Pigs starring Rob van Vuuren, James Cairns and Albert Pretorius will be in the line-up with Tara Notcutt’s brilliant Last Rounds. Whistlestop features Jaques de Silva and Ameera Patel hesitantly looking for love, and Amateur Hour directed by John Trengove and featuring Jemma Kahn and Glen Biderman Pam pokes fun at show business. Solo performances sear the soul in Phillippa Yaa de Villiers’ Original Skin and Complex directed by Sylvaine Strike and featuring Melville’s Daniel Buckland. As if that isn’t enough, there’s also Jenine Collocott’s Hamlet, and the official entry to the National Arts Student Festival showcasing the extraordinary talents of Wits School of Arts students Maid in Mzansi. Emmarentia’s Nadine Joseph stars in a show called Ndihambile.
And these are just some of the spectacular plays on offer.
Saturday mornings are all about the kids with Colours of the Rainbow with Princess and Frog, Narrative Dreams written by Lereko Mfono and directed by Omphile Molusi, and A Girl Called Owl starring Briony Horwitz and written by Jon Keevy.
*Bookings can be made online on www.webtickets.co.za.
Ticket enquiries can be directed to Catherine Pisanti on catherine.pisanti@wits.ac.za.
