Enjoy dance, music and theatre at the 969 Festival in Wits in Johannesburg
JOBURG – This promises to be an exciting year at Wits Theatre's 969 Festival as it celebrates its 14 birthday.
As always, the line-up at Wits 969 Festival is diverse and exciting with 28 theatre, dance and music productions that make time at the theatre memorable.
For audiences who love dance, they will not be disappointed with the stand-out line-up of dance performances at the festival. This year, the six remarkable productions that feature on Wit’s stage have been created by acclaimed choreographers, some even award-winning.
This year’s Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner Thandazile Radebe performs her stunning piece, Sabela, which explores the tension between one’s humanity, names and numbers, bodies and bio metrics, space and passwords, fantasy and reality. “Through our names we want to find out how it feels to be infinitely more complex than we are. Through our names we want to be free from ourselves and transcend through each other until we are one,” Radebe explained.
Another 2016 Standard Bank Ovation Award winner at 969 this year is Bailey Snyman who will present Burn which explores the tense relationship between earth and man, and how they hold each other ransom.
Award-winning dance company the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative will bring yet another striking production to the stage. With Nothing But Silence They Turned Their Bodies To Face The Noise (or Noise for short) is a response to the historically-dense present. It evokes the ‘slow rhythms of growth and decay’ around us and tackles the explosive issues of an imploding South Africa.
A 2017 Standard Bank Ovation Award winner Nijinsky’s War is a spectacular collaboration which combines both theatre and dance to draw parallels between Nijinsky, one of the world’s greatest dancers of all time, and acclaimed dancer and choreographer, Ignatius van Heerden.
Choreographer Dada Masilo’s Giselle promises to surprise audiences as she breaks away from the classic narrative and sets the piece in rural South Africa and explores traditional African rituals and ceremonies.
Vacuum generates impossible images and fantastic paintings – an interplay of bodies appearing and disappearing between black holes and dazzling lights.
The best part of the festival is that it offers a convenient way to experience a cross-section of South African talent. The programme has been specifically structured for theatre-goers to enjoy several theatre, dance and music shows in one evening with time for refreshments and drinks at the theatre bar.
Details: www.webtickets.co.za; yuhl.headman@wits.ac.za or bridget.vanoerle@witstheatre.co.za for bulk bookings.
Edited by Stacey Woensdregt
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