Arts Writer
SOME of the innovations in this year’s Zabalaza Theatre Festival 2016 include a poetry show by Words of War, stand-up comedy performed by Amasokolari Township Comedy and many musical productions which theatregoers can take their pick of.
This sixth annual event of drama, poetry, hip hop, dance and musical theatre and physical theatre and theatre for children is being performed in five languages. Forty diverse productions will be showcased until Friday in all venues and spaces in the theatre complex. Shows run daily at 10am, 11.15am, 12.30pm, 3pm, 5pm, 6.30pm and 8pm.
Some of the productions in the Golden Arrow Studio include Endless End/Alunamda, Our Winds That Heal, Muzo Kraal, Ons Komvandaan, Tipex, Naked Truth / Uzalo and Andrea.
The Flipside will feature Flipside, Slavery at the Cape, I Can be Your Fairytale, Verlede op die Agtergrond, Ulwamvilo Lokufa, Silent Cries, Ezimpikweni and Ubuhle Bendalo ka Jehova.
Productions on The Masambe Theatre stage will range from Astonish to From Kulture 2 Town to Clown, Intact/Tainted Image, Repetwah and Raz M. The Zabalaza Theatre Festival Awards will be on Saturday at 1pm.
Khayalethu Anthony, who won the Fleur du Cap award for Best Performance in a review, cabaret or one-person show for The Champion, returns to the festival in a guest performance with his latest production Naked Truth.
An adaptation and translation of Janice Honeyman’s Bangalory’s Back, which was part of the Baxter’s festive season line-up, is also being staged.
Adapted and translated into isiXhosa by Zoleka Helesi, Amabali Ethu is the perfect show for young children and learners aged 5 to 12 and can be seen at 10am or 11.15am daily until Friday.
Zabalaza has given rise to great young stars that have graced the world’s stages in a short period, gathering accolades along the way, which include Fleur du Cap and Naledi awards for Khayalethu Anthony and Phillip Dikotla.
The core team behind the festival comprises artistic director Thami Mbongo, co-ordinator Zoleka Helesi, executive manager Bongile Mantsai, facilitator Mandisi Sindo and administrator Laura de Vos.
“Outreach into the communities is a key component of our ethos at Zabalaza,” says artistic director Mbongo. “All year round our team travels to various areas in this province and elsewhere in the country. We are committed to working closely with the artists and the communities, whether through the mini-festivals or simply through our many visits and viewing of theatrical creations by some overwhelmingly talented people. It is very rewarding.”
“Our full name Zabalaza Intsika eBaxter Theatre translated means: striving towards being a pillar of the Baxter Theatre Centre and striving towards success,” says Mantsai. “With these partnerships and cross-pollination of events, as well as the participation of the various artists, groups, guests and theatre-makers performing at this year’s festival, we hope to live up to these goals.”
l 0861 915 8000. Programme: www.baxter.co.za