Arts writer
VISITORS TO this year’s 2015 Voorkamerfest can expect everything from rap to jazz, poetry, stand-up comedy, drama, dance and classical music. All this creative fare will once again be produced in Darling’s residents’ lounges.
This one-of-a-kind arts festival, now in its 12th year, will be spread across the picturesque West Coast town from September 4 to 6. The Voorkamerfest will see punters buying tickets for a particular route and then transported by minibus taxis into the living rooms (or voorkamers) of people in the village’s community for a succession of “lucky packet” productions.
Although the productions they will be seeing are a surprise, the good news is that the array of performers and productions lined up is a varied and eclectic one, with international artists joining their South African counterparts for a true potjiekos of the arts.
Considering that the Voorkamerfest was initiated by Dutch producers Wim Visser and Inge Bos, in conjunction with famous Darling resident Pieter-Dirk Uys and the local community, it is fitting that there is again a strong Dutch presence at the festival this year.
Well-known Matzer Theatre Productions company from the Netherlands is bringing six different short plays to the 2015 Voorkamerfest. These intimate 30-minute productions are based on six of the seven deadly sins (the seventh one will premiere next year), a prominent theme in the work of Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch. In 2016, the town of ’s-Hertogenbosch (also known as Den Bosch), where the Matzer drama company is based, will commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of its most famous son.
The short plays (performed in English) that are travelling to the Voorkamerfest include the international premiere of Pillow Talk(about lust), as well as Punishment(envy), Lazy(sloth), T he Red Shoes(greed), Augustus(pride) and Sweet Revenge(wrath).
The shows’ cast includes Louis d’Or winner Peter de Graef and Theo d’Or nominee Wendell Jaspers. These are the highest possible awards for male and female actors in the Netherlands.
Matzer founder and artistic director Madeleine Matzer will also be giving drama workshops to local youngsters during the company’s Western Cape tour, which will include performances in Khayelitsha and Prince Albert.
Also from the Netherlands is blues-folk singer Emmelie Zipson, who will put her distinctive spin on an array of musical favourites long with musicians Gerrit de Boer on guitar, banjo and vocals and Gerben Klein Willink on brass.
Plus, Dutch filmmaker, musician and raconteur Leon Giesen’s show Mondo Leone will combine storytelling with projections and music.
Audiences can also enjoy world music from the Dutch province of Friesland with Souldada – five musicians who will perform South African writer Carina Stander’s poem Watervolk in the Frysian language.
Local music productions and artists on the programme include Abavuki, who play jazz on marimba; the Appassionato Quartet featuring Liesl Stoltz on flute, Hilary Mohr on oboe, Justin Carter on clarinet and José Dias on piano; former Freshlyground songwriter Aron Ha’Levi, joined by Ariella Caira on cello and Ronan Skillen on percussion; Caroline and Julie Blundell, famous sisters singing original folk-inspired music for strings and voice; rising young opera tenor Makudupanyane Senaoana, accompanied by Philippus Hugo on piano; young violinist Samantha Durrant; rapper HemelBesem; singer-songwriter Julian Wenn; Cleo Raatus and Tanks Mamabolo, who will perform songs from musicals; and performances by Dizu Plaatjies’ music students.
Local poetry will be presented by poet Petra Müller. Comics handling the funny side of things include Kagiso “KG” Mokgadi and Nina Hastie.
Well-known entertainer Godfrey Johnson will perform his Nijinsky portrait Vaslav(directed by Lara Bye). Nicholas Ellenbogen’s Theatre for Africa will also appear and Hazel Hinda (from Namibia) will stage her play She Used to Live Here.
For dance productions, expect work by Dance Connection, a collaboration between Dance Forum from South Africa and ISH from the Netherlands featuring dancers and choreographers Fana Tshabalala, Thulani Chauke and Anna Maria Suijkerbuijk
The festival hub will once again be Evita se Perron, Evita Bezuidenhout’s residence, where festinos can gather to purchase their tickets, leave on their routes and sample the local market with its array of food, crafts, beers and wines – something Darling is renowned for.
There will be four different time slots during the weekend, and there are seven routes with 21 performances in total, offering an exciting mix of performances catering for all tastes.
Transport to and between venues will be undertaken by local taxis, which adds to the charm of this intimate village arts festival.
l Tickets and times: For the Friday events: R195 at 5pm. On the Saturday: R235 at 12pm and 5pm. On the Sunday: R235 at 12pm. The festival will end with a free concert in Darling East at 4pm on the Sunday. Book: 082 321 7542, bookings@voorkamerfest -darling.co.za Info: www.darling -voorkamerfest.co.za, or www.dar lingtourism.co.za For more information, follow on twitter @voorkamer fest. Facebook: Darling Voorkamer fest