With just 7 days to go – there’s lots to look forward to at the 50th National Arts Festival!
The sociable weaver nest grows bigger and stronger each day as hundreds of birds work together to co-create their home. As South Africa’s longest-running and most diverse arts festival, the National Arts Festival provides a platform to co-create our future nation.
Our 50th festival will feature a diversity of works across language and genre. From familiar favourites to ambitious new ideas, and over 200 options to choose from, there is something for everyone on the programme.
Find new favourites on the Fringe
An uncurated platform open to artists from anywhere in the world to present work across any genre, language, format or content, the Fringe programme has been the launch pad for countless artists’ careers over the years. Each year it sees artists bringing new work and fresh ideas to the stage.
This year’s Fringe programme is no different. From cutting-edge theatre works like the Billy Langa-directed Mehlala and Sophie Joans’ mother-daughter drama Dog Rose and her new solo show AÏo, to the irreverent and outrageous crowd-favourite The Agents (presented by Robaby Productions), there’s no shortage of great theatre in this year’s programme.
For something for the family, the Eastern Cape’s Sonwa Sakuba Institute offers Disney’s Moana JR or settle in for fantastical shows like Makhanda Players and Révan Productions’ The Three Witches and Mixed Media’s The Tower and the Tree. Families should also be sure not to miss an extraordinary trip to the circus with Afronauts (presented by Circus Zambia and Wake the Beast in collaboration with Barefeet). Find Afronautson the Curated Programme.
Brendon Peel’s bringing the magic, Pichi Keane’s back with a brand-new drag cabaret, and that’s not even mentioning the dance, music, and theatre offerings on this year’s Fringe.
Digging deep: Visual art at the Festival
From new solo and group exhibitions, public art showcases, independent art spaces, to art talks and more, the visual arts programme at the 2023 Festival explores past, present and future.
Izandi Zemilambo Yabo Kuthi / The Sounds of Their Rivers in Us is Mandla Mbothwe’s tribute to departed artists through a sacred space and multi-sensory experience.
Nature is Louder activates Makhanda’s public spaces with collaborative, site-specific murals by a dynamic crew of Makhanda-based artists led by Mook Lion.
Mattering: 50 Years of The National Arts Festival explores and activates five decades of National Arts Festival archives.
Ghostprints for the Abyssal Plains / The Abyssal Zone is a new project by artist Christine Dixie, with sound installation by Corinne Cooper, installed in the depths of the Monument.
Weg Wysers duur die Blinkuur is 2023 Standard Bank Young Artist for Visual Art, Stephané Conradie’s solo exhibition exploring the tension and beauty of intergenerational rituals and practices of the every day.
In conversation: Four Decades of Artworks by current and former staff of the Rhodes University Fine Art Department draws from Rhodes University’s extensive art collection.
Talking Loud is an exciting new group exhibition of young artists commenting on the perceptions and expectations of their generation.
Looking for a laugh?
From stand-up shows and improv comedy nights, to open-mics, multi-act line-ups and satirical theatre shows, this year’s Festival is bringing the laughs.
Dalin Oliver, Kagiso Mokgadi, Kate Pinchuck, Conrad Koch and Khanyisa Bunu are just a few of the must-see stand-up shows on this year’s programme, while Namaste Bae, by festival regular Rob van Vuuren, and Macbob Productions’ Mr and Mrs Normal combine comedy and theatre for audiences to enjoy.
The ever-popular Very Big Comedy Show is back this year, as is Raunchy Renditions, the sex-positive storytelling platform that’ll have you in stitches.
And for all the true-crime fans, there’s even Butlers and Bellboys, a murder-mystery comedy where the audience decides who lives… and who dies!
