The first edition of Pacofs’ development art flagship programme is offering community theatre productions the opportunity to showcase local talent on a professional stage. The Yarona Arts Festival officially starts today, 1 February, and continues until Saturday, 3 February, at the Pacofs studio in Bloemfontein.
This three-day event is part of the entity’s ongoing Incubator Programme. It is the culmination of a boot camp that ended on Wednesday, 31 January. The festival is themed “Celebration of 30 Years of Democracy”. Its objective is two-fold: it aims at unearthing new, artistic talent in the community among the youth and improve the groups’ performances.
The various selected community theatre groups will be performing their own productions. The productions are Truth or Command (Thabo Mofutsanyana), Tyhila (Xhariep) Ngwana wa Sechaba (Mangaung), Ehostela, Lomgodi (Fezile Dabi), Behind the wall and Kubute (Lejweleputswa). They were chosen by professional theatre practitioners with expertise in production rehearsals, technical aspects, marketing, and performance.
Maseeta Makgabane, artistic director of Pacofs, said the groups’ performances are scheduled to run for six months, with facilitators engaging and capacitating the groups for seven days each month. Mentorship will focus on critical skills, arts administration, technical skills, performance practice, marketing, and design. The festival aims at promoting social cohesion, enhancing talent, creating an arts ecosystem, providing artistic opportunities, and contributing to education and skills development.
“The Incubator Programme is driven by multiple stakeholders and playhouses nationally. It aims at fostering the growth of multi-disciplined artists in various genres such as drama, music, and dance,” said Makgabane.
