The 2023 Vrystaat Arts Festival makes a winter comeback, being held from Tuesday (11/07) to 15 July.
The theme for this year is “One festival. Many stories.”
Most of the events surrounding the festival are taking place at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Bloemfontein campus.
Lovers of the arts have the privilege to look forward to numerous theatre productions, telling rich South African stories touching on culture and heritage.
Among these fascinating productions are Echoes of Heritage, Barabbas and Dakie Vuka Emaqandeni.
The first is a body of eight original compositions and six arrangements that seek to narrate the importance of owning cattle and the significant role that owning cattle played in indigenous Africa. Through song, dance and narration, the choir will display some of the practices, ceremonies, and traditions through which cattle were at the centre of spiritual and economic activities. The songs in ten South African languages are performed in different traditional South African choral music styles.
InBarabbas, a debut production, a murderer and insurrectionist is set free from prison. He becomes a witness to the death of Jesus of Nazareth, who is crucified on the cross that was meant for himself. This is powerful musical theatre with Zane Meas in the lead, and music by Lizanne Barnard.
Dakie Vuka Emaqandeni is a National Arts Council (NAC) funded community theatre development project. Two community members face difficult circumstances in their daily lives, and they investigate the unwell environment, poverty, ill-perceptions, and political idealisms imposed on them and their community. They question the intentions and ideologies of authorities and society to shed light on the source of the social imbalances within their community, encouraging others to rise to their full potential.
Also featured are My kroon se krank and Fragmented, with women in the lead roles.
The latter involves a once silenced woman speaking out from a place unfamiliar to the rest of the world. Desperate to be heard, she takes us on a journey of what once was, and what could have been. This performance is one to look out for starring Jane Mpholo under the direction of Peter Taljaard.
In My kroon se krank, with Veronique Jephtas, Miss South Africa 2019 has been crowned as Miss Universe and natural hair is more in than ever. Auntie Pat, council member in the community, has to take new photos for her campaign. Roxanne, her baby, is busy opening a hair salon and also finding her roots, while confident Debbie begs them to be their natural selves. Three characters on a journey of renewal, repent and one of new beginnings.
