Durban — Bookings have opened for the 32nd annual Hilton Arts Festival (HAF) at Hilton College, outside Pietermaritzburg, from August 2 to 4.
“The Hilton Arts Festival is so much more than a drama festival,” says the festival’s artistic director, Sue Clarence.
“There’s comedy, music, theatre and magic, the largest visual art exhibition in KZN, exciting arts-related workshops, fun activities and shows for kids, more than 100 makers in the upmarket craft area, Retro Rides Revival display of classic cars and, as always, the food offering at the festival is a smorgasbord of tastes and cuisines.
“There’s also loads of free music and street theatre to ensure that there’s never a dull moment.
“Our aim is to bring the pick of SA theatre to KZN over the weekend and this year’s exciting line-up, at 15 different venues, ticks all the boxes.
“Confirmed shows include the celebratory coming of age story, Born Naked; My Fellow South African, a multi-sketch revue by award-winning playwright Mike van Graan; My Name is Lucy Barton will have its South African premiere at the festival. Paul Slabolepszy’s The Return of Elvis Du Pisanie is a story that moves from pure nostalgia, through extreme heartache, to unbridled joy and Vincent, a musical tale of Van Gogh performed by the award-winning Daniel Anderson.
“The Cirq, who brought the hugely popular Urban Circus, with its spectacular acrobatics, to last year’s festival, is back in 2024 with World’s Away and festival-goers are guaranteed the same high energy and high jinks.”
Musical highlights include performances by the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, as well as Crocodile Rock, a tribute to Elton John; Gimme One Reason, the Tracy Chapman story; Growing Old Disgracefully, a cabaret piece by Tonya Koenderman Cabaret and a music revue by father and daughter internet sensations, Adrian and EmmaJean Galliard, Striking A Chord.
In addition to the main festival, there’s a school programme called Jongosi, a word coined and given by Johnny Clegg to the festival, embodying all that is strong and young.
Focused on the youth, Jongosi offers lectures, performances and workshops to over 2000 pupils from Grades 7 to 12, encouraging artistic endeavour, art appreciation and education.
Must-see show recommendations from top SA theatre personalities:
ISMAIL MAHOMED
Director: Centre for Creative Arts, University of KwaZulu-Natal
“The Hilton Arts Festival remains one of my favourite South African arts festivals. Every production on the programme is curated by Sue Clarence, with her superb eye for artistic excellence, quality entertainment and the production’s potential to inspire, challenge or reflect on our lives.
“The festival is a barometer of some of the best and most successful award-winning productions created by our nation’s talented artists.
“Among my ‘do not miss’ list this year are: The King of Broken Things, The Return of Elvis Du Pisanie, Vincent, Pieces of Me, My Name is Lucy Barton and Born Naked.”
JANICE HONEYMAN
Playwright, director, author and artist
“Hilton always promises to be a stimulating and enjoyable weekend – seeing old theatre buddies, noticing new, young emerging talent, hearing interesting discussions and opinions There’s always a selection of quality theatre to choose from.
“The King of Broken Things comes highly recommended. Daniel Anderson’s Vincent is a definite. The Red Balloon is a must-see. Carol Preston’s My Name Is Lucy Barton sounds intriguing, as does 2 Lovers and The Return of Elvis Du Pisanie.
“This year I’ll be doing a ‘bio-natter’ Against All Odds, which is an admission of my incurable addiction to a long and happy life in the theatre, and a storytelling session of my own stories, Under The Tell-Tale Tree, with my own drawings to help the audience’s imagination.
“For the first time, I’m trying out a Print Exhibition of my Artworks, well known by all my Facebook buddies, but never seen by the public until now. I’d not really refer to myself as a ‘fine-artist’ but come to the Art Tent to see for yourself.
MIKE VAN GRAAN
Playwright and director
Commenting on the evolution of his award-winning show My Fellow South Africans, Van Graan says: “The nature of satire is that it comments on contemporary issues. Ours is a country that keeps on giving, so over the last 15 months the show has been running, we’ve updated, thrown out and included new sketches.
“We planned the show to run till the elections as our very modest contribution to the debates that would shape how people voted. But since then, there have been so many dramatic changes that we’re evolving the show to My Fellow Coalition Partners.
“I’ve seen and can strongly recommend The Return of Elvis Du Pisanie, The King of Broken Things and Pieces of Me. Works I’m looking forward to seeing because of their reputations or because of my high regard for those involved in the production include Vincent, Mr & Mrs Normal, 2 Lovers and My Name is Lucy Barton.”
STEVEN STEAD
Director
“Top of my list of things to see is Daniel Buckland’s new Urban Circus physical theatre piece, World’s Away, which will be a visceral, spectacular show, full of daring physicality and exciting dynamics. I thoroughly enjoyed their last production, which gives an audience a theatrical experience with lots to think about, as well as jaw-dropping, circus-style stunts.
“And four one-man shows that I highly recommend: Ashley Dowds in Paul Slabolepsky’s The Return of Elvis Du Pisanie. I’m sure Ashley Dowds will inject it with some grit and charm, and it will be well worth experiencing.
“Then, Julie-Anne Hegarty is starring in the South African premiere of My Name is Lucy Barton, directed by Charmaine Weir-Smith. Julie-Anne is a sensitive, talented actress who is always a pleasure to watch.
“I have seen Daniel Anderson’s one-man cabaret, Vincent, twice, and been blown away by the inventiveness of his musical choices, and his vocal ability and general sensitivity. It’s a show that shouldn’t work at all, being a biography of a tortured, suicidal artists told through pop and show songs, but it really does work.
“Finally, Bo Peterson stars in Pieces of Me, which is a fascinating and sometimes uncomfortably honest examination of racial identity and family (she discovered her father was not white when she was 19 years old), which will have audiences thinking and feeling long after the hour they are lucky enough to spend in her company.”
Bookings via Webtickets on https:// bit.ly/3PMbF6i
Entrance for the weekend is R100, valid for three days. See the full programme at www.hiltonfestival.co.za
Independent on Saturday