The Hilton Arts Festival, KwaZulu-Natal’s premier arts festival, will mark its 30th anniversary this year with its first live event in two years.
The festival will be held from September 23 to 25 at Hilton College.
Since 1993, the festival has showcased theatre, dance, music, comedy, fine art and craft.
Sue Clarence, the festival’s artistic director, said over 2020 and 2021 they presented the festival virtually.
“We have had two bleak years, but we are back with the pick of SA theatre, a wide variety of music, comedy, drama, visual art exhibitions and a curated quality craft market. The impact of Covid on both the arts and eventing industries has been devastating, but recovery is now on the way and I am confident we will have a great event.”
Clarence said they got the live event on track courtesy of their sponsors and the public.
“The public are clamouring for it to happen and the determination of the arts world not to remain in the ashes but to rise like the proverbial phoenix. The festival is almost as big as it was in 2019, but also different.
“We are increasingly adding lifestyle and free events to the menu to satisfy the many people who arrive for the non-ticketed events. This year will see a wine tasting on the Saturday, an extensive birding experience and outdoor yoga. There is plenty of live music, good food, and a big screen to watch the rugby Test match on Saturday.”
She said as the artistic director of the event since 1993, she strived to ensure there was something for everyone.
“There is serious drama, physical theatre, comedy, musical theatre, arts-related talks and a curated exhibition. We are proud to host the internationally-acclaimed ‘Mandela: A Life’s Journey’ by John Meyer and supported by The Mandela Foundation.”
Clarence said there were a number of highlights on the programme.
“I would suggest nobody miss ‘Firefly’, starring Andrew Buckland; ‘Urban Circus’, based on the incredible Cirque du Soleil style; ‘The Last Five Years’, a real musical.
“For lovers of serious theatre, be sure to see ‘Ubuntu Bill, At All Costs’ and ‘Whistleblowers’. There is a wide selection of musical theatre/cabaret type tributes: ‘Eva Cassidy’, ‘Mad About the Boys’ (Coward, Novello and Porter) and ‘Vincent van Gogh’.
“Comedy is everywhere, including Aaron McIlroy’s ‘A Vegan Killed My Marriage’ as well as the ZAR Comedy Tent: John Vlismas, Alfred Adriaan, Rob van Vuuren.”
She said the financial impact of the festival coming back in full was huge.
“The festival employs about 100 casual labourers and, as a result of 25 000 people coming to the event, hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, etc, are all full to capacity. The festival alone books over 250 bed nights in the area.”
This year, there will be a charge for parking.
“It has been quite contentious. We hope the public will understand that we are without a headline sponsor, the festival is run by an NPO and it is not a money-spinner. To maintain the quality people have come to expect, we need finances.”
* Booking is through Quicket this year. The whole programme can be found on www.hiltonfestival.co.za
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