Media release: 12 August 2009
Theatre takes centre stage at
2009 Arts Alive International Festival
This year's 2009 Arts Alive International Festival has a compelling theatre programme that delves into some fascinating subject matters and reaches into the far corners of Johannesburg.
Among the highlights are several productions coming off the very successful National Arts festival in Grahamstown, which form part of one of Arts Alive's "festival within a festival", the 969 Festival. 'Tsafendas', a penetrating look at Dimitri Tsafendas the man who assassinated Hendrik Verwoerd, The Wages of Sin, and the Magnet Theatre's 'Ngcwaba Lendoda Lise Cankwe Ndlela' ('The Grave Of The Man Is Next To The Road) are just some of the highlights of this jam-packed programme. The offerings from 969 also includes physical comedy, comedy, music and dance performances.
Another highlight is set to be 'Jozi Ma Sweetie'. Commissioned and produced by the University of Johannesburg, it is an original musical that pays tribute to the wiles and ways of Jozi and the women who have called her home.
Acclaimed musician/composer Rocco de Villiers conceptualised the show and composed and produced the music while the script is written by Emma Bekker. Directed by Alby Michaels, 'Jozi Ma Sweetie' is choreographed by Owen Lonzar and Marga Sander is in charge of the vocal direction. Jozi Ma Sweetie is staged from 16 September to 3 October 2009 at the UJ Arts Centre.
This year also sees Arts Alive partnering with the Southern African Theatre Initiative (SATI) for the Arts Alive Alternative Spaces initiative.
Billed as "a weekend of theatre" in Diepsloot, Soweto, Alexandra, and Orange Farm, Alternative Spaces is being driven by well-known actor, Mpho Molepo. The mini-festival will see auditions in these four regions of Jo'burg result in five performance pieces per region that will be staged in "alternative spaces" with lighting, staging, sound and seating to citizens of the region. The best of each region will go take part in an Alternative Spaces Township Theatre Revival main programme in the city.
For more information on the 2009 Arts Alive International Festival's theatre programme go to www.artsalive.co.za
Note to editor:
The 2009 Arts Alive International Festival is a project of the City of Joburg's Arts, Culture and Heritage department and is being staged by Zanusi Brand Solutions. Festival partners are the SABC, the National Arts Council, Wits University (Department of Humanities), Royal Thai Embassy, Austrian Embassy, Indian Embassy, Alliance Francaise, Soweto Festival, Johannesburg Festival of Shopping.
