Artscape festival celebrates women

Manila Von Teez will appear in the Absolutely Fabulously Drag show on Saturday July 27 supported by dancers from Jazzart Dance Theatre.

The 13th Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival is taking place from Saturday July 27 to Friday August 16.

There will be a programme of stage productions, workshops, films, exhibitions, discussions and talks that focus on issues relating to women.

It will include the Humanity Walk on Friday August 9 to commemorate Women’s Day. The walk starts at 8.45am at the Castle of Good Hope.

The line-up:

The festival starts with the Absolutely Fabulously Drag show on Saturday July 27. The Jazzart Dance Theatre team provides the choreography and the dancers for this show, which is on one night only. Camillo Lombard is in the musical director’s chair while Basil Appollis stitches it all together as the director. Tickets cost R150.

Theatre icon Sandra Prinsloo will take part in Kamphoer, which is based on the true story of Susan Nell who was raped and left for dead during the Anglo-Boer War. This stage production is an adaptation of Francois Smit’s award-winning novel of the same name. Kamphoer, directed by Lara Foot, runs from Tuesday August 6 to Friday August 9. Tickets cost R120.

Siphokazi Jonas directs The Widow, which runs from Wednesday August 7 to Saturday August 10. An adaptation of Dr Nomfundo Mali’s support group reports, The Widow is a series of monologues about how widows cope after the loss of their spouses. Tickets cost R80.

There will also be free interactive entertainment at the Artscape Theatre Complex on Women’s Day with free panel discussions and talks on various issues affecting women in South Africa. Most prominent features include the Black, White, Red & Yellow art exhibition comprising a colourful exploration of the life and times of Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, as well as health screenings for women.

The Artscape’s Resource Centre will be offering arts sector entrepreneurship workshops from Monday August 12 to Friday August 16, from 8.30am to 4pm.

“I cannot be prouder of this year’s all-encompassing programme. The Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival is a dedication to all women – young and old, ordinary and extraordinary – who played (and continue to play) a role in the struggle for equality and liberty,” says Artscape’s CEO, Marlene le Roux.

“We must constantly create paths and guide younger women and girls to become role models and icons in all areas. This is a festival not only for women, but for everybody because Artscape encourages men and boys to attend, to listen, learn and contribute as true empowerment is about dignity and respect. The festival also embraces and celebrates LGBTIQ+ rights as well as people living with disabilities – issues that will always be close to my heart.”

Tickets for the festival’s productions are available from Computicket or Artscape Dial-A-Seat on 021 421 7695. Discounts are available for students, seniors and for block bookings. Visit www.artscape.co.za for more information.