East London will soon have a vibrant annual arts festival of its own, thanks to a collaboration between the Guild Theatre, the Ann Bryant Art Gallery and East London Museum.
The three cultural entities have announced that the as yet unnamed festival will incorporate an invigorating mix of drama, music, comedy, lectures and art.
And, to give the arty event a proper festival feel, a craft market will pop up on the parking lots, which link the Guild Theatre to the museum.
The festival, of which the Daily Dispatch is a media partner, starts on the evening of Friday, July 15 and runs until Sunday, July 17.
“It will be great for East London because so many people say nothing happens here and now it will,” Guild Theatre manager Zane Flanagan said.
Included in the line-up, will be the hit show One Man One Light by Michael Taylor-Broderick and performed by Mpilo Straw Nzimande, which has wowed audiences in Düsseldorf in Germany and London. The act will come directly from the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Guild Theatre board chairwoman, Amanda Bothma, said there would already be a “spirit of celebration” in the region, thanks to the National Arts Festival which ends on July 10.
She said the festival idea had been sparked by former Guild pantomime star and friend of the theatre, Malwande Ntisana.
“We thought it was a wonderful idea and so we approached the East London Museum and Ann Bryant Art Gallery and they also thought it was a great idea. “The museum is such a cultural gem and the Ann Bryant has a fantastic permanent collection. Selborne is a real cultural hub.”
East London Museum director Geraldine Morcom said she hoped the festival would grow over the years. “The arts are an expression of culture which is why the theatre, gallery and museum fit together so well.”
Ann Bryant Art Gallery curator Leon du Preez said Selborne was a cultural nerve centre of East London with the gallery, museum and theatre being within walking distance of each other.
“Many big festivals have started in a small way,” he said.
Highlights of the programme, which will be published in full closer to the time, include the opening jazz evening with Nduduzo Makhathini quintet – featuring the Stirling School Combined Choir – and special guest, Omagugu Makhathini.
There will also be a performance by the Bats, guided tours of the Ann Bryant’s permanent collection, a walk and talk of the museum’s World War 1 collection by Major Tony Step and a comedic double bill, featuring Siv Ngesi and Tats Nkonzo.
Flanagan said although there was no funding for the festival, organisers were “doing deals” with performers in which they would receive a large chunk of ticket sales.
“This is not so much about making money as about keeping the arts in East London alive,” he said.
“People will be able to catch a Fred Astaire film at the Guild on Saturday morning, browse through the market, grab a bite at the Coelacanth Cafe and attend a talk on rock art at the museum.
“We want the festival to be a fun experience,” Flanagan said.
Bookings will open at the beginning of next month. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
City gears up for dynamic arts fest with a difference
The three cultural entities have announced that the as yet unnamed festival will incorporate an invigorating mix of drama, music, comedy, lectures and art.
And, to give the arty event a proper festival feel, a craft market will pop up on the parking lots, which link the Guild Theatre to the museum.
The festival, of which the Daily Dispatch is a media partner, starts on the evening of Friday, July 15 and runs until Sunday, July 17.
“It will be great for East London because so many people say nothing happens here and now it will,” Guild Theatre manager Zane Flanagan said.
Included in the line-up, will be the hit show One Man One Light by Michael Taylor-Broderick and performed by Mpilo Straw Nzimande, which has wowed audiences in Düsseldorf in Germany and London. The act will come directly from the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
Guild Theatre board chairwoman, Amanda Bothma, said there would already be a “spirit of celebration” in the region, thanks to the National Arts Festival which ends on July 10.
She said the festival idea had been sparked by former Guild pantomime star and friend of the theatre, Malwande Ntisana.
“We thought it was a wonderful idea and so we approached the East London Museum and Ann Bryant Art Gallery and they also thought it was a great idea. “The museum is such a cultural gem and the Ann Bryant has a fantastic permanent collection. Selborne is a real cultural hub.”
East London Museum director Geraldine Morcom said she hoped the festival would grow over the years. “The arts are an expression of culture which is why the theatre, gallery and museum fit together so well.”
Ann Bryant Art Gallery curator Leon du Preez said Selborne was a cultural nerve centre of East London with the gallery, museum and theatre being within walking distance of each other.
“Many big festivals have started in a small way,” he said.
Highlights of the programme, which will be published in full closer to the time, include the opening jazz evening with Nduduzo Makhathini quintet – featuring the Stirling School Combined Choir – and special guest, Omagugu Makhathini.
There will also be a performance by the Bats, guided tours of the Ann Bryant’s permanent collection, a walk and talk of the museum’s World War 1 collection by Major Tony Step and a comedic double bill, featuring Siv Ngesi and Tats Nkonzo.
Flanagan said although there was no funding for the festival, organisers were “doing deals” with performers in which they would receive a large chunk of ticket sales.
“This is not so much about making money as about keeping the arts in East London alive,” he said.
“People will be able to catch a Fred Astaire film at the Guild on Saturday morning, browse through the market, grab a bite at the Coelacanth Cafe and attend a talk on rock art at the museum.
“We want the festival to be a fun experience,” Flanagan said.
Bookings will open at the beginning of next month. — barbarah@dispatch.co.za
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