Ikhwezi Theatre Festival enters its second decade of development at the Baxter

Over the years Ikhwezi has showcased 170 new works with more than 650 actors, writers and directors who have attended workshops and participated in the festival, conducted under the guidance of highly acclaimed local playwrights, directors and other industry experts.

Previous tutors and mentors have included theatre specialists Mark Fleishman, Mike van Graan, Maurice Podbrey, Paul Griffiths, Suzy Bell, Megan Choritz, Lara Foot Newton, Lionel Newton, Lara Bye, Tenjiwe Ntwana, Timmy Kwebulana, Mbulelo Grootboom, Mdu Kweyama, Chuma Sopotela, Mfundo Tshazibane, Kseniya Filinova, Abey Xakwe and Thembani Luzipho.

At the workshops, which form the foundation of the overall vision of the festival, participants are taken through their paces as they learn the finer tasks and duties of a director as well as pre-production planning, casting, rehearsals, opening nights, fundraising, publicity, marketing and finance. Creative writing in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa is also included in the workshops.

The festival, a Baxter Theatre Centre initiative, was awarded the highest honour at the 2004 Arts and Culture Trust national awards when it came out tops in its category.

Last year a record number of 19 plays were staged for its tenth anniversary. The Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Pallo Jordan, attended one of the performances and said, “The launch of the Ikhwezi Theatre initiative in 1998 has been a unique burst of hope. There is no doubt that the project has won a place in the hearts and minds of aspirant artists and cultural activists in the Western Cape. Ikhwezi is, literally, a guiding North Star, that has inspired hope and confidence in the hearts of our people. It is a testament of how the arts can, truly, transform lives.”

In 2007 the Best of the Fest was introduced to encourage productions with outstanding potential by taking them to the next level and guiding them through their transition into mainstream theatre. Beneath Silent Waters and Udaba Bafazi And the exclusive women's club became the first winners. Last year Itsoseng, Tokoloshe and Red Winter in Gugs were selected. Red Winter in Gugs went on to be performed at the Baxter's Play>Ground before being staged as a full-scale production. Itsoseng, written and performed by Omphile Molusi, went on to receive the Fringe First award at the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland, followed by a run at London's Soho Theatre in September last year. Omphile was also the first Brett Goldin Bursary recipient in 2007.

Already several of the young talents who have come out of the festival have impacted on the broader local theatre scene, garnering awards and accolades along the way, and many have moved from amateur to professional actor status. Such performers include Fleur du Cap 2007 Best Actress (Karoo Moose) winner Chuma Sopotela and Best Supporting Actor (Karoo Moose) nominee and 2008 Brett Goldin Bursary recipient, Thami Mbongo. The two also won the 2007 Aardklop Best Actor award (ensemble) for Karoo Moose along with Zoleka Helesi (from Udaba Bafazi And the exclusive women's club), Mdu Kweyama, Bongile Mantsai and Mfundo Tshazibane.

Sopotela, Mbongo and Molusi are part of the Baxter Theatre Centre and Royal Shakespeare Company collaboration of William Shakespeare's The Tempest, currently running to great acclaim in Stratford-upon-Avon before travelling to five other cities in the UK. Other young talents who have come through the festival include Andrea Dondolo, Andile Nebulane, Pumeza Rashe (Red Winter in Gugs) and Connie George. All these actors have already made names for themselves in the media, on stage and television and in feature films.

A proud Festival Director Itumeleng Wa-Lehulere said, “The impact of the festival's outcomes on the broader theatre environment in this country is evident and bears testament to all that Ikwhezi stands for - developing, nurturing and mentoring the abundance of talent in our communities. It is encouraging and heart-warming to see the fruits of our work through the success of these young theatre-makers, as well as the different productions which cut their theatrical teeth at the festival. We are ready for the next wave of young guns as we enter our next decade.”

The overall aims of the festival include developing critical thinking among audiences and theatre practitioners through the arts; popularising social programmes such as health, environment, education and human rights; using the arts to stimulate community initiatives; developing new playwrights in the Western Cape; and exposing new and upcoming actors, writers and directors to mainstream theatre.

In the line-up social, economic and political issues are once again examined and told in several different ways to ensure a dynamic programme which is jam-packed with exciting and entertaining South African stories.

The Ikhwezi Theatre Festival runs daily from March 12 to 28, Mondays to Saturdays, at 10:00, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00 and 17:00 and 19:00. All evening performances are at 19:00.

Ticket prices are R35 throughout. Book at Computicket on 083 915 8000, on-line at www.computicket.co.za or at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. For discounted block, corporate or school bookings, charities or fundraisers, contact Sakhiwo on 021 680 3991, Sharon on 021 680 3962 or Tarryn on 021 680 3993 during office hours.