Suidoosterfees hits sweet 15th year
aim is to create professional platforms in the industry
WITH next year’s Suidoosterfees reaching its 15th year, the theme will be Fantastic 15/Fabulous 15 and Uchunge Chunge 15, giving festivalgoers a taste of Cape Flats and Karoo culture.
Productions will include Rokkie, starring Charlton George; Fiela se Kind starring the original Fiela, Shaleen Surtie-Richards; Tannie Evita Praat Kaktus starring Evita Bezuidenhout; Karoo Swing innie Kaap starring Emo Adams, Bobby van Jaarsveld and Katlego Maboe; Kunstreffers: Konsert van Hoop starring Laurika Rauch and Robin Peters; Kaapse Khoi Jazz II starring Camillo Lombard; and Classic Nataniël, to name a few.
Suidoosterfees chief executive Niël Rademan said: “The projects will give festivalgoers a taste of the culture of areas like the Cape Flats, Boland, Swartland and Karoo.”
The Suidoosterfees recently conducted its fourth annual talent search, an outreach project that goes into various communities in and around the Cape metropolitan area to identify talent across various artistic disciplines.
The aim is to create professional platforms in the arts industry for these individuals to showcase their prowess.
Rademan said: “Over the past three years we have come across some of the most talented youngsters in these communities.
‘‘They range from interpretive dance groups, to rap, singing and more. Through the Fabulous 15 we wish to yet again create an opportunity for them to be part of a professional production so they may share their wonderful talent with a broader audience.”
The first five finalists from the talent search will go through to the semi-final, which will be held at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre on March 10.
The finalists are Shockwaves (dance group), Ryan Popper (dance), Nicole Ashley McThomas (drama and dance), Keanan Swarts (drama), and Rouxné Muller (vocals).
The 15th Suidoosterfees will take place at the Artscape from April 26 to May 1. Tickets for Suidoosterfees 2018 are now available at Computicket, Shoprite/Checkers and House & Home branches. Visit www. suidoosterfees.co.za for more information.