Curtain rises on 2019 Zabalaza applications
UPCOMING theatre-makers, directors, script writers, community groups and theatre companies have a chance to break through as the Baxter’s Zabalaza Theatre Festival calls for applications.
Festival organisers are looking for one or two-handers, children’s theatre productions, puppetry, musical theatre, drama, comedy, physical theatre and storytelling.
Productions selected from applications received for 2019 will be auditioned, then invited to participate in the Zabalaza mini-festivals planned for the last two weeks of November, when the final selection for the 2019 line-up will be made.
Zabalaza Festival curator Mdu Kweyama said: “We would strongly encourage women writers and directors to apply, as the festival provides the perfect platform for young, upcoming theatremakers to share their stories with a wider audience.”
The festival is widely regarded as one of the premier development programmes in the country for fresh talent.
Previous Best Production winners include Skierlik by Phillip Dikotla (2013), The Champion by Khayalethu Anthony (2014), Paul Noko’s Fruit (2015), Lauren Hannies’ TIP-ex (2016), Thobani Nzuza’s Boy Ntulikazi (2017), and Carlo Daniel’s Onweer this year.
These productions went on to be staged at various festivals and events in the Western Cape, working with well-known theatre-makers. Skierlik received two Fleur du Cap nominations and Khayalethu Anthony won the Fleur du Cap award for Best Performance in a review, cabaret or one-person show for The Champion.
Previous participants are welcome to apply, provided they bring an entirely different production.
Interested community groups and theatre-makers from outside the Western Cape are also welcome to apply.
Applications for the 2019 Zabalaza Theatre Festival close on July 31 and entry forms may be obtained from the festival office at the Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch or from the beginning of June at Makukhanye Art Room in Khayelitsha, Zolani Centre in Nyanga, Delft Rent office and Joseph Stone in Athlone.
They can also be downloaded from http://bit.ly/ 2JN9w8B or www.facebook. com/zabalazafestival.
For further enquiries or more information contact Zoleka Helesi at 021 680 3980, or e-mail zoleka.helesi@uct. ac.za or baxterzabalaza@uct. ac.za. – Staff Writer