CULTURAL FEAST

The fourth annual Umtiza Festival was a resounding success, say its organisers at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery, the Guild Theatre and the Museum. Pictures and reports on

The Umtiza Arts Fest was launched four years ago and this year it did not disappoint, with world class performances, entertainment and

artwork on offer at the Guild Theatre, East London Museum and Ann Bryant Art Gallery.

Thursday evening opened with the Keiskamma Tapestry Exhibition featuring the incredible Keiskamma Guernica. The tapestry shows the painful struggle of rural communities dealing with the Aids epidemic.

On Friday evening there was a rare treat: first a piano recital by Standard Bank Young Artist winner Megan-Geoffrey Prins followed by the famous Soweto String Quartet. The Guild Theatre reverberated with the sounds of classical and jazz.

Shows such as ‘The King of Broken Things’, performed by Cara Roberts, and Cambridge High School’s production of ‘Sophiatown’, were powerful and thought-provoking.

Crowds packed the Guild Side stage theatre for the ever-popular Kay Mosiane’s ‘Broadway Songs’ and Kerry Hiles’s ‘Tribute to Judy Garland’.

On Saturday comedian Alfred Adriaan had the theatre in stitches with his take on dating, relationships and social interactions.

Lectures by specialists in their fields John Costello, Dinesh Villabh and Kevin Cole were held throughout the weekend in the Museum classroom.

And if that wasn’t enough, the first Umtiza Craft Liquor festival was held at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery, where the public could get a taste of various gin, beer and wine options while browsing the galleries.

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Pictures: ALAN EASON 6 Clockwise from top left: 1 Sandile Khemese, left, Thamsanqa Khemese, Makhosini Mnguni, and Themba Machobane of the the world famous Soweto String Quartet performed at the Guild Theatre on Friday alongside University of Fort Hare student Asandiswa George, front, Mdantsane drummer Thulani Funeka, back, and Komani-based bass guitarist Mlungisi Gegana. 2 Kerry Hiles played to a packed theatre in ‘A Star Is Born -The Rise and Fall of Judy Garland’ at the Guild Theatre side stage. 3 Litho Nqai and Quatro Mgogo perform in the Bocconcini d’Opera. 4 Fashion shows were held at the East London Museum. 5 Cara Roberts and Bryan Hiles perform a twist of the classic fairytale ‘A Froggy Fairytale’. 6 ‘Sophiatown’, the play centred on the house of Mamariti and her shebeen, was produced and performed by Cambridge High School. 7 ‘The King of Broken Things’ is an adventurous and magical excursion into the rehabilitation of broken and discarded objects and hearts as performed by Cara Roberts. 8 Comedian Alfred Adriaan had the audience in stitches over subjects such as dating, parents-in-law and relationships in general at the Guild Theatre. 9 Disabled dancers from Inganathi Dance group in Mdantsane gave their all to enthusiasti Umtiza Arts festinos.

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