Only the finest at Hilton…
There is a significant contribution from theatre-makers and production houses in Cape Town invited to participate at this year’s Hilton Arts Festival
THE HILTON Festival this year provides a valuable opportunity for audiences to enjoy theatre originating from the mother city.
Echo of a Noise is storytelling at its most poignant and most pared-down. It features the sublime Pieter Dirk Uys who talks about his phenomenal life in a witty, honest and insightful production. Uys also will be present at a screening of the latest documentary about his life: Nobody Died Laughing.
As a worthy companion to Echo of a Noise is Dead Yellow Sands which also showcases story telling at its finest – this time the turn of Graham Weir in a beautifully crafted cerebral piece of spoken word theatre performed on an empty stage, combining a hauntingly-beautiful, nuanced, original South African script written by Weir, in a production directed by Bo Petersen.
Peterson also performs at this year’s festival. She is the Mother in The Graveyard – performing together with Gideon Lombard and Sarah Potter. Written and directed by award winning Philip Rademeyer, the story unpacks a “graveyard” of forgotten objects and interrogates one’s notions of memory, masculinity and its pressures, domestic violence, addiction, heredity and, ultimately, family.
The degree to which a perfume’s fragrance lingers in the air when worn... Sillage is a disquieting story of domesticity between a mother and daughter packing up their family home. It is a deeply personal retelling of the fissures between family members that erupt and erode when they are forced to move on from a life they are used to. Written and directed by Penny Youngelson.
Multi-talented Rob van Vuuren wears three hats at this year’s festival: he performs in Life (a rant) as he unpacks the mysteries of life in his own unforgettable and inimitable style. Together with Danielle Bischoff, he is also in the delightful show for young people: Florence and Watson and the Sugarbush Mouse about a pair of singing, dancing Honey Badgers.
Pay Back the Curry is a oneperson satirical revue scripted by playwright, Mike van Graan. Rob van Vuuren directs the young, multi-talented Daniel Richards in this show that takes on many topical themes which are either the subjects of heated discussion or studiously avoided in polite conversation.
Mike Bartlett’s Contractions stars Janna Ramos-Violante and Emily Child directed by Greg Karvellas. A dark comedy which explores the transformative dynamics of the corporate world and, quite literally, tests the limits we are willing to put on the company we keep.
Ebola is a haunting take on a terrifying disease. Hilda Cronje’s and Nicholas Ellenbogen’s three hander is filmic and spellbinding: love and desire set in the heart of Sierra Leone.
The Big Boys team return with two productions: Big Boys the Third: the hottest new chapter of the Big Boys saga is here. It’s wild, it’s unbelievable and it’s hysterical, and Love at First Fight: date night from hell – the perfect blend of stereotypical and nonsensical.
And representing Cape Town in the musical revival programme of good music is guitarist, James Grace.
The festival invites the crème-de-la-crème of what is hot and happening in the creative industries in South Africa: theatre, dance, comedy, musical theatre, family theatre, classical music, music revue, band-music, visual art and crafts, as well as a series of mind-scape lectures, events and discussions. The three day festival caters for everyone, young and old – including a huge market, book stalls and great food.
The festival takes place at Hilton College from September 16 to 18. For more info visit www. hiltonfestival.co.za or like the Facebook page, Hilton Arts Festival. Follow them on Twitter @HiltonFest or download the free app, Hilton Arts Festival for both Android and IOS.
All enquiries on 033 383 0126/7 or festival@ hiltoncollege.com.
Booking enquiries: tickets@ hiltoncollege.com