It’s Fresha than ever!
The holidays may be over, but that hasn’t stopped Durban’s Twist Theatre Development Project from entertaining us with a fresh festival, Alyssia Birjalal reports
PIANIST and composer Sanele Phakathi and his band will be performing in KwaMashu on January 27, and in Groutville, KZN, on February 1.
Phakathi themed these concerts Stones Left Unturned. He highlights that often humans just head forward with their lives, sometimes leaving and forgetting elements that have helped them.
January 27, Artizen Lounge, KwaMashu. 5pm. R50 at the door, R100 per cooler box.
February 1, Luthuli Museum, Groutville. 6pm. R30 at the door. DURBANITES are in for a treat this weekend as the Fresha Festival kicks off at 5pm today and runs until Sunday, January 20.
Festival-goers can catch a programme of free fun, family al-fresco theatre items that each last about 15 minutes at the Bay of Plenty lawns. All the shows are in the daylight, in the open-air and are accessible to people of all ages.
There are also free yoga displays, puppeteers and some top local music from the likes of Zulu Blue and La Canta Rosa.
Emma Durden, Fresha Festival director, said the Fresha team, which consists of 88 people, were delighted with how the festival had grown in both popularity and scope over the past two years.
“In its third year we bring a wide range of different acts to the beachfront and we are really excited to see how they are received. There’s a little of everything: there is some poignant and moving dance, a performance artist, Doung Jahangeer, and the 034 Drama group from Vryheid have a funny and wry satire on voting which is a good fit in this election year,” said Durden.
She encouraged patrons to “come down to the beach”.
“There is something for everyone, with hip-hop style street dance, mime, comedy and some serious stuff too. Every performance is just 15 minutes long, so if you love it you can stay all afternoon, and if you don’t like what you’ve seen then you only need to wait a short while before the next one starts. For an audience member, there is no risk, but lots of rewards,” she said.
New to the festival this year is an aerial act involving students from the Innov8 gym who hang from silks and trapezes high above the ground.
“We look forward to having this new element in the air. We also have an interactive art exhibition called “Advice from Songs”, which features the work of Swiss artist Marcus Kraft, and we encourage people coming down to the festival to add their own art to the exhibition by painting advice from their own favourite songs. “We have added an early-bird yoga class at 7am on both mornings and an art-making workshop using rubbish found on the beach. So there is a lot for people to get involved in this year, as well as all the shows to watch,” Durden said.
She advised that festival-goers not miss the two exciting music acts performing this year.
“On Saturday at 5pm, the South Jersey Pom-Poms play their brand of gypsy funk, which is an upbeat, toe-tapping sound with songs in English, German, French and a bit of Bulgarian thrown in. Their music is really catchy and easy to dance to.
“On Sunday at 5pm we have a collaboration by Afro-blues group Zulu Blue and three opera singers from the group La Canta Rosa. This is a new collaboration and the rehearsals have been electric.”
People are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket, something to sip on and to thoroughly enjoy the sun going down to these “soundscapes”. ◆ Friday at 5pm - Opening procession.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 1pm – Out of Body. An art performance by Doung Anwar Jahangeer.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 1.20pm – 7
chairs. Street theatre by seven actors.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 1.40pm – Dutch
street comedian Gerard Olthaar.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 2pm – Tran(ce) sitions. Contemporary dance by Sizwe Hlope.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 2.20pm – The Goal. Street theatre by Umlazi Arts Academy.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 2.40pm – Promises. Street satire by 034 Drama Group.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 3pm – The thing
about wolves. Puppeteers.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 3.20pm – Cats and the curse. Dance by Zamokhukhanya Productions.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 3.20pm - Street mime by Sibo Masondo.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 4pm - Old skool vs new skool. Street dance by Wentworth Arts Organisation.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 4.20pm. Funeral and the beach. Physical theatre by Unyezi Theatre Production.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 4.40pm. Look
up. Aerial act by Innov8 gym.
◆ Saturday and Sunday at 5pm. Sundowner showcase. Live music by The South Jersey Pompoms, and on Sunday by Zulu Blue and La Canta Rosa.
◆ Saturday and Sunday from 7am to 8am
- Yoga
◆ Saturday at 8am to 9am: DanceXercise.
◆ Sunday at 8am to 9am: Zumba class.
◆ Saturday and Sunday from 9am: creating art out of waste workshop, beach cleanup and creating tree sculptures.