More than 200 new pieces from nine provinces are anticipated to capture attention at this year’s National Arts Festival (NAF) Fringe.
The Fringe serves as a distinctive platform established by the NAF, where a variety of artists from across the nation present original works that are innovative, unconventional, humorous, and vibrant to the public. Given the country’s multicultural and diverse nature, this aligns seamlessly with the NAF’s goals of showcasing unique art to audiences, travellers, and long-time festival enthusiasts.
Since the late 1970s, Fringe has transformed Makhanda into South Africa’s cultural laboratory, serving as a venue where South African theatre creators come to assert their presence. The programming consistently aims to balance artistic excellence, a diversity of voices, audience engagement, and the practical constraints of venue and budget availability.
In a recent press statement, the NAF announced that they are thrilled to witness the return of legendary artists to the festival stage this year while also fostering collaboration and sharing space with emerging talents, grounded, resistant, and gathered.
The NAF Executive Producer, Zikhona Monaheng, stated that the Fringe remains one of the most exhilarating platforms in the country for experiencing new narratives, courageous works, and both seasoned and upcoming artists.
“Programming is always about balancing artistic excellence, diversity of voices, audience experience, and the practical realities of venue and budget availability. We’re excited to see legendary artists return to the festival stage this year while also collaborating and sharing space with emerging voices,” Monaheng told the NAF Media Team.
What to expect from this year’s Fringe:
Spark in the Dark from Cape Town and TX Theatre from Soweto in Johannesburg are returning for the second consecutive year at this year’s NAF Fringe, showcasing a variety of works under their respective hubs.
Audiences can anticipate laughter as comedians take the stage at the festival to reconnect with one another. Notable performers such as Loyiso Gola, Stuart Taylor, Conrad Koch, Dalin Olver, Langa Kulati, Khanyisa Bhunu, and many others will deliver delightful humour on the comedy stage, with performances scheduled at the Graham Hotel.
The Great Hall will serve as this year’s music hub for the Fringe, featuring a lineup of diverse musical acts and late-night DJ sets from various regions of the country.
Universities, schools, and institutions are also participating in the NAF Fringe, presenting works from Witwatersrand (Wits), University of Western Cape (UWC), Africa Film Drama Art (AFDA), Tshwane University of Technology (TUT), Phoenix College, Sacred Heart College, University of Zululand, iYunivesithi Walter Sisulu, formerly known as Walter Sisulu University, and the Sonwa Sakuba Institute for Performing Arts in the Eastern Cape.
Anticipated upcoming productions include the Masakane Arts Centre in Northern Cape, which showcases Khoes – a compelling and emotionally charged stage performance centered around a young Khoi-San girl. In a heartbreaking act of desperation, her mother sells her to Chief Mokoena of Botswana in exchange for the community’s right to remain on their ancestral land.
Throughout the years, magicians have also illuminated the Fringe with enchanting performances, and this year will see the return of beloved festival acts such as Brendon Peel and Li Lau, alongside Liam Sass and Charlie Quinn, who will also contribute to the illusion lineup.
Thanks to the support of the Department of Sport, Arts, and Culture’s Mzansi Golden Economy Programme, the Fringe will provide valuable opportunities for artists through workshops, discussions, and critical reviews that will enhance the Fringe experience and promote a sense of community and creative collaboration.
Please note: Audiences are encouraged to embrace the unexpected and include Fringe shows in their NAF experience. Maintaining the Ovation Award is also a sign of the Fringe show’s being worth watching. These awards, tracked and presented by a panel of anonymous reviewers, are announced throughout the festival, culminating in the final weekend’s Ovation Awards Ceremony, where productions learn if they will be honoured with either the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Awards.
