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Wits 969 Festival blazes into GautengWSOA - Wits School of Arts07/25/2012 15:48:46 
The ninth Wits 969 Festival offers highlights which have made the 969km journey from the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, to Johannesburg. The 2012 Festival sees Wits Theatre partnering with the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown and assisted by the gratefully accepted contributions from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Finance and Operations, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and the Registrar’s Division. This partnership will present EIGHT events of outstanding comedy, music, theatre, dance and (for the first time) children’s theatre during the month of August. Commenting on the partnership Tony Lankester, CEO of the National Arts Festival, says: “The 969 Festival is a logical place for us to be. Not only does it showcase some of the best work from this year’s National Arts Festival, but it subscribes to the same core value we do – a quest for innovative, bold creative expression.” He adds, “The 969 programme features outstanding artistic works, four of which received the Standard Bank Ovation Award at this year’s Festival. It’s work that we are proud to be associated with.” This year, audiences can look forward to the following 969 line-up for 2012 running from 7-11 August: - Wretched presented by Wits School of Arts/Dramatic Arts and Wits Theatre “…a girl-meets-boy frolic…that one savours like a frothy chocolate milkshake.” – Business Day Directed by Néka Da Costa and Vivek Mehta Cast: Emilie Owen (BADA IV) and Wade Niemand (BADA III) The Wits School of Arts presents the official entry into the National Festival of Student Drama (NFSD) – a project of the Grahamstown Foundation. “Boy meets girl, they stumble into love. How much are they willing to risk in order to go the distance of the relationship? “ Wits Downstairs Theatre 07:08:2012 – 11:08:2012 at 18:00 Running time: 45 minutes No age restriction - Signatures presented by Moving into Dance Mophatong - winner of the 2012 Standard Bank Ovation Award Directed by Sylvia Magogo Glasser Choreographed by Fana Tshabalala and Sifiso Kweyama Two fertile imaginations create two very different works performed by the versatile Moving into Dance Mophatong Company. Fana Tshabalala’s The Gates of Hell is inspired by figures in a Rodin sculpture. Sifiso Kweyama’s The More finds it’s starting point in, “The more we change the more…” Wits Downstairs Theatre 07:08:2012 – 11:08:2012 at 20:00 Running time: 60 minutes No age restriction - The Epicene Butcher and other Stories for Consenting Adults presented by Daddy’s Little Secret- winner of the 2012 Standard Bank Ovation Award Written by Gwydion Beynon and directed by John Trengove Cast: Jemma Kahn In The Epicene Butcher and other stories for consenting adults, the ancient Japanese storytelling art of Kamishibai is given a profane, hilarious and utterly original revival. Kamishibai, literally translated as ‘paper play’ originated as a form of children's street theatre in the 1930s. South African actress and artist Jemma Kahn studied Kamishibai under the veteran performer Roukda Genji, with whom she travelled in Japan. Kahn performs seven eclectic Kamishibai stories that take in such divergent themes as heaven and hell, pornography, gothic tragedy and the dream life of cats. The Nunnery 07:08:2012 – 11:08:2012 at 19:00 Running time: 50 minutes Age restriction: 16+ (LVS) - Circle presented by Maserumule productions - winner of the 2012 Standard Bank Ovation Award Written by Tau Maserumule Cast: Tau Maserumule Circle follows the life of a young man called Michael who, after being kicked out of university for organising a protest march against a proposed 33% fee increase, finds himself in dangerous water. Having failed to justify his position with the university authorities, he gets a job at a construction site – where he finds himself once again standing up to injustices – finding himself in even murkier water! Wits Amphitheatre 07:08:2012, 09:08:2012 and 11:08:2012 at 19:30; 08:08:2012 and 10:08:2012 at 18:00 Running time: 70 minutes No age restriction - Pitterpat the Crazee Caterpillar presented by Adlib Musical Productions Written and directed by Lynn Joffe and Adam Howard Cast: Lynn Howard, Adam Joffe and Michael Richard A magical, musical children’s story about the power of imagination as seen through the eyes and ears of two special friends who encounter a crazee caterpillar called Pitterpat. The performance also features audience participation that engages, empowers and enlightens children of all ages to the power of music and imagination. Wits Downstairs Theatre 11:08:2012 at 10:00 and 12:00 Running time: 30 minutes No age restriction - Sie Weiss Alles presented by James Cairns Productions Written by James Cairns; directed by Tamara Guhrs Cast: James Cairns and Taryn Bennett James Cairns’ Sie Weiss Alles has been receiving universal praise since it opened in Cape Town at Kalk Bay Theatre. Comments have included “soars to heights that raise the bar on story-telling" (Cape Times) ; “...poignant, exhilarating... Cairns as the officer and Taryn Bennett as the young woman are magnetic on stage.” (Sunday Times); and “The text is rich and witty, the acting sharp, clean and charming” (Whatsonincapetown.com). The play is set in Berlin, 1945. The Third Reich has collapsed and the Russians are hours away. An SS logistics office has orders to question a young woman. Who is she? Someone who just wants to stay alive…. But then so does he, and so does his commanding officer. The woman and the officer have a history. Does she know how to get out of Berlin safely and will she tell him if she does? What will persuade her to tell him if she does know how to escape? Sie Weiss Alles (she knows everything). The Nunnery 08:08:2012 - 11:08:2012 at 20:30 (a total of FOUR performances) Running time: 75 minutes No age restriction - David wasn’t Built in a Day presented by Podium…The Comedy Merchants - winner of the 2012 Standard Bank Ovation Award Written by David Kibuuka Cast: David Kibuuka David Kibuuka is regarded as one of the most prominent comedians performing in South Africa today. His impressive body of work spans live stage, television and film and includes credits such as The Pure Monate Show and Late Nite News on television, and films Bunny Chow and Blits Patrollie. This is his first one-man show. Wits Amphitheatre 08:08:2012 at 19:30 Running time: 55 minutes Age restriction: PG - Late Night Jam featuring Kgafela Le Marabele Wits Theatre Foyer 07:08:2012 at 21:00 Free admission BOOKING: www.ticket.co.za The festival price is R40 for all except for Pitterpat, where the moms pay R40 and the ‘little people’ pay R20 only. Details are subject to change . Light meals and a full cash bar can be enjoyed in Café Dulce, situated in the Wits Theatre Foyer. Free, covered parking in the adjacent Senate House (the entrance is on Jorissen Street) ensures peace of mind. Complimentary tickets are available to the media only! Artslink.co.za Account: Cathy Pisanti Wits Theatre catherine.pisanti@wits.ac.za 011 717 1376 Wits Theatre Related Event:
Wits 969 Festival
Dates: Tuesday, 7th August 2012 - Saturday, 11th August 2012 Related Venue:
Wits Theatre Complex, Braamfontein Johannesburg Gauteng South Africa
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