The National Arts Festival is officially open for bookings and its 2023 programme is now live on www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.
Makhanda’s annual celebration of the arts will be taking place from 22 June-2 July as culture lovers, students and families escape into the theatres, galleries, cosy restaurants and reimagined spaces of the small town during the chilly mid-year break.
Speaking at an event in Johannesburg hosted to announce the programme, Artistic Director Rucera Seethal explained that this year’s programme was designed with audience experiences in mind. This includes staging shows only in venues with a backup power supply and spreading the programme highlights across the full eleven days so that visitors staying for only two or three days would be able to enjoy a diversity of National Arts Festival shows.
The Festival is also pleased to confirm that the Boston Youth Orchestra will be coming from the USA to perform both the symphony concert and the Children’s Concert at the Festival. Another international artist to look out for is Sonja Hughes with her piece I am from Reykjavik; part protest, part sculpture, part ceremony, the artist is exploring what it is to be a post-racial, global citizen.
Local artists making an appearance include Brendon Peel and Li Lau. After recently appearing on the global TV show Got Talent All-Stars, a show curated from the ‘Got Talent’ TV show acts from around the world, the duo will be back from their international travels to perform Double Bluff: An Extreme Magic Show. Peel will also present Magic of Sideshow and Impossible on the NAF Fringe. The Fringe is where audiences will also find punk fusion band Undead Generation who hail from nearby Gqeberha.
Pictured below: Li Lau and Brendon Peel
Take a look at the full programme as shared on Twitter.
Bookings for #NAF2023 are live. Check out the programme on https://t.co/gjh0ySMwxW and make your bookings today.
— NationalArtsFestival (@artsfestival) May 1, 2023
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