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The artistic director of the National Arts Festival, Ismail Mohamed, is leaving his position after this year’s arts bonanza in Grahamstown. For old times’ sake, #Trending asked him to tell us what he rates as the best on offer this year.
As artistic director of the festival, much of my inspiration has come from reflecting on the past to critique the present and to re-envision the future. I am particularly interested in work that embraces the power of the arts for critical reflection, celebration, analysis and a reimagination of our histories, our contemporary society and the kind of society that we wish to endow to future generations.
Keep an eye out for OoMaSisulu, iLembe, Animal Farm and Sold!
This year, wanting to celebrate the compassion, tenacity and integrity with which women engage in their social, cultural and political landscapes, I have consciously programmed a significant number of female writers, directors, choreographers and curators on the main programme.
Explore the Solo Theatre Festival.
I am an avid follower of Lara Foot’s work. She is one of South Africa’s most prolific theatre makers. Her prowess as a formidable arts manager under a challenging funding climate is admirable.
Under her wing, the Baxter Theatre Centre continues to thrive. Her development initiatives have also created opportunities for many emerging artists to be catapulted into the mainstream. Presenting her as the 2016 featured artist honours her 20 years of contributions.
The Inconvenience of Wings premieres at the festival, while Karoo Moose and Tshepang return.
* Our political landscape is becoming more complex, challenging and confrontational. I am interested in the work of artists who enable us to grapple with these realities; and are able to offer us hope as a first step in rebuilding our transformation processes without betraying or shrouding the past.
Don’t miss Those you Pass on the Street, Sleepwalking Land, Ladies of the Midnight Blue and Ruth First: 117 Days.
I am interested in the artists who offer us a lens through which we can respectfully but honestly engage with issues of racial, cultural, sexual and historical identities.
Watch out for Afri-Queer, The Keeper of the Kumm and Somnyama Ngonyama.
Artists who are able to connect newer audiences with the classics excite me. Similarly, I am excited by artists who connect traditional audiences with newer hybrid art forms.
See Les Cenci and The Day on Which a Man Dies.
I value our hard-won rights of freedom of expression and creativity, so I encourage work that pushes the boundaries. I love good art that can stand up to power.
Look out for performance art piece Pig Headed, and the all-female Animal Farm.
I encourage work that challenges without ever becoming didactic; when it poses more questions than it attempts to answer. I want artists to push audiences into finding the resolutions themselves. While art can heal, artists themselves are not therapists, they are incubators of thought, provocation and activism.
So look out for public-art piece #Suggestion Box, dance production Sold! and the interesting theatre piece Unveiled.
For the full programme, visit nationalartsfestival.co.za
