Africa Centre’s fifth annual Infecting the City festival takes to the streets and public spaces of Cape Town’s city centre with 32 works that include installations, dance, poetry, theatre, performance art and music.
It will introduce South Africans to a range of artworks from highly considered international and local artists, some of whom are bringing their exceptional works home following critical acclaim. The curator of this year’s festival, Jay Pather, the director of the Gordon Institute for Performing and Creative Arts at the University of Cape Town, said the festival was about “public engagement, about unlocking communal spaces and giving ordinary citizens access to extraordinary art”. All performances are free.
From March 6 to 10. A detailed programme is available on infectingthecity.com, or contact Africa Centre on 087 150 5446.
? The University of Stellenbosch’s Woordfees is held in the first week of March each year, focusing on Afrikaans. It attracted more than 70?000 visitors last year. This year’s theme is “green”. Celebrating the word takes many shapes: poetry, drama, cabaret, prose, debate, as well as contemporary and classical music.
There are also words and wine, featuring wine tastings and lunch with South African writers and personalities. Musicians performing this year include Stef Bos, Karen Zoid, Koos Kombuis and Chris Chameleon. There is an art route and exhibitions, notably a retrospective of Paul Emsley. Dramas include Vaselinetjie (Spier Amphitheatre), Proesstraat (Oude Libertas Amphitheatre), Pa for Dummies (Dorp Street Theatre Restaurant), My name/My naam Is Ellen Pakkies, and Die Rebellie van Lafras Verwey (presented by the Mechanicals).
Various venues in Stellenbosch and the winelands until March 11. Some exhibitions continue until the end of the month. Tickets at Computicket or call 021 808 3513. Get the full programme at woordfees.co.za.