Local fashion is a sector with great development potential but it’s being hampered by garment piracy. This was the verdict delivered at the end of South African Fashion Week that took place at the Sandton Convention Centre and in Newtown from August 27 to 30, writes Matthew Krouse.

On October 14 John Perlman, über host of SAfm’s breakfast session, dealt with teen suicide in his item <i>The After Eight Debate</i>. It was depressing enough to drive an adult to harsh measures, writes Matthew Krouse.

Choreographers seem determined to break out of the confines of their medium. With each pasing year the FNB Dance Umbrella advertises more and more of its programme away from sanctioned theatre spaces. They are bent on challenging our notions of what makes for urban comfort zones, writes Matthew Krouse.

Craig Freimond is trying to quit smoking. He is buying his cigarettes loose, as if that helps. He can’t take the cold, but we have to sit outside on the balcony of the Wits University theatre nearby the rehearsal room of his new play. It is a toss-up between heat and smoke, appropriate since his first movie is about the downside of addiction. Matthew Krouse speaks to director Craig Freimond.

In Berne, late last month, South Africa looked tremendously hip as more than 60 local artists took to two theatres in the historic Swiss capital. But the Sharp! Sharp! festival raised a burning issue, writes Matthew Krouse.

Playwright and director Gibson Kente passed away this week, aged 72. Praised for publicly revealing his HIV-positive status, Kente’s last play, <i>The Call</i>, explored the theme of his disease. Matthew Krouse pays tribute.

French writer Jean-Paul Curnier tells Matthew Krouse about the MariMira concept of recycling discarded items into useful artefacts.

International choreographer Emio Greco tells Matthew Krouse that local dance must free itself from social themes.

Matthew Krouse speaks to architect Imraan Ho-Yee about changing the face of malls in South Africa.