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Mail & Guardian
Hailey Gaunt

Creator

Hailey Gaunt

A scene from the Student Theatre piece SA Shorts: Quickies for a Microwave Generation.

Student productions: The antidote to stale theatre experiences

Until you’ve seen young minds create and execute ideas with limited experience and meagre budgets, your appreciation of art will never be adequate.

David Kibuuka in his show David Wasn’t Built in a Day.

The art and work of funny at the festival

David Kibuuka, Johannesburg-based comedian, is a nice-guy funny man. "I don’t rip people off in real life – why would I do it in a show?"

Jemma Kahn performs kamishibai

Hunting down words at the festival

There may be no WordFest this year, but the love of language is alive and thriving at this year’s National Arts Festival, writes Hailey Gaunt.

Kwanele September helps another Art Factory participant get into character.

National Arts Festival: The art of survival

For the third year running volunteer students are collaborating with artists and performers with the aim of opening the festival up to everyone.

Rob van Vuuren in The Three Little Pigs

Grotesque and glamourless: Gritty work of the Fest

They may make it look easy, but trying to earn a living from the theatre is as emotionally draining for performers as it is physically taxing.

Ferial Haffajee speaking at the Free Thinkers lecture.

Feeling the freedom of the festival

The Free Thinkers lecture at the National Arts Festival’s Think!Fest was not the only place where dialogue and freedom of expression was explored.

Turning hip-hop on its head

Iain Ewok Robinson’s one man show, <i>Seriously?</i>, breaks the mould and gives an honest glimpse behind the pretense of hip-hop.

When history takes the stage

When history takes the stage

<i>Death of a Colonialist</i> is an honest exposition on the importance of knowing history while not being defined by it.

Avoiding the clichés

Avoiding the clichés

Guy Buttery brought his unique approach to guitar folk to Grahamstown.

The History Boys examines different ideas of education.

An education

Alan Bennet’s The History Boys lays bare the dominant social insecurities around institutions of higher learning.

Fairer folk

Fairer folk

Halfway through a manic festival, <b>Hailey Gaunt</b> takes a breather to catch some female-fronted folk.

Losing his religion?

Losing his religion?

A solo performance in Grahamstown left some wondering if Tree63 frontman John Ellis could ever distance himself from his Christian rock past.

Getting philosophical and funky with the Festival jazz

Last night, while watching the Festival debut of Bokani Dyer, I couldn’t help but think jazz is a perfect metaphor for life.

Rather flaccid

The oldest profession

Rough and fast is my appraisal of <i>The Last Pro in Yeoville</i>, but perhaps that?s what one should expect from a play about a washed-up prostitute.

Gathering around The Table

Gathering around The Table

<i>The Table</i> captures all the melodrama and begrudging sentiment of family life as it unfolds around a meal.

Day one: glitz and glamour and chickpea fudge

<b>Hailey Gaunt</b> reports from Grahamstown, where the shows, exhibitions and other official offerings are only half the fun.

Cinema curator reflects on SA celluloid

“I’m fortunate I’m given the freedom to explore and not conform,” saysTrevor Steele Taylor, director of the Film Festival.

TV gets an education injection

Jacquie Golding-Duffy KAGISO Educational Television (KET) is a new production company that promises to make an impact on educational viewing this year through innovative…