North Beach, Durban: 19 – 21 January 2018
The Fresha Festival of free fun family al-fresco theatre will be staged for the second time on Durban’s North Beach, at the end of the holidays for three days on 19, 20 and 21 January.
Festival Director Emma Durden considered: “What could be more quintessntially Durban than a summer festival of free family theatre…. on the beach?
The Fresha Festival starts late afternoon at 5pm, on Friday 19 January with a perfomance showcase to provide an overview of the weekend ahead. The festival is on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 January, from 1pm until 5pm, offering a full afternoon of diverse, family-friendly free short shows.
A varied day-time line-up of carefully-chosen participants take place on the beach-promenade and have been selected to ensure that the programme is diverse, fabulous and exciting.
Each production will have two performances of approximately 15 minutes, over the weekend.
Both days (Sat 20 and Sun 21) start with an hour long free, open dance class at 8am with the Movement Lab; followed by a free open street theatre class starting at 9am led by Netherlands street artist, Gerard Oldthaar.
Fresha Fest was hosted for the first time this year as the new incarnation of the Musho! Festival – it is the phoenix which has arisen from Musho’s ashes: a hip and happening street / beach open-air festival – the perfect event to wrap up the Durban summer holiday season.
The Fresha Festival is directed by Emma Durden, supported by Roel Twijnstra and is presented by Twist Theatre Development Projects which focuses on the development of community theatre groups in KwaZulu-Natal, and on creating sustainable relationships and networks for theatre development, both locally and abroad. Twist is funded by The National Lotteries Commission and the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Additional funding for Fresha has also been graciously provided by eThekwini Municipality and the Department of Arts and Culture, KZN.
For more info, visit www.freshafestival.co.za. / or email info@freshafestival.co.za. Find Fresha Festival on facebook and @freshafest on twitter.
All festival events are at the Bay of Plenty lawns, North beach, and are free of charge. There is a tent for rainy days, so come down whatever the weather!
FRESHA FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
FRIDAY 19 JANUARY
5pm: Opening event – procession and performance showcase
SATURDAY 20 JANUARY
08.00 Free, open DanceXercise class with the Movement Lab
09:00 Free street theatre workshop with Gerard Oldthaar
1.00: Fresha …. (Performance art – doung Anwar Jahangeer)
1.30 Gerard O (Street comedy – Netherlands)
2.00: Abafana Bizarre (Dance, Wushwini)
2.30 Dustbins (Street Theatre – Thandimpilo)
3.00: The Kitchen Symphony (Street Theatre – Clinton Marius and Bongani Mbatha)
3:30: Fragile (Dance – Kristi-Leigh Gresse)
4:00: Sibo (Street mime)
4:30: Dludlu Dladlala (Dance – Musa Hlatshwayo and The Movement Lab – which won an Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown)
SUNDAY 21 JANUARY
08.00 Free, open Zumba dance class with the Movement Lab
09:00 Free street theatre workshop with Gerard Oldthaar
1.00: Fresha …. (Performance art – doung Anwar Jahangeer)
1.30 Gerard O (Street comedy – Netherlands)
2.00: Abafana Bizarre (Dance, Wushwini)
2.30 Dustbins (Street Theatre – Thandimpilo)
3.00: The Kitchen Symphony (Street Theatre – Clinton Marius and Bongani Mbatha)
3:30: Fragile (Dance – Kristi-Leigh Gresse)
4:00: Sibo (Street mime)
4:30: Dludlu Dladlala (Dance – Musa Hlatshwayo and The Movement Lab)
