The South African State Theatre will yet again be home to the fifth (5th) Annual ‘Vavasati International Festival’ from 14 August to 2 September 2017, curated by the internationally renowned playwright, poet, director, and SAST Deputy Artistic Director, Napo Masheane. The festival this year is under the theme “Flowers of the Revolution”– a term of endearment given to the women of MK by the commander-in-chief of MK, comrade president, Oliver Reginald Tambo.
“This August we want to make sure that all “Flowers of the Revolution” are given opportunities to not just tell beautiful stories to our children but also to those that are clouded with strength in the face of gendercide. We owe these stories to our ‘her-story’ and at least our future generations.” Said Masheane.
Vavasati Festival will launch on the 14th of August with activities involving an exhibition by an Italian photographer, Rosetta Messori- whose images testify to a strong narrative tension and at the same time, an overwhelming pictorial vocation. She is known for her own personal artistic research on the relationship between ‘Space, Time and Energy’, mainly through analogue photography. ‘Gug’Othandayo,’ a group of elderly women will perform the popular Tsonga traditional dance of ‘Xibelani’ together with the SAST Female Choir. The musician, Petros Mashaba will be representing voices of men as he delivers his renditions to honour and celebrate all women on the night. The festival will then proceed with presentations of Drama, Poetry, Jazz, Exhibitions and Workshops by various women in the Arts until the 2nd of September.
The name ‘Vavasati’ is a Xitsonga word meaning ‘Women’, so as to reiterate the power and strength that women possess when they unite. In addition, SAST created a women’s festival of this stancher to give accessibility to space and theatre resources to women artists whose names do not appear in any theatre history books. Like 20 000 women of all races and backgrounds, who marched to Union Buildings against pass laws on the 9th of August in 1956. SA State Theatre will recognise these heroes and heroines whose names are not etched on any monument or heritage infrastructure, so that their significant creative work can be a force within the South African landscape.
“This August, we want ‘Vavasati International Festival’ to unburden these sacred and gallant memories through different voices of works that relates to female story lines. These can be seen or witnessed in various plays, shows, workshops, exhibitions, high-tea themes, flea markets and artistic activities; giving audience a window into what women artists are creating, thinking of, writing about and take note of the remarkable achievements of women in theatre,” Said Masheane.
For more information contact Thakgatso Setseta in Public Relation at State Theatre on the following details:
Cell: 0788233596
Tel: 012 392 4045
E-Mail: Thakgatso@statetheatre.co.za
Twitter: @sast_pr
