Litnet

While many eisteddfod events and other festivals planned for 2020 have been cancelled as a result of the COVID-19 challenge, The National Eisteddfod Academy (NEA) is happy to announce that its national eisteddfod activities for 2020 will go ahead as planned.

Today we need the voices of artists, thinkers, writers, and arts educators to help us examine and navigate this new world that is not only experiencing a physical pandemic, but witnessing reactions to the pandemic of racial discrimination that has for centuries divided and enraged communities across the world.

"[E]ngage in dialogues with other artists; take a duologue and Zoom it with another actor; join the Facebook Shakespeare soliloquy group and learn and perform a favourite soliloquy online; plan a season for a small theatre venue for the first six months after lockdown …"

The festival’s website is readying itself to become a virtual stage: all events will be accessed through the website portal – both curated work and un-selected "fringe" events. The curated programme is a schedule of events that will be released each day from 25 June to 5 July. 

Concerts Connect is proud to present the second concert in a premier series of three concerts on 14 June 2020 at 15:30. From the magnificent Casa Labia in Muizenberg, Nina Schumann will present a solo piano recital featuring an eclectic programme of works by Bach, Haydn, Debussy and Rachmaninoff.

The Zabalaza team has come up with a new and exciting model for applications with the introduction of a Script Writing Programme, which came about in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic and its effects.

Join Lana Crowster in a one-hour performance with Shaun Johannes (bass), Amanda Tiffin (keys), Marc de Kock (sax) and Unity Mzi (drums) on Saturday, 6 June at 18:00 for an evening of Rhythm, Blues, Soul and Funk.

The Fugard Theatre’s new digital platform The Fugard at Home launched on 1 June, presenting a unique opportunity to access a range of theatrical content on The Fugard Theatre’s website.

The South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) is pivoting! The highly anticipated event that was scheduled to take place at the Artscape Opera House from 13 to 18 July 2020 has taken a leap into the online space and will now be held virtually.

With a Tony-winning score by Cyndi Lauper and book by four-time Tony winner Harvey Fierstein, The Fugard Theatre’s South African premiere production of Kinky Boots was seen by a staggering 58 000 people over an incredible eight months to sold-out houses and rave reviews. 

The winners of the 55th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards for the Performing Arts have been announced! The winners of this year’s Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards reflected a dynamic, healthy mix of emergent and established local talent, in the view of panel judging chair Africa Melane.

After careful consideration, a decision was taken to replace this year’s awards ceremony with a digital announcement of winners in all award categories on Monday, 18 May at 18:00, via the Facebook and Twitter pages of the sponsor, Distell.

"It may just be the world’s first live donations platform that allows artists, performers, comedians, chefs, etc to earn from their fans while they livestream – from anywhere in the world. Also, we’ve seen incredible fundraisers being curated around BUSQR. Musician Dan Green managed to raise R120 000 in one hour for a township in Noordhoek."

"With the 'new normal' now upon us, The Fugard at Home will present engaging and compelling content on an online portal that champions the arts and once again connects our loyal Fugard audiences and artists in a meaningful way," says Lamees Albertus, general manager and producer of The Fugard Theatre.  

"With the current coronavirus crisis, and people across the world having to self-isolate, for once the earth is getting a chance to breathe due to fewer people moving around and polluting the earth."

"It represents a certain group of people and a story worth telling, but it does so in a superficial, monotone manner that skims over possible interesting angles. It comes across as a pet project.

"I believe that when those violins 'ring' outside and through the empty streets, even more than only these families can 'escape' this rude reality and feel comforted by music for a few magical moments!"

"Most of us are under lockdown and turning to online entertainment ... So, I thought it would help for me to sift through the jumble by compiling a list of every title that a) I have ever reviewed positively and b) is available online. This is Part II of II."

"Any stressful time of change comes with gifts. These divergent experiences in our lives knock us all off-centre, and for creativity, off-centre is a very good place to be. We expect especially our fine arts and writing learners to engage actively with the pandemic with their daily situations."

In response to the impact of coronavirus and the nation-wide lockdown, the Baxter Theatre Centre has launched a brand new initiative called Baxter Radio, aimed at recording school setworks, children’s books, new South African works and classics. These will be made directly accessible to The Baxter’s subscriber database and to community radio stations.