“Masks and capacity restrictions were finally history after almost two and a half years of lockdown, but the abrupt and almost off-hand nature of the government’s announcement had left people wondering – could it really be true? Were we allowed to be here, carefree, barefaced? This was the first in-person National Arts Festival in two years; would it also be the last? And if people weren’t going to show up for theatre, dance, comedy and music in this strange little town, was there any hope for the arts in South Africa?”