The 2017 Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival to Showcase 56 Productions from All Over the Western Cape and Other Regions

The 2017 Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival, which takes place from 18 - 25 March, will once again showcase an exciting and diverse programme of 56 different productions, performed by nearly 300 artists, from all over the Western Cape and other regions, covering various genres, theatrical styles and languages.

Now in its seventh year, with a record number of productions participating, this vital and leading development festival has earned the praise of audiences, theatre-makers, communities and media, for the far-reaching and wide-ranging impact that it has made on local artists and the arts industry. Loosely translated, Zabalaza Intsika eBaxter Theatre means two things: striving towards being a pillar of the Baxter Theatre Centre and striving towards success.

Young and rising talent, along with some stalwarts and previous participants will fill the Baxter stages over the eight-day event where the focus this year is on fresh and innovative ideas.

The festival kicks off with the Zabalaza Weekend on 18 and 19 March, when all the venues and spaces in the Baxter theatre complex will pulsate with dynamic and assorted artistic activities featuring nearly 30 productions. This is followed by the Zabalaza Week from 20 - 25 March, with daily performances at 10:00, 10h30, 11h30, 12h30, 13h00, 14h30, 16h00, 16h30, 18h00, 18h30 and 20h00, in various venues and performed in six different languages: English, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sesotho, Setswane and Afrikaans.

Productions from groups all the over the Western Cape, including some further afield such as Knysna, Wellington, Oudtshoorn, Swellendam, Bredasdorp and Paarl, make up the bulk of the programme, while there are two each from the Eastern Cape, Johannesburg and Pretoria and one from Durban.

The productions were primarily selected from the mini-festivals which were held earlier this year in Worcester, Nyanga East, Khayelitsha, Delft, the Eden Drama Festival, the Cape Winelands Festival and the Overberg Drama Festival. The winning productions from the latter three festivals are also included in the line-up.

The festival boasts multiple genres, from drama, musical theatre, movement/dance to physical theatre and comedy. One of the innovations this year is the introduction of reggae in the musical theatre category, thereby extending the festival and artists to a whole new audience.

The support of the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, who is the primary partner, and the City of Cape Town as well as the theatre-going public and the passion and creativity of the artists have ensured that this festival continues its success, growing exponentially as it pushes boundaries in the South African theatre-making landscape.

The core team behind the festival comprises artistic director Thami Mbongo, co-ordinator Zoleka Helesi, executive manager Bongile Mantsai, administrator Akhona Shinga and audience development officer, Monde Myataza.

In 2016 Zabalaza, won a special Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Innovation in Theatre for 'their phenomenal contribution to the development of new South African work by providing a platform for artists who want to venture into acting, stage management, writing and directing'. The same year, Thami Mbongo received the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sports Ministerial award for the Best Contribution to Drama in the province.

The Baxter Zabalaza Theatre Festival has produced many success stories and it has given rise to great young stars that have graced the world's stages in a short period, gathering accolades along the way. Many other artists have become recognised and have managed to carve careers for themselves in the arts, both locally and abroad.

Khayalethu Anthony performed the coveted role of Solomon opposite Dame Janet Suzman in SOLOMON AND MARION, for which he received a Naledi Theatre Award for Best Newcomer. His production of THE CHAMPION won the 2014 Best Production of Zabalaza Festival and went on to receive a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award nomination for Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play, winning the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award for Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show.

Phillip Dikotla's SKIERLIK, the Best of Zabalaza winner in 2013, received a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award nomination for Best New South African Script and won the Fleur du Cap for Best Performance in a Revue, Cabaret or One-Person Show as well as a Naledi Theatre Award for Best Newcomer. The production was also invited to be part of the international arts festival, Afrovibes, in 2014.

Poseletso Sejosingoe, winner of the Zabalaza Best Actress in 2012, went on to perform in The Baxter Theatre's production of SCROOGE and is currently touring internationally with the musical THE LION KING.

Zabalaza, in partnership with the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, has been nominating actors and actresses to audition for television roles. All those who auditioned were awarded cameo roles over the last few years. In 2016 William Michaels, Robyn September and Llewellyn Bond appeared in SUIDOOSTER, while Thabiso Newman, Samantha Pienaar, Olivia Pika, Julian van der Westhuizen, William Michaels and Melloney Marais appeared in 7DE LAAN.

This year, the observers and field workers who worked closely with the team to make the final selection comprised former Best of Zabablaza winners Lauren Hannie, Khayalethu Anthony, Bulelani Mabutyani and Loyiso Damoyi. This forms part of the skills transfer ethic of the programme where these artists were given the opportunity to develop artistic and administrative skills. Thami Mobongo comments:

We are deeply thankful for the continued support and partnership of the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport. Zabalaza is way more than just an annual festival to showcase the works of talented artists who would never have had access to such opportunities. It is about building a community of theatre-makers, guiding them and caring for their development every step of the way. Every year I am encouraged by, not only the work, but also the support and faith that these artists have in us. This allows us to expand the programme for artists and audiences, so that we are able to build a community and live the spirit of Zabalaza.

To date, five of the Best of Zabalaza play scripts have been published through a partnership with Junket Publishers. In this way, a growing body of plays that are accessible, relevant and artistically skilful becomes easily available to communities, schools, other educational institutions and theatre groups. This year will see the launch of Lauren Hannies' TIP-EX (2016), which will join . FRUIT by Paul Noko (2015), THE CHAMPION by Khayalethu Anthony (2014), SKIERLIK by Phillip Dikotla (2013) and WORST OF BOTH WORLDS by Bulelani Mabutyana (2012).

Tickets for the Zabalaza festival are R30 and R40 for the Reggae Edition and booking is online through Computicket, by phone on 0861 915 8000, or in person at any Shoprite Checkers outlet. For discounted corporate, schools or block-bookings, charities or fundraisers, contact Sharon Ward on 021 680 3962 or Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993. View the full 2017 festival programme on the Baxter Theatre website, the Baxter Theatre's Facebook page or the Zabalaza Facebook page. To make school's bookings for any of the festival shows, please contact Akhona Shinga or Monde Myataza on 021 680 3980.

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