
969 Festival 2019
Wits Theatre’s 969 Festival celebrates its 16th birthday this year with a lineup of 14 productions in dance, music, drama and comedy.
The Festival runs from 18-28 July at the Wits Theatre in Braamfontein which will showcase work from all over the Country. We aim to create a cosy and warm environment where patrons can enjoy a drink or two before a show. Patrons will be able to take in two to three shows when visiting the theatre as it is in a festival format.
This year’s line-up has three award winners fresh off the stages of Makhanda National Arts Festival: Fruit, Unfathomable and Currently Gold. The Wits School of Music has its annual Wits Trio Concert playing at the Atrium on 21 July which usually draws a large crowd due to its’s popularity. This years’ Theatre and Performance production which has played at NAF is a double bill “ Two Can Play” and features some talented TAP students including a young Sax player. The Wits Theatre - Division of the Wits School of Arts will feature productions for all age groups i.e the Young Scientist – a mother and daughter initiative which will appeal to children from 4 years old.
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Two Can Play (20, 24, 25, 26, 27 July)
Double Bill as Follows:
Part One
In South Africa, Fingers are used as a signal whether for transport, communal communication or to offend, in the busy setting of the city, fingers work as a signal for something based on time and context. 2 Fingers @ work is a reference to how ones fingers can be a sign of either success or a great downfall. The story follows Lwando Mkhize from the Eastern Cape who is a fine arts prodigy, whose talent is placed with his fingers, in his community he doesn't fit the patriarchal figure of masculinity. He's an artist; a gift he shares with his mother who is a dress make. His father, younger brother and him have a difficult relationship.
Part Two
The play is set in two different worlds, a blue world and a brown world. It follows the lives of two university students, Themba, a Black 21 year old male studying Politics and Hope a White 20 year old student studying Drama at the same University. These two live lives separately in their blue and brown worlds. These two individuals come from their two distinct worlds, meet one day at a campus counselling group session which focuses on issues of identity. Themba addresses his bourgeoning regret with the decision he took of studying politics that was mainly driven by his parents, while his lifelong passion for acting continues to linger.
Performers: Mongezi Ntukwana, Alex Sono, Megan Miller, Mathapelo Wesinyane, Keitumetse Mbatha
Director: Naledi Modipa, Kamogelo Theledi
Set and Costume: Naledi Modipa and Kamogelo Theledi
Dates and Times:
- 20 July@14:00
- 24 July@13:15
- 25 July@13:15
- 26 July@18:00
- 27 July@16:00
Venue: Downstairs Theatre
Age Restriction: PG13
Running Time: 75 min
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Fruit (18, 20, 28 July)
Fruit is a fragile story about a little girl Matlakala who grows up in a Township ravaged by crime and poverty. A story with innocence and purity
Performer: Matshidiso Mokoteli
Director: Paul Noko
Writer: Paul Noko
Lighting Designer: Bongani Mofokeng
Dates:
- 18 July@21:00
- 20 July@18:00
- 28 July@16:30
Venue: Downstairs
Running Time: 45 min
Age Restriction: All
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2 Dee (18, 27, 28 July)
Tuck into a feast of exquisite shadow puppetry: 2 Dee explores thespectacular versatility of this ancient art-form through a collection ofpoetry and short stories. Prepare to be captivated and delighted by the meeting of light and shadow and charmed by the improvised poetry and hilarious audience participation. Avril Cummins will leave you wondering why we ever thought we needed three dimensions.
Performer: Avril Cummins
Writer: Avril Cummins
Director: Avril Cummins
Composer: The Perch Creek Family Jug Band
Lighting Designer: Avril Cummins
Date:
- 18 July@19:45
- 27 July@19:30
- 28 July@14:00
Venue: Amphitheatre
Running Time: 50 min
Age Restriction: All
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Currently(G)Old (16, 20, 21 July)
Does the youth of South Africa know what their Human Rights are? How to exercise these rights? Are Human Rights accessible to everyone. Are they realistic in our lived experiences? Set against the background of South Africa's current social-political context this play explores how young South Africans perceive their Human Rights. The play uses satire to interrogate and at times ridicule their relevance in real life.
Performer/s: Sibahle Mangena, Thuli Nduvane, Molatelo Tracy Maffa, Vusi Nkwenkwezi
Director: Aalliyah Matintela, Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi
Written By: Divised by Cast
Lighting Designer: Aalliyah Matintela
Mentor: Prince Lamla
Produced By: Hayleigh Evans, Rudy Motseatsea, Kwasa Theatre Company
Dates:
- 19 July@18:00
- 20 July@16:00
- 21 July@15:00
Venue: Amphitheatre
Running Time: 50 min
Age Restriction: 13+
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Joël Leonard does scenes from Hamlet (19, 21, 25 July)
The play is a series of skits surrounding various news stories that graced the headlines over the last five years-including the Oscar Pistorius love story, the Vicki Momberg first time offence and the #FEESMUSTFALL soapie. Joel Leonard believes that the world needs his solo version of Hamlet. But the world wants something else . His snap out of the comfort zone, sees him hurtling down a dark road as he flops between shorts like a conduit of the Comedy Devil.
Performer/s: Joel Leonard
Director: Harry Adu Faulkner
Written By: Harry Adu Faulkner and Joel Leonard
Costume and Set Designer: Harry Adu Faulkner and Joel Leonard
Lighting Designer: Harry Adu Faulkner and Joel Leonard
Other Credits: Mentored by Kgafela oa Mogogodi, Myer Taub and Neka Da Costa
Dates:
- 19 July@19:45
- 21 July@17:00
- 25 July@21:00
Venue: Amphitheatre
Running Time: 50 min
Age Restriction: PG13 LS
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Thunderbirds Comedy (19 July)
The Thunderbirds is an all-conquering female trio of comedians that has been touring the country with their off the wall, unhinged, unapologetic brand of girl power comedy. Fasten your seatbelts boys and girls, this show is one helleva of a ride!
Performer/s: Gilli Apter, Nina Hastie, Claudine Ullman
Director: Gilli Apter, Nina Hastie, Claudine Ullman
Written By: Gilli Apter, Nina Hastie, Claudine Ullman
Lighting Designer: Gilli Apter, Nina Hastie, Claudine Ullman
Costume and Set Design: Gilli Apter, Nina Hastie, Claudine Ullman
Dates:
- 19 July@21:00
Venue: Downstairs
Running Time: 75 minutes
Age Restriction: 18+
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Artificially Infeminated (20 July)
Artificially Infeminated, directed by award winning comedian Rob Van Vuuren, is Claudine's debut one woman stand up comedy show that explores the intricacies of being cis gender female, pale white, chubby, Jewish and middle child in Jo'burg #millenialslovelabels. Claudine explores everything from her childhood infatuation with becoming famous, to her current infatuation with her double chin. Other topics include thigh gaps, complaining and how watching The Secret repeatedly isn't the secret to getting rich - which is the real secret - are you following? Playing multiple characters, she discusses deep questions that explore the human condition like the battle between men and women and the battle between gym and tennis biscuits….
This show is a fresh, hilarious and surprising take on stand up comedy and will leave you thigh clapping for more. If you don't like it, you can always ask to speak to the manager.
Performer/s: Claudine Ullman
Director: Rob Van Vuuren
Written and designed: Claudine Ullman
Lighting Designer: Claudine Ullman
Dates:
- 20 July @20:00
Venue: Downstairs
Running Time: 75 min
Age Restriction: 18+
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Because Life Happens (20, 28 July)
Peaceful Thulare and Ntokozo Deyi take us on a comedic journey through the colourful way they perceive the world. "Because Life Happens" this world can be cold and cruel. They remedy this through the gift of laughter. Come get your dose from Dr Thulare and Doctor Deyi.
Performer: Ntokozo Deyi and Peaceful Thulare
Director: Nhlanhla Sicelo Mnisi
Written By: Ntokozo Deyi and Peaceful Thulare
Dates:
- 20 July@21:30/Downstairs
- 28 July@19:45/Main Theatre
Venue: As above dates
Running Time: 45min
Age Restriction: All
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Empty (W)raps (24, 25, 26 July)
Empty (W)raps is a series of deconstructed monologues broken down into thoughts and experiences. These thoughts and experiences are a result of loss, uncertainty, love, hate and broken relationships that has manifested in the lives of four women. These four women are a facet of each other and are occupying a space that is filled with empty boxes. This obscure space that the women occupy is filled with boxes and we get a sense that this space is actually existing in their minds.
The unfolding of the thought provoking conversations and confrontations are a discovery of deeply embedded and hidden experiences that the four women have had to deal with in their lives. Empty(W)raps has elements of song and physical theatre, explored through deconstructed monologues and poems.
Performers: Sibabalwe Mrwebi, Thandikile Mzaca, Bisma Menon, Unathi Plaatjie
Director: Nomvuyo Hlophe
Written By: Nomvuyo Hlophe and cast
Lighting Designer: Gifter Ngobeni
Dates:
- 24 July@18:00
- 25 July@20:30
- 26 July @20:00
Venue: Downstairs
Running Time: 60 min
Age Restriction: 16+
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The Young Scientist (25, 26, 27 July)
What are the images of scientists that we form for children? Can we view children as scientists and complete humans? Do adult humans give a fair chance to children to perform to their fullest potential?
Performers: Thandiwe Sekhibane, Uthandolwethu Mrubata
Director: Thandiwe Sekhibane
Written By: Thandiwe Sekhibane
Lighting Designer: Thenjiwe Xoxokoshe
Costume and Set Design: Thandiwe Sekhibane, Nhlanhla Khumalo
Dates:
- 25 July@17:00
- 26 July@16:00
- 27 July@15:00
Venue: Downstairs
Running Time: 45 min
Age Restriction: All
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Unfathomable (25, 26 July)
Unfathomable is an image based work that wades, drifts, floats through the waters of unprocessed grief. It seeks out the ghostly presences of those gone and those still alive, to understand their liveliness in death, their ghostliness in life. Tracing the histories of her father and grandmother in a poetic play between materials, body and words, Alex Halligey takes audiences on a swim through lives that couldn't be contained and those that stayed small for fear of the size of their spirit.
Performer: Alex Halligey
Director: Athena Mazarakis
Written By: Alex Halligey
Costume and Set Design: Jenni-Lee Crewe
Lighting Designer: Athena Mazarakis
Produced By: Wise & Great
Other credits: Created at the Forgotten Angle Theatre Collaborative's Ebhudlweni Arts Centre
Dates:
- 25 July@18:30
- 26 July@18:00
Venue: Main Theatre
Running Time: 50 min
Age Restriction: PG13
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Gas Lands (28 July)
Gas Lands navigates the unknown spaces between the fine lines created by borders. Women testify to and defy these landscapes - wandering through the minds of the forgotten. Bailey Snyman's Gas Lines is a poetic meditation on the displacement of women due to war, trafficking and migration in the 21st century. Set in a dystopian future that oscillates between "its present and 'our' history. The dance work explores the challenges of crossing borders into the unknown being forced to run and hide from our identities and seeking refuge through the empathy of others. Gas Lands is a statement on resilience in the face of adversity. It is a sad, yet ultimately hopeful story -a requiem for all women and men who have carved a path from the past into the present and beyond the future.
The work has an original music composition by Daniel Geddes.
Performers: Bailey Snyman, Nicola Haskins, Tshepo Rapola, Mathew Winter, Jason Fredericks, Justice Makele, Oriana Somoza-Medina, Tebogo Mhlauli, Tatijana Ignjatov , Mahlodi Pesa, Walt Janse Van Rensburg, Zelne Papenfus and Hardy Keeve
Choreographer: Bailey Snyman
Original Score: Daniel Geddes
Costume Design: Michael Veldsman
Lighting & Set Designer: Willelm Disbergen
Dates:
- 28 July@15:00
Venue: Main Theatre
Running Time: 70 min
Age Restriction: PG 13
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Abantu (28 July)
A mixture of Artists from within the Wits Community.
Performers:
- Godfrey Mntambo (B.Mus III) - Alto Sax
- Sibonelwesihle Kodisang (Foundation) - Tenor Sax
- Thembekile Duze (B.Mus II) - Voice
- Kgaugelo Modise (B.Mus II) - Voice
- Thamsanqa Mamkeli (Foundation) - Guitar
- Nhlanhla Ngqaqu (Guest) - Bass
- Enoch Marutha (B.Mus I) - Drums
- Lehlohonolo Peega (B.Mus IV) - Percussions
Director: Lehlohonolo Peega
Dates: 28 July@18:30
Venue: Main Theatre
Running Time: 75 min
Age Restriction: All
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Salutations from FINGO- Double Bill (24 July)
Through the FINGO Festival the Wits Stash collaboration has taken to the Makhanda streets a body of work which engages directly with the audiences by disrupting the conventional space of art, through amplifying the stereotypes of Black art in the academy. As an ode to bridging the gap between the academy and the community it addresses a discourse that is true to their identity, bringing to the foreground a culture of public art which involves creating work (theatre, music, fine art) and other non-conventional spaces of performance for public indulgence and transcendence.
Performers: Wits Stash Collective
Director: Collaborated by Wits Stash
Writer: Collaborated by Wits Stash
Date: 24 June@20:00
Venue: Amphitheatre
Duration: 120 minutes
Interval: 30 minutes
Age Restriction: All
- All Tickets are on sale through webtickets.co.za
- You can book online and choose to pay at any Pick n Pay store. You can even load your ticket on your Pick n Pay smart shopper card.
- You can buy at Wits Theatre’s Box Office.
- For PR and Media enquiries: Contact beverley.batohi@wits.ac.za/lerato.sekele@wits.ac.za
Contact Lerato Sekele for student block bookings and queries on Festival lerato.sekele@wits.ac.za
Wits Theatre Box office and show information: 011 7171381 – Yuhl Headman/yuhl.headman@wits.ac.za
Ticket Types |
Details |
Price |
Special Purchase Conditions |
Online Full Price |
|
R 90 |
Redeem for printed tickets from Wits Theatre Box Office |
Online Pensioners Discount |
Pensioners |
R70 |
ID must be produced when redeeming tickets |
Online Students Discount |
Students |
R30 |
Must produce student card when redeeming tickets |
Box Office Full Price |
|
R 95 |
|
Box Office Full Price |
Pensioners |
R 75 |
ID must be produced when redeeming tickets |
Box Office Full Price |
Students |
R35 |
Student card must be produced |
Block Bookings Students |
|
R30 |
10 pax or more |
Block Bookings Adults |
|
R 65 |
10 pax or more/via Webtickets |
Wits Staff Online |
|
R 60 |
Produce Staff Card |
Wits Staff Box Office |
|
R 65 |
Produce Staff Card |