THIS year, the festival’s theme is humanity and the objective is to celebrate and salute women who actively strive to better their lives and those of other women in society.
The festival is Artscape’s way of highlighting the lack of humanity which marginalised groups face daily, with a particular emphasis on women and the disabled.
Spread over the week leading up to Women’s Day on August 9, the Festival includes stage productions; empowering workshops; song, poetry and art exhibits; book launches; the launch of a website specifically designed for disabled women, a women’s humanity walk and basically a little bit of something for everyone.
• Mamela Nyamza will present Hatched at Artscape Arena (Aug 6 at 8.30pm and Aug 8 at 5pm) and I Stand Corrected at Artscape Arena (Aug 7, 8 and 9 at 8.15pm).
• Popular dark murder mystery Tannie Dora Goes Bos will be reprised at Artscape Arena (Aug 6 at 6pm and Aug 9 at 12pm).
• The story of Antjie Fortuin, a teenager with the potential to work her way to a better life, Rondomskrik, at Artscape Theatre on Aug 7 and 8 at 8pm.
• Three’s Company ballet featuring Cape Town City Ballet among other companies at the Artscape Opera House on Aug 8 at 7.30pm and Aug 9 at 2pm and 7.30pm.
• Divalicious Dames is a drag show by up-and-coming drag artists Ramsay Davids and Martin Neethling at Artscape Arena on Aug 15 and 16 at 8.15pm.
• Melanie Scholtz uses the poetry of James Matthew in concert, drawing on her work on the album Freedom’s Child at Artscape Arena on Aug 9 at 3pm.
• Sophia Foster directs Thembi Mtshali-Jones, Sylvia Mdunyelwa, Zanne Stapelberg, Vicky Sampson, Sarah Theron, Fancy Galada, Zelda Benjamin, Tina Schouw and Diana Ferrus in Women in Song, a concert which will also feature the South African Circle of Dance Academy directed by Gladys Bullock. Aug 9 at 8pm at Artscape Arena.
• Book launches include Sydda Essop’s Karoo Kitchen (Aug 7, 7pm in the Chandelier Foyer) and Forgiveness by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu and the Reverend Mpho Tutu, plus the second edition of James Matthews’ Age is a Beautiful Phase.
• Meet the Woman Zone team and hear Philippa Kabali-Kagwa’s story at the 13-women storytelling session on Aug 8 at 5.30pm in the Marble Extension Foyer.
• The Women’s Humanity Walk, co-ordinated by Woman Zone, Artscape and the SA Faith and Family Institute will be addressed and blessed by interfaith leaders at St George’s Cathedral on Aug 9 at 9.30am and end at Artscape.
• The festival will host a visual arts exhibition by Dawn De Grass and a photo exhibition by Clive Gray titled Every Mother has Hopes and Dreams for her Children, in the Marble Extension Foyer.
• Check www.artscape.co.za for a complete schedule.