A 2020 vNAF Virtual National Arts Festival supported collaboration between POPArt and Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival
As theatre’s around the country have turned out their lights and closed their doors for the safety of their audiences over the COVID pandemic, the National Arts Festival has not hesitated to find an online and digital solution to this year’s Festival. Still however conversations and questions fill the digital either; What does it actually mean to take theatre online? What do digital spaces actually offer for theatre making and performance?
‘Virtual Black Out: Experiments in the Future of Form’ takes a bold step into digital “space” making for virtual performance. Starting with experienced scenographers and digital arts in a collaboration to rethink space, set, light, location and time – where form leads the spark for new digital theatre making.
POPArt and Fakugesi Festival come together to bring into collaboration a stellar group of writers, directors, actors, scenographers and digital artists from Southern African and beyond to produce five short unique and diverse experiments in the future of form.
Online Exhibition & Presentation:
- 5 pieces led by the digital form on the vNAF platform from the 1st July till the 16 July at – link updated on 1 July.
- Follow the Virtual Black Out Facebook Event for updates and developments.
- RSVP for the Live and Online Collaborators Presentation and Q & A on July 1 at 6pm
Thank you to all team’s who got involved and developed work in some of the fastests collaborations we have ever seen !
Project Leads:
Dintshitile Mashile (POPArt Productions)
Hayleigh Evans (POPArt Productions)
Jenni Lee Crewe (Independent Scenographer & Lecturer, University of Cape Town)
Mwenya Kabwe (Independent Theatre Maker and Scholar)
Tegan Bristow (Director, Fak’ugesi African Digital Innovation Festival & Senior Lecturer, Wits School of the Arts)
Digital Artists:
Kombo Chapfika (ZW, previously a Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Resident supported by Pro Helvetia)
Meghan Judge (ZA)
Natalie Paneng (ZA, previously a Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Resident supported by Pro Helvetia)
Vanessa Lorenzo Toquero (CH, previously a Fak’ugesi Digital Africa Resident supported by Pro Helvetia)
Xopher Wallace (ZA)
Scenographers:
Craig Leo (ZA)
Hannah Lax (ZA)
Jayne Batzofin (ZA)
Noluthando Lobese (ZA)
Vaughn Sadie (ZA)
Theatre Makers: Writer, Director and Actors:
Baeletsi Tsatsi (ZA)
Billy Langa (ZA)
Carla Fonseca (ZA)
Francesco Nassimbeni (ZA)
Gerard Bester (ZA)
Katlego Chale (ZA)
Liezl De Kock (ZA)
Lindiwe Matshikiza (ZA)
Mongiwekhaya (ZA)
Nikki Pilkington (ZA)
Rob Murray (ZA)
Roberto Pombo (ZA)
Teresa Phuti Mojela (ZA)
Tshego Khutsoane (ZA)
Ukwanda Puppets and Design Art Collective (Luyanda Nogodlwana, Sipho Ngxola, Siphokazi Mphofu) (ZA)