by Jonathan Burton
The Hilton Arts Festival 2016 was once again a resounding success, Sue Clarence’s diverse program had Festival goers spoilt for choice. The pick of South African Theatre was represented across all genres from John Kani directing his son in ‘Sizwe Bansi is Dead’ to the one man masterpiece ‘Dead Yellow Sands’ featuring the hugely talented Graham Weir. ‘Feathers’, Moving Into Dance’s ‘latest dance work brought the house down while Mpilo ‘Straw’ Nzimande and T Q Zondi, the irrepressible duo from Pietermaritzburg, wowed audiences with the Peter Mitchell directed ‘Tales From A Termite’, ‘Feedback’ and ‘Master Harold and The Boys’. For those fortunate to see it the South Korean production ‘Dallae’s Story’ was the pick of the Festival, a delicate and tender story told through the medium of mime and puppetry. Grahamstown Ovation award winners ‘Graveyard’ and crowd favourite ‘The Snow Goose’ were also well received. Photos by Jonathan Burton
by Jonathan Burton
David Muller – Memorial Hall Technician
Black Coffee, the Technical suppliers of the Festival once again outdid themselves. Their attention to detail and their ‘grace under pressure’ mentality is something many Producers only dream of. Brandon Bunyan (Mr. Black Coffee), for the second year running exposed a selection of COPA (Centre Of Performing Arts) students to the industry. While some struggled to adapt to the demands of the Festival others grew wings and by the end of the Festival had most of the experienced technicians taking notice of them.
by Jonathan Burton
Black Coffee and DWR awarded the two most enterprising and hard-working students, as voted for by the venue technicians, with a prize for their commitment and dedication. DWR’s Michael Taylor-Broderick, the Festival’s Technical Director believes that it is Festival Director Sue Clarence’s insistence on the technical aspects being top notch that makes the Festival so successful. ‘It is a huge honour to have a legend like Mannie Manim and the hugely creative Wilhelm Disbergen lighting productions at the Festival. If we can’t look after them properly they won’t come, so kudos to Sue for understanding this’ says Michael. Black Coffee equipped all the bigger venues with DOT2 Core consoles whilst the smaller venues were run off the DOT2 eKing On Pc software. Technicians who were first time users of the DOT2 software adapted with ease and Michael reiterated that it is the ease of use of the DOT2 that makes it a deal breaker. Even the Korean English language barrier that could have derailed the South Korean production became a non-issue as the user friendly DOT2 gently nudged this potential obstacle aside.
Jaco The Clown tries to keep balance in strong winds at the 2016 Hilton Arts Festival at Hilton College yesterday. photo. Jonathan Burton
