National Arts Festival 2025: a bold return to creativity and culture
Gabriel Ravenscroft, Mia Coomber and Jan Kotzé in Kirsten Isenberg's Reverie as part of SALT
Image: Paul Seaby
In a bold return to its roots, the National Arts Festival (NAF) is set to reclaim its rebellious essence with an eclectic lineup for 2025, just a year after celebrating its 50th milestone. Held in the heart of Makhanda, Eastern Cape, from 26 June to 6 July, the festival promises an invigorating cultural escape that reflects the urgency and creativity of our times. Audiences can anticipate a rich tapestry of local and international works that engage in protest, memory, creativity, and imagination.
Artistic Director Rucera Seethal, speaking on the programme's evolution, highlighted the unpredictable global landscape that permeates the festival this year. “The Festival is a fluid container for these conversations,” she said. “Artists first see and then weave – through words, art, body or expression – that which we are too busy to truly notice.” This year, the festival invites audiences to step into the exhilarating world of artistry, trading the mundane for unexpected inspiration.
This year’s curated programme shines a spotlight on the significance of the body in storytelling through a dazzling array of dance performances set to disrupt the chill of Makhanda's winter. The programme will feature Cape Ballet Africa’s "SALT", comprising striking pieces choreographed by acclaimed artists and a special performance of George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, directed by Diana White.
Magic Maids is performed by Eisa Jocson and Venuri Perera.
Image: Bernie Ng - courtesy of Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Singapore
In a poignant melding of dance and activism, Izithukuthuku by Vusimuzi Mdoyi and Phala Ookeditse Phala narrates the complexities of the migrant worker experience through traditional African dance forms and industrial sounds. International voices will also be represented; Eisa Jocson and Venuri Perera's Magic Maids serves as a haunting reflection on the intersection of exploitation and female labour.
The acclaimed dance piece Road, choreographed and performed by Oscar Buthelezi and Muzi Shili, meditates on themes of solidarity and survival, highlighting the resilience of the human spirit amidst adversity. This year also sees the return of the family-favourite circus performance The Cirk with Malo and the Moon Maiden, directed by Janice Honeyman, weaving together laughter, movement, and magic.
the festival’s theatre programming promises to delve into messy narratives that reflect contemporary societal challenges. Highlights include the UK’s Action Hero theatre group’s acclaimed The Talent, which interrogates the legacy of voice in a digital age. Director Jay Pather will adapt Nadia Davids’ unsettling narrative Bridling, venturing into themes of creativity and feminism with a distinctive blend of text, visual art, and dance.
The cast of Die Een Wat Bly, one of the plays that will be at the Festival as part of the Festival Enterprise Catalyst project
Image: Gys Loubser
Audiences will also have the chance to honour the works of Athol Fugard through staged productions of The Island and Sizwe Banzi is Dead, under the direction of Xabiso Zweni. New works, such as The Fugue of Tjebolang by Rehane Abrahams, will take audiences through a mystical journey exploring Sufi culture, while Campbell Meas’s multimedia play Vakavigwa explores nuanced relationships within the African diaspora.
The musical offerings at this year’s festival are sure to resonate emotionally and culturally. Anelisa “Annalyzer” Stuurman presents Izwi Lami (My Voice), a performance honouring Xhosa heritage, while popular vocal ensemble The Soil is set to allure audiences with their signature harmony. Moreover, the Wits Trio will play compositions that pay tribute to periods of societal rebellion, heralding their 15 years of artistic collaboration.
Cheshire V in The Fugue of Tjebolang
Image: Haneem Christians
The National Jazz Festival Makhanda promises exciting programming in collaboration with the National Youth Jazz Festival, designed to bring together students and mentors. The Eastern Cape showcase, supported by the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, will traverse the region's rich cultural landscape.
The festival will also feature a stimulating literature segment, Litfest, alongside the second edition of Art Talks, aiming to foster dialogues about pressing contemporary issues. Additionally, the ever-popular Fringe programme brims with comedy, experimental theatre, and cross-disciplinary works, ensuring a lively atmosphere for all festival-goers.
As excitement builds, the full programme will be available online with bookings opening on 13 May 2025. For those unable to attend in person, a selection of VFringe on-demand videos will be made available, ensuring that festival experiences are accessible to wider audiences.
This year’s National Arts Festival undeniably presents an opportunity to engage with profound artistry, foster meaningful conversations, and celebrate the collective heartbeat of South African creativity.