By Jodi Jantjies
For its 20th anniversary, the Suidoosterfees kept true to its word and provided an inclusive platform for everyone.
Suidoosterfees, a festival celebrating the rich culture of the Cape and surrounding areas, has been the home of many up-and-coming artists and a haven for oppressed art forms.
Theatre has always been a big part of the festival and to honour the art form STEMME was introduced; an award-winning project created to keep the festivalgoer intrigued between the various productions offered. Twenty actors, 10 directors and 10 scriptwriters were given the opportunity to showcase a short production.
The project was introduced by LitNet in partnership with the Suidoosterfees, NATi and ATKV.
The festival notably honoured the younger voices with theatre productions such as Jantjies and the Pearls, a heartbreaking story told humorously about District Six and the forced removals under the Group Areas Act during apartheid. Mikayla Brown, a drama student at the University of Stellenbosch, who received a Fleur du Cap Award for Most Promising Student, wrote the production.
Inclusion is the foundation of the festival and many of the productions such as The Big Bash Theory, celebrated the diversity of music and entertainment, which included a mixture of comedy and dance, included just that, according to Netwerk24.
The concert, which hosted many local stars, such as Emo and Loukman Adams, Jarrid Rickets, and Tracey Lange, aimed to celebrate the diversity of South Africa in one big, grand production.
