PRESS: National Arts Festival Programme is Live, Bookings Open

Sascha Polkey

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The National Arts Festival has launched its 2025 programme, starting the countdown to eleven days of evocative performances from across South Africa and beyond.

Taking place from 26 June to 6 July, South Africa’s longest-running arts festival is happening in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape.

Further to already announced highlights the Festival programme also include Oscar Buthelezi and Muzi Shili’s award-winning Road; a dance miniature that explores the journeys we take as human beings. Choreographed by the 2018 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance, Musa Hlatshwayo, Jazzart brings Portals and Petals; the subtle alchemy of my grandmother’s dreams... to this year’s Festival.

Road will be performed at the 2025 National Arts Festival. Photo Supplied.

On the theatre front, bold stories dig deep. One of the shows brought to the Festival with support from the Festival Enterprise Catalyst project, is Kompoun - a stage adaptation of Ronelda Kamfer’s novel of the same name, directed by Lee-Ann van Rooi. The play explores themes of innocence, perseverance and family feuds.

An exciting update on the music front is the addition of acapella group, The Soil.

Visitors can also look forward to a reimagined Eastern Cape Literature Festival (known as Lit Fest) - which will present a powerful line-up of speakers and panelists including John Kani, Jerry Mafokeng, Khaya Dlanga, Sihle-isipho Nontshokweni-Bikilsho and Nozibele Qamngana-Mayaba.

A scene from Kompoun. Photo by Gys Loubser.

Additional works announced for the Fringe include Roberto Pombo in Afropocolypse, while Eastern Cape storytelling will play out in the Battle Of Lurwayizo, detailing the Apartheid-era police shootout that took place in the Village of Lurwayizo, where some of the uMkhonto weSizwe veterans including Mbulelo Ngono, Maqhekeza, and the Jafta family were regarded as terrorists.

Winner of a 2024 Silver Ovation Award, Cantos of a Life in Exile is Makhaola Ndebele’s stirring solo performance exploring exile, memory, and belonging. Bronze Ovation winner, Yangthola! Is Mongezi Ntukwana’s tragic-comedy that follows the journey of a homeless entrepreneur (performed by Alex Sono) who transforms discarded items into powerful tales of survival and resilience.

The 2025 National Arts Festival will take place from June 26 to July 6 in Makhanda. Tickets are available at affordable prices for all shows. See the full programme and book tickets on the Festival’s website here: https://nationalartsfestival.co.za/