Artscape hosts women’s festival

The 16th edition of the Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival will take place from Wednesday August 3 to Saturday August 27, with a series of stage productions, two book launches, a film screening, among other events.

There will also be a number of festivities on Women’s Day, Tuesday August 9, with a Circle of Care at the centre of the festival. Women, men and youth will stand together in a circle of solidarity to have a moment of silence for all victims of the pandemic and gender-based violence. There will also be a tree planting, interfaith blessing, guided breathing facilitated by Pramilla Vassen, poetry and choirs leading the public in song.

This is the first post-Covid festival that aims to provide a space for healing - with themes of breathing, grounding, care and belonging.

“Every year during Women’s Month, we at Artscape as a collective raise our voice using the arts as a conduit through the Artscape Women’s Humanity Arts Festival highlighting the profile, power, performance and plight of women in particular,” says Artscape CEO Marlene le Roux.

“Equally we celebrate the great strides we have made as a gender, and indeed together as a country including paying tribute to those who have led the way to secure our emancipation. This year as we return to normality after two gruelling years of restrictions, I invite all Capetonians to join us as we actively demonstrate our care for ourselves, for others, for others not like ourselves, for our children, the environment and even for our adversaries, by joining hands in a moment of silence and raising our voices”.

On the line-up:

• Dr Beryl Botman will launch her book

• The

• Sandra Prinsloo will perform in

• Written and directed by award-winning actor and playwright, Paul du Toit, and based on the novel by Ronnie Kasrils,

• In

• Karin Kortje will perform in

• Broken Crayons Still Colour Beautifully – symposium for women living with disabilities takes place on Monday August 8. The festival is hosting this inaugural symposium, which offers unique opportunities for women living with disabilities including dialogue, networking and exposure. This closed event will host women from business, government, media, entertainment and NGOs to promote inclusion, and celebrate and inspire one another with a life-changing conversation.

• Woman Zone’s launch of the book

• As a tribute to the LGBTIQA+ community, the annual hit,

• A screening of the proof-of-concept short film,

• The show Onder Die Brug from Thursday August 25 to Saturday August 27, written by Raydene Le Roux, tells an adventurous tale of a young man who ran away from his small-town life to Cape Town, in search of a better life. However, things don’t quite work out. The character, Allan, shares how he finds himself “onder ’n brug”.

Tickets can be bought through Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-seat on 021 421 7695.