| FynArts Festival 2023 #FynArts2023 When: June 9-18, 2023 – 10 days Where: Hermanus, Western Cape – about 90 minutes by car from Cape Town CBD Programme: Features an Arts Festival (performances, concerts) and Winter School (workshops, presentations, conversations, demonstrations). There are performances, talks and presentations, interviews, book readings, exhibitions, gallery walkabouts, food and wine events, workshops (amazing for hobby-ists or ‘Obby’), films and demonstrations. Click to view the programme: https://hermanusfynarts.co.za/hermanus/ Festival programmes: Pick up a physical copy of the festival at many outlets across the Cape: https://hermanusfynarts.co.za/?s=Collect Tickets: Book online via Webtickets. Go to the website and click on the event you want to attend Booking link: https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/EventCategories.aspx?itemid=1526772278 Tickets at door: Yes- if availability – tickets may be purchased during the festival from the FynArts Gallery – phone or WhatsApp 060 957 5371 (Chantel) or pop into The Hermanus Tourism Bureau Free offerings: These include Sculpture on the Cliffs – at Gearings Point, free community concerts (donations would be appreciated), art exhibitions and art walk-abouts Info: WhatsApp Chantel on 060 957 5371 Newsletter: Subscribe to get updates https://hermanusfynarts.co.za/subscription/ Accommodation in Hermanus: https://hermanusfynarts.co.za/accommodation/ Transport: It is advisable to have access to a car to get around venues as there is no festival shuttle. There are taxis – Tuk Tuk Taxi and Thoza Tours – which do the short hops in town. Scroll down for more info (box, below) Easy navigation of FynArts 2023 via tabs: Scroll down for tabs (see box, below) FynArts Festival on social media #FynArts2023 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HermanusFynarts/ Instagram: @hermanus_fynarts Twitter: @HermanusFynArts Website: https://hermanusfynarts.co.za/ |
The FynArts Festival in Hermanus celebrates a decade on the festival boards with an epic festival – June 9 – 18, 2023 – 10 days of performances (theatre, concerts, and classical music), talks and presentations, book readings; conversations about books; art exhibitions, food and wine events, workshops, films and demonstrations. The programme features over 100 events. Every year FynArts celebrates an artist of excellence in the arts. Pieter-Dirk Uys is the recipient of the FynArts Legacy Award 2023 for his “longstanding and distinctive contribution to the arts in South Africa and beyond” He will be performing his one-person show, Sell-By-Date at the festival. Esteemed novelist Christopher Hope (he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature) will present the award to PDU and will chat to him about his life. So there are two opportunities to see PDU at FynArts 2023.
A flagship exhibition of FynArts is Sculpture on the Cliffs – an outdoor year-long exhibition of sculpture. This important public art intervention is free and is wheelchair and pram accessible. The exhibition is at Gearings Point and will stay up for a year after its launch at FynArts. The theme for 2023: Walking Back to Happiness. Curator Melvyn Minnaar reflects: “Let’s say this is art as a playground for adults. Current worldwide turmoil needs an antidote. Let’s hum along. Take a walk.” Love that. FynArts is a fusion festival – arts festival and winter school and it is also a destination festival. The beautiful town of Hermanus (about an hour and half drive from Cape Town), provides a stunning backdrop for the festival. It is a playground for the arts – performance, visual, literary, ideas, dialogue, conversations. There is great food and wine. All venues are equipped with alternative power sources. In the event of load shedding, shows and events will go on. The town is in good shape, from a municipal governance point of view. There are decent roads and infrastructure. With heaps of quality accommodation, it makes for a wonderful get-away but because of its proximity to Cape Town, FynArts is most do-able for day trippers. The FynArts website is easy to navigate and there are hard-copy festival programmes which are fabulous to browse through. Where to get your copy: https://hermanusfynarts.co.za/?s=Collect If you cannot locate a programme, WhatsApp 060 957 5371 (Chantel), with your physical address or nearest PostNet outlet and she will do her best to organise a programme.
Theatre and performance
Theatre offerings include the excellent play, Hansard (with Fiona Ramsay and Graham Hopkins) and legendary Pieter-Dirk Uys will be presenting his latest show, Sell-By-Date. There are also concerts and recitals and family concerts. Some concerts are free but donations are appreciated. The sensational Mzansi Tenors have been captivating audiences. Their programme, recently presented in a sold-out season at Theatre on the Bay in Cape Town, will be on at FynArts, on June 10 in the Dutch Reformed Church in Onrus. The host is the inimitable Richard Cock. He gives delicious insights into the programme: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/mzansi-tenors/ For a full list of performances at FynArts 20223, go to the ‘performance’ tab on the festival website. Click here: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/perfomances/
Pieter-Dirk Uys solo show: Sell—By-Date and recipient of The FynArts Legacy Award 2023
There is one performance for Sell-By-Date- June 11 at 18:30 – 19:45pm in the Dutch Reformed Church. Book here http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/sell-by-date/ PDU is the recipient of The FynArts Legacy Award 2023. The award ceremony will take place on June 11 at 11am in the Hermanus Municipal Auditorium and will be presented by Christopher Hope, Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature. PDU will talk about his life. Book here: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/fynarts-legacy-award-2023/ Interview with Pieter-Dirk Uys: https://thecaperobyn.co.za/interview-pieter-dirk-uys-sell-by-date-personal-journey-from-the-paralysis-of-states-of-disaster-to-renewed-energy-and-enjoyment/
Hansard (with Fiona Ramsay and Graham Hopkins)
This excellent play has been performed to rave notices around the country. The title references the transcript –the archival method of transcribing parliamentary debates in Britain and many Commonwealth countries and is named after Thomas Hansard, a London printer and publisher. In the play, the protagonists, both in their extreme bubble of privilege in the Cotswolds in England, archive their lives – ferreting out truths and lies. It is a play about the personal and political and how what we present for others is very different to what goes on at home. A must see. Crackling script and knockout performances. Hansard is on at FynArts 2023 for two performances: June 13 and 14 in the Municipal Auditorium: book here: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/hansard-2/Book here: Review: https://thecaperobyn.co.za/review-excellent-play-hansard-excellent-production-south-africa/
Art exhibitions
The range and scope of art exhibitions at FynArts is breathtaking. The flagship outdoor exhibition, Sculpture on the Cliffs is on at Gearings Point and features Ashley Walters , Conrad Hicks , Frank van Reenen , Guy du Toit , Hannelie Coetzee , Jaco Sieberhagen , Jacques Dhont , Kevin Brand , Sophia Van Wyk , Wilma Cruise See http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/sculpture-on-the-cliffs-2/ The theme for 2023: Walking Back to Happiness. No charge to access this exhibition. Curator Melvyn Minnaar is heading up a talk on the exhibition on June 10 (11:00 – 12:00) in the Windsor Hotel; and tickets for this event cost R100. Info here: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/walking-back-happiness/ Bina Genovese will open Sculpture on the Cliffs 2023 at Gearing’s Point, after the presentation in the Windsor Hotel.
Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, the largest disaster response non-governmental organisation on the African continent, will open this year’s Strauss & Co series of talks and presentations. The event is on June 10, at 9.30am in the Dutch Reformed Church and tickets are R100.See: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/opening-speaker/
Galleries in Hermanus are hosting exhibitions. Gallery walk-abouts are free but a charge may apply for some talks and presentations. Read more at the exhibition tab: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/exhibitions/
Workshops – get into the millennial craze for Obby
There is a dazzling array of workshops at FynArts 2023- not only for children but also for adults. In the UK, hobbies and craft has become hugely popular with millennials, under the moniker of Obby (hobby – without the ‘h’) and one can purchase Obby vouchers at retail outlets. Well the workshop component at FynArts is always popular and a number of events have sold out – such as Knife Skills (as in the kitchen) and how to use an air-fryer. Digital for the Novice is sold out- which gives pointers for the Canva application on Apple and android phones. Workshop numbers are kept low but there are still limited tickets available for amazing workshops. Dianne Stewart is running writing workshops: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/your-story-counts/ Make a Ceramic Lace Platter with Melissa Barker. She takes participants through a process of embedding the imprint from a piece of lace, in a slab of ceramic clay, which will be fired. See http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/ceramic-lace-platter/ In Funky Cupcakes, Christine Capendale takes 11-14 year olds through the paces of getting creative with cupcakes. See http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/funky-cupcakes/
Food & Wine
There are delicious food and wine events at FynArts 2023, taking place at the Marine Hotel, such as http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/mini-wine-plus/ – June 12-15 – one hour sessions, featuring Mark van Buuren, Jacques Wentzel, André Morgenthal. In another workshop, expert Joaquim Sa, managing director of the well-known cork company Amorim will take guests though a journey of Portugal’s finest and famous fortified wines. See http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/portugal-port-madeira/ For more on food and wine, see http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/food-wine/
Books, ideas, dialogue
Books, writers, writing, thinking is vital thread at FynArts 2023. Check out the ‘Presentation’ tab for book events: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/presentations/ Highlights include:
Antjie Krog will be in conversation with Alfred Schaffer on June 16, Youth Day. Book here: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/jy-en-ons-en-ek-en-die-poesie/
On June 15, Christopher Hope will talk about and read from Return of the Moon/Versions from the /Xam – the poems by the late great poet, Stephen Watson See: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/return-of-the-moon/
Christopher Hope will talk to Tan Twang Eng about his latest novel, The House of Doors. The book is about Somerset Maugham’s visit to British Malaya and is a ‘masterful novel of public morality and private truth a century ago. Based on real events, it is a drama of love and betrayal under the shadow of Empire.’ See: http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/in-conversation-4/
Karina Szczurek, Nancy Richards (facilitator) and Dianne Stewart will discuss the value of Journals and Letters http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/dear-me-dear-you/ Szczurek will also talk about, The Fifth Mrs Brink, her book on her late husband, the writer, Andre Brink. See http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/event/8550/
| FynArts Festival 2023, Hermanus – good to know#FynArts2023 Bookings for shows and events: online via Webtickets https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/EventCategories.aspx?itemid=1526772278 or pop in to the FynArts Gallery or Hermanus Tourist Bureau and purchase a last-minute ticket – according to availability Easy navigation of offerings at FynArts 2023 Workshops http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/workshops/ Presentations http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/presentations/ Performances http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/perfomances/ Food & Wine http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/food-wine/ Films http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/films/ Exhibitions http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/exhibitions/ Demonstrations http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/demonstrations/ Children http://hermanusfynarts.co.za/discipline/children/ Transport: A car is recommended to get around the town as some festival venues are spread out Taxis in Hermanus include: Tuk TukTaxi – 084 6885 885 Dial a Driver – 064 799 7924 Thoza Tours – 072 203 7806 Percy Tours – 072 062 8500 Hermanus Tourist Bureau: Accommodation in Hermanus, during FynArts: https://hermanusfynarts.co.za/accommodation/ Restaurants: https://hermanusfynarts.co.za/restaurants/ |
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