What: Spark Hub NAF 2025 fundraiser
When: From June 1, 2025
Aim: To raise funds to assist with funding the collective Spark Hub at NAF- National Arts Festival Makhanda
ThundaFund donation link: https://thundafund.africa/campaign/182F2F1C70288EB50373 ย 

Info: Spark in the Dark Productions| +27 71 362 9750 | solojoans@gmail.com ย  ย 

South African theatre production company, Spark in the Dark is taking 14 productions to under the banner of Spark Hub to NAF (National Arts Festival Makhanda) which is on June 26 – July 6, 2025. It is costly to go to NAF โ€“ accommodation, food, marketing and other production costs. See box for link to ThundaFund. Read on for more about the 14 productions that are going to NAF. Info as supplied:

YOUNG ARTISTS MAKING WAVES AT THE NATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL THIS YOUTH MONTH

The Spark Hub is a collective of South Africaโ€™s freshest new voices in comedy and theatre, heading to the National Arts Festival this June. Spark in the Dark Productions, a local youth-led theatre company, have curated a line-up of 14 different plays, showcasing the up-and-coming stars in the entertainment scene, grappling with poignant and topical themes, such us: colonialism, capitalism, sex-work, modern love, GBV, homophobia and queer love.


Artists include:

  • Gold Standard Bank Ovation award-winner, Sophie Joans, with a new solo show called โ€˜Netphlixโ€™,
  • Silver Standard Bank Ovation award-winners, Cailyb Prinsloo with โ€˜What Do You Think the Birds Are Doing?โ€™, and
  • Aldo Brincat with a revival of his enormously popular show, Arnie, reworked under a new title, โ€˜MASCโ€™.
  • Savannah Comicโ€™s Choice award-winner, Celine Tshika, debuts her solo show, โ€˜Bad Africanโ€™.
  • Dara Beth performs their solo play, โ€˜all my ex-lovers are deadโ€™ which was on curated programme at NAF last year.
  • Award-winning plays, A Fool For You (winner of Best Student Production at Stellenbosch) by Christie van Niekerk & Anรฉ Koegelenberg and
  • Ganga Nyoko! Inzima Nyoko! (winner of Fleur de Cap for Best New Director and Best Actor at Zabalaza) have their NAF debuts.

4 new, original solo shows,

  • โ€˜Filledโ€™ by Tshiamo Moretlwe,
  • โ€˜Messyโ€™ by Samantha Carlisle,
  • โ€˜Solitudeโ€™ by Kamogelo Mhlantla,
  • โ€˜Betaman Alphabetโ€™ by David Schmidt will make their debut.
  • And popular late, line-up night shows, Raunchy Renditions and Play Things return to NAF.

The Spark Hub is a curated collection showcasing the enormous talent bursting onto the South African entertainment scene.

The National Arts Festival in South Africa is the longest-running, multi-disciplinary arts festival that takes place in Makhanda every year. Running for 11 days (June 26 – July 6, 2025), the Fringe Festival has been at the forefront of showcasing South African stories and plays. The Spark Hub is located at the Gymnaisum at Victoria Girls Primary, right next to the village green, the beating heart of the National Arts Festival.

Travelling to Makhanda is an enormous expense. Covering the costs of accommodation, transport, food and marketing are often a challenge for independent artists. The Spark Hub has banded together to create a successful crowd-funding campaign, which launched on ThundaFund on June 1, 2025.

Spark in the Dark is a South African Theatre company, with a mission to make more hours of live theatre, more often. Lead by Sophie Joans, Dara Beth, Cailyb Prinsloo, Sam Carlisle and Kamogelo Mhlantla, they produced numerous plays, managed several national and international tours, hosted several popular workshops on writing, clowning, comedy and improv, and storytelling nights like Raunchy Renditions and a monthly scratch night for new works, Play Things. Follow their exciting journey to NAF 2025!

For more information contact:



Spark in the Dark Productions| +27 71 362 9750 | solojoans@gmail.com

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