Theatre news: Second Women’s Month Festival at The Drama Factory, celebrates South African stories through music, comedy and drama

The Drama Factory’s Women’s Month Festival is on from August 9 to 20, 2023, with a potent mix of drama, comedy, music and drag. It is the 2^nd edition of this festival, which was conceptualised and established during lockdown, by Sue Diepeveen (owner/operator) of the Drama Factory and Faeron Wheeler (of F Creations). Together these enterprising producers have developed this vital festival platform which provides a space for “female stories, honouring the strength and tenacity of women in South Africa”. Read on for more. Info as supplied:

Second Women’s Month Festival at The Drama Factory celebrates South African stories through music, comedy and drama

Celebrating South African women through music, comedy and drama, the second Women’s Month Festival – Your Voice, Your Stage runs at The Drama Factory from August 9 to 20, 2023.

Presented by The Drama Factory and F Creations, the Women’s Month Festival – Your Voice, Your Stage highlights female-centric productions, presenting stories created by and performed by women.

Featuring a line-up with something for everyone to enjoy, the programme includes Mike van Graan’s acclaimed satire, He Had it Coming, starring Kim Blanche Adonis; Gail Louw’s arresting play The Good Dad, featuring Erika Breytenbach-Marais; Rocksteady’s Women Of Rock Tribute Show, guaranteed to get you dancing; the delightful physical comedy ‘n Gek Vir Jou performed by Ane’ Koegelenberg en Christie Van Niekerk; romantic comedy The Authentic Way to Fake It written by Angelica Hattingh and Bianca Rasmussen and fabulous drag musical, The Muses: Hades Gonna Hate.

“Another highlight on the programme is one performance only by Angel’s Angels!” says Festival co-producer Sue Diepeveen. “Angel Campey and her dynamic team of Angels – Mel Jones, Kate Pinchuck and Tumi Mkha’ – bring their special brand of stand-up comedy to the Festival. Catch these astoundingly talented and funny women, as heard on Angel’s Smile 90.4FM drive time show, The Joyride.”

“Our aim for the festival is to promote women working in the arts, as well as give a voice to female stories, honouring the strength and tenacity of women in South Africa. We are also striving to create jobs and income for the arts sector that is still finding its feet after the pandemic,” says Festival co-producer, Faeron Wheeler.

The Drama Factory is situated at 10 Comprop Sq, Henry Vos Close, Asla Business Park, Strand, Western Cape. Parking is available at the venue.

With its fully licensed bar and cosy, welcoming atmosphere, The Drama Factory is the perfect venue to enjoy top-quality entertainment with a group of friends or family. The solar-powered invertor ensures the show will always go on, even when there is load-shedding!

Make a staycation of a visit to The Drama Factory, booking in with one of their wonderful accommodation partners. Spend the night at The Views Guesthouse, 185 on Beach or Majorca House to enjoy the beauty and many other activities on offer in the surrounding Helderberg region. Visit the website for further details.

About The Drama Factory

Established in 2017 by Sue Diepeveen, The Drama Factory has become renowned as a prime destination for patrons to enjoy quality entertainment across a range of genres in a relaxed and welcoming environment. As well as showcasing mainstream productions, The Drama Factory offers creatives a venue to workshop performances, providing an affordable space for artists to bring their creative ideas to life.

The Drama Factory hosts a number of training initiatives, including a theatre lighting training programme. Through its relationship with organisations such as the Anna Foundation and Masikhule, The Drama Factory enables opportunities for young theatre goers to attend performances and workshops, assisting to build audiences and artists for tomorrow. 

Committed to providing a platform to nurture original South African theatre productions, The Drama Factory also co-produces new work, such as the What Did The Fox Say? series, which was sponsored by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.

About F Creations

Faeron Wheeler, founder of F Creations, has been involved in theatre and the stage since she was only three years old. She studied drama and dancing throughout her school years. She then went on to do a BA with a double major in Screenwriting and English before earning her Honours in Film Production from the University of Cape Town.

In 2017, she began producing theatre through her company, F Creations, and has toured shows around South Africa. Productions include Jam Every Other Day, The Complete Work of William Shakespeare (Abridged), Whale Nation and So You Want to be a Trophy Wife?. In 2019, Wheeler teamed up with Erika Breytenbach-Marais to write and perform in Your Perfect Life. The show premiered at the National Arts Festival Fringe, where it received its first Standard Bank Ovation Award, before touring around Cape Town.

During the pandemic, Wheeler continued to create under the banner of F Creations – turning to directing, filming and editing with (extra)ordinary, (un)usual. This production is a monologue showcase, using the writings of Australian playwright Pete Malicki. Created as a hybrid of theatre and film, this piece debuted online in October 2020. The piece was also part of the vFringe on-demand streaming platform for the National Arts Festival in 2021, where it received a Silver Standard Bank Ovation Award. F Creations also received an unprecedented second Standard Bank Ovation Award for their digital offering of Your Perfect Life during the 2021 festival.

✳ Sponsored content. Images supplied. Featured image: ‘n Gek Vir Jou, performed by Ane’ Koegelenberg and Christie Van Niekerk , will be on at the 2023 Women’s Month Festival, at The Drama Factory. Photo: Nardus Engelbrecht.