“We always knew that Tara was an über-talented theatre maker as well as a very awesome person, and now it is official,” says Cape Town Edge co-ordinator and marketing manager Jon Keevy. “We congratulate her for this accolade and are delighted to be working with her and fellow members of The Pink Couch at Cape Town Edge.”

Supported this year by Distell and the Arts and Culture Trust in association with Nedbank Arts Affinity, Cape Town Edge is a collective of independent theatremakers from Cape Town. It was established so producers and artists could pool resources to show their work under one roof at the National Arts Festival. It has proved to be a runaway success, and is now in its sixth year with other venues at the Festival replicating the model. Cape Town Edge is also renowned for its social front-of-house experience with warming sherry and sustenance.

“Of course, Tara is not the only Mail and Guardian Top Young South African to walk among us at Cape Town Edge,” says Keevy. “Rob van Vuuren was also announced as one in 2011. He will be hosting the late-night variety comedy and music show, Pants on Fire! with Martin Evans in our 22:00 slot.

“I am excited and honoured to have been named as one of the Mail and Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans,” says Notcutt, who is artistic director and co-founder of The Pink Couch, which is running Cape Town Edge in collaboration with Keevy. “The Pink Couch’s productions Mafeking Road and ...miskien were first performed at the National Arts Festival on the Cape Town Edge stage. They received a great response with Mafeking Road winning a Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award and ...miskien being selected to be performed at the Amsterdam Fringe.”

Ismail Mahomed, Festival Director of the National Arts Festival, says, “Cape Town Edge has certainly been one of the best success stories of how independent companies can make a massive impression on the festival circuit.”

The 2012 Cape Town Edge line-up is: Merryn Carver’s A Tale of Horribleness, which is fun for all the family; Body Language from Festival favourite Gaëtan Schmid; Okuya Phantsi Kwempumlo (The Meal), a new work from Mamela Nyamza, the 2011 Standard Bank Young Artist for Dance; Tonight Neither Hamlet directed by Christopher Weare and featuring Adrian Galley; Jon Keevy’s captivating coming-of-age tale, Owl with Briony Horwitz; Eden, a psychological thriller from new collective, The Poor Artists, and written and directed by Gabriella Pinto, and Pants on Fire!, a late night comedy and music show curated by Rob van Vuuren and Martin Evans.

Cape Town Edge shows take place at Princess Alice Hall in African Street, Grahamstown as part of the National Arts Festival from 28 June until 8 July.

Bookings can be made through Computicket.