By Cassy van Eeden

However, the team at the Alexander Upstairs theatre at Alexander Bar and Café took it upon themselves to give Capetonians a taste of the festival by previewing five shows that are set to run at the festival.

The Alexander Upstairs Pre-NAF mini fest ran from Monday, 22 June to Saturday, 27 June and included War Donkey, Body Language II: The Mating Game, The Plot Hole, After Dark in the Groot Marico and Love & Prozac.

If the mini fest was anything to go by, those attending the National Arts Festival are in for a massive treat.

Groot Marico – a movement masterpiece

Although After Dark in the Groot Marico is technically classified as comedy theatre, there is so much more to it. From the award-winning creators of Mafeking Road, Andrew Laubscher and Tara Notcutt, this is physical theatre at its finest.

Laubscher and Fleur du Cap winner for the Most Promising Student Sive Gubangxa take the audience through a tapestry of tales from yesteryear, woven together seamlessly using only their bodies and voices.

What I liked most about the piece is that it forces you to use your imagination to fill in the missing details for yourself. You can’t take your eyes off of the duo, but they work with you to drum up elaborate scenes full of colour and emotion.

She may be small in stature, but Gubangxa’s stage presence is massive. This is one rising star that you’re not going to want to miss.

After Dark in the Groot Marico will be showing from Friday, 3 to Saturday, 11 July at 19:00 at the Glennie Hall.

Creative comedy in The Plot Hole

 The Plot Hole is value for money. Where else are you going to get the abdominal workout of your life by doing nothing? Performed by Cape Town comedians Stuart Cairns and Westley Cockrell, The Plot Hole will have you laughing your way to a chiselled six-pack.

For an hour, Cairns and Cockrell take you through the wacky process that goes into creating stand-up comedy. Pursuing a career in comedy is not easy, as you will soon learn, and both guys have had their fair share of embarrassment. Instead of quitting though, the duo have transformed their trials and tribulations into one of the funniest stories you will ever hear.

Light, relatable and gut-busting, The Plot Hole is worth your every penny.

The Plot Hole will show at the St Andrew Studio Two on Thursday, 2 July at Noon; Friday, 3 July at 18:00; Saturday, 4 July at 16:00; and Monday, 6 July at 20:00.

For more information about the National Arts Festival, visit the website.

For more information about Alexander Upstairs and to make a booking for any upcoming shows, visit the Alexander Bar website. You can also connect with the theatre via Facebook and Twitter.