The festival’s premise is certainly unique; people buy tickets for a particular route and are transported by minibus taxis into the living rooms of the Darling community for a succession of “lucky packet” productions.
The array of performers and productions lined up is an eclectic mix, with international artists joining their South African counterparts for a true potjiekos of the arts.
Considering that the Voorkamerfest was initiated by Dutch producers Wim Visser and Inge Bos, in conjunction with famous Darling resident Pieter-Dirk Uys and the local community, it is fitting that there is a strong Dutch presence at the festival this year.
Well-known Matzer Theatre Productions company from the Netherlands is bringing six different short plays to the 2015 Voorkamerfest. These intimate 30-minute productions are based on six of the seven deadly sins, with the seventh one premiering next year, a prominent theme in the work of Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch. In 2016, the town of Hertogenbosch (also known as Den Bosch), where the Matzer drama company is based, will commemorate the 500th anniversary of the death of its most famous son.
The short plays, which are performed in English, that are travelling to the Voorkamerfest include the international premiere of Pillow Talk (about lust), Punishment (envy), Lazy (sloth), The Red Shoes (greed), Augustus (pride) and Sweet Revenge (wrath).
Matzer founder and artistic director Madeleine Matzer will also be giving drama workshops to local youngsters during the company’s Western Cape tour, which will include performances in Khayelitsha and Prince Albert.
Also from the Netherlands are blues-folk singer Emmelie Zipson, Gerrit de Boer (guitar, banjo and vocals) and Gerben Klein Willink (brass).
Dutch filmmaker, musician and raconteur Leon Giesen’s show Mondo Leone will combine storytelling with projections and music. Audiences can also enjoy true “world music” from the Dutch province of Friesland with Souldada, five musicians who will perform South African writer Carina Stander’s poem Watervolk in the Frysian language.
The hub of the festival is again Evita se Perron, Evita Bezuidenhout’s residence, where festinos gather to purchase their tickets, leave on their routes and sample the local market with its array of food, crafts, beers and wines.
There are four different time slots during the weekend, and there are seven routes with 21 performances in total. Transport to and between venues is undertaken by the local taxis, which adds to the charm of this arts festival.
For more information, visit www.voorkamerfest-darling.co.za. Alternatively connect with them on Facebook or Twitter.