Report by Rosanna Scott, Justin Archer and Martin Bleazard

cueTV delivers a potent and intimate interview with Steven Cohen before his first performance of his production of Cradle of Humankind at the 2012 National Arts Festival. Cohen recalls his work as artist and reclaims this piece as a personal anti-apartheid love story for himself and Nomsa Dhlamini, the 92 year old lady that raised him.
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Report by Bongiwe Tutu & Gabi Zietsman

A powerful new South African play by Craig Higginson is situated on a farm in the Cradle of Humankind where much of the world’s pre-human remains have been found. The play travels back into the caves where Little Foot – the three-million-year-old hominine was discovered. The audience experiences the caves through the eyes of a group on South African university students who are having a reunion on New Year’s Eve. As they go deeper into the caves they are confronted by an emergence of their ancient history. This Market Theatre Production was commissioned and performed in London’s National Theatre in a shorter version. Neil Coppen designs a memorable set and Malcolm Purkey directs a well told but rather trivial tale.
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Report by Enathi Mqokeli and Candyce Bruce

Taking on macho male personas, Taryn Bennett and Helen Iskander use an unconventional and very funny comment on the construction of women in society. Bennett and Iskander become Raphael and George, two quirky brothers living peacefully on the Mediterranean Sea despite the war that surrounds them. cueTV gets the background to the show.
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Report by Lla Thakholi & Bongiwe Tutu

Itsoseng is a personal and humorous solo piece written and played by Omphile Molusi. The bold staging is a scathing indictment of government indifference, cynicism and incompetence when it comes to dealing with the people and the promises made to them. Omphile portrays a vast number of different characters of the township of Itsoseng where he comes from, and through them he explores the life and the consequences of living in the township. cueTV gets his intentions for the work.
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Report by Bongiwe Tutu & Lla Thakholi

Grahamstown National Arts Festival Standard Bank Ovation Award winner – Brothers in Blood is an explosive drama contrasting the prejudice within Muslim, Jewish and Christian faiths. Written by Mike van Graan, Brothers in Blood is set in Cape Town against the background of PAGAD activities in the late 90s. This is a strong drama which highlights the racial and religious differences within us and affirms the similarities we all share.
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Report by Gabi Zietsman & Sungeni Chithambo

It is amazing how Shakespeare continues to be pertinent in this day and age. Fred Abrahamse’s enchanting performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream shows how Shakespeare is still enjoyed today. Despite the language that is difficult to grasp for some, audiences were still rolling with laughter at the characters of this marvelous play. Creative costumes, wonderful set design and an African twist all highlight the value that Shakespeare brings to the world of theatre.
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Report by Rosanna Scott & Aimee Caulfield
Pieter-Dirk Uys sprung a special once only performance at The Grahamstown National Arts Festival. In jukebox fashion, the audience selected some of their favourite characters from numbered boxes. CueTV got old favourites; Noelle Fine the kugel, Desmond Tutu, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki , Jacob Zuma and Evita Bezuidenhout’s sister, Bambi Kellerman and her deadly serious sex education. It was a powerful, funny and serious performance that earned a standing ovation.

Report by Amaal Salie & Kayla Roux

What would you do or fantasize doing if you were alone in a tedious job – like an art museum usher? Wacht! from the Netherlands is a quirky and entertaining piece of theatre that plays with this question. Hiske Eriks plays both comedy and tragedy in a short and silent piece of theatre that transcends language and speaks the universal lingo of mime and physical theatre with hilarious effect.
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Report by Sungeni Chithambo & Gabi Zietsman

Many of us are familiar with classic tales and movies from way back. They may become even more enjoyable when they are modified and updated. cueTV looks at Star Wors and Alice who? This ain’t wonderland – prime examples of how directors can be creative in making old stories new and relevant to today’s society.
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Report by Charmian Africa & Aimee Caulfield

Princess Zinzi Mhlongo, winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Theatre award debuts Trapped, her first writing project at this year’s National Arts Festival. Issues of entrapment are tackled; the desire to be beautiful, thin, famous and free. The set transforms into a fantasy world using lights and dramatic costumes to symbolize Princess’s self- described ‘other world’. This ‘other world’ may enthrall theatre gurus but for the theatre amateur decoding the imagery may not be as straightforward.
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Report by Bongiwe Tutu & Thomas Mills

An intimate one-woman drama based on the tragic killing of Amy Biehl in Gugulethu in the violence of 1993. In Mother to Mother, the actress Thembi Mtshali-Jones explores the difficult channels of forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation from the mother of the killer to that of the victim. The play seeks an understanding from the mother of the killer as she explains the direct consequences of apartheid which influenced her son’s actions. The production is amalgam of the talents of Dr Sindiwe Magona, Janice Honeyman, Thembi Mtshali-Jones and Yvette Hardy.
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Report by Thomas Mills & Candyce Bruce

Fences are a metaphor for the divisions that exist within our communities and demarcate barriers in which we hide ourselves. Fence delves into issues of domestic violence and violence against women. Director, Limba Vincent Shabanga, along with his cast wrote the heart-breaking script of a rebellious child, Faye, and her single mother. Fence comments on the state of a community and how many remain silent in difficult times where speaking out is the only way to deal with it. Market Theatre Laboratory’s entry to the 2012 Student Theatre Festival.
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Report by Christopher Tucker

Rhodes University drama set in the atmospheric spaces of the local military base. This multi-part installation depicts aftermath of the apocalypse and the gloom that exists once the smoke and fire has faded. The remaining bodies are sprawled around; all trying to connect with what the world used to be. Discharge puts the audience amongst the survivors of the apocalypse and allows their interaction to fuel the fire. This epic starring Rhodes University performers, including Drama Head of Department; Andrew Buckland and Jaunita Finestone-Praeg. Created by Gavin Krastin, Alan Parker and Rat Western.
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Report by Kayla Roux & Kelley Wake

Princess Emma – Ukuzazi takes the audience on a journey through the life of one woman who overcame singular struggle and achievement in the Eastern Cape. The daughter of a Xhosa Chief, she was taken away from her family to be educated as a Victorian woman and became the first black woman to own land in that era. Yet her real name has never been recorded or her story really told. Ingrid Wylde’s production presents Emma’s epic in the perfect setting in St Phillip’s Church in Fingo Village where she taught and is a triumph of the National Arts Festival

By Gabi Zietsman and Marten Bleazard

Risk takes a behind-the scenes look at a fictional controversial new game show in South Africa where contestants play Russian Roulette for R5 million. A scary look at reality television shows, at how far people are willing to go for the ultimate jackpot and how far is too far to bring the public entertainment.