Festivals (ZA) Kapstadt – 10.09.07 bis 15.09.07

Out the Box

Out the Box - Call for Entries

Gearing up for its third year of visual provocations, OUT THE BOX 2007 is running from 10-15 September in Cape Town! Visual theatre is the cutting edge of international performance today with its innovative explorations of performance, puppetry, multimedia, music and new technologies. Out the Box is fast becoming South Africa's leading visual theatre event hosting performances, workshops and public talks with top local and international practitioners. The festival is calling all visual theatre practitioners, live artists, puppeteers, choreographers and directors to apply to participate in the festival.

Application Form

Artist's Information:

What is Visual Performance?

Visual performance is artistic expression that moves beyond words utilizing images, puppetry, objects, video, art and dynamic multimedia in an interactive or performative context. Itâ??s about stimulating the senses. Itâ??s about experimentation, collaboration and interrogation. It explores different spaces, from the theatre to site specific work and can be as much performance art as a puppet play. Above all it is able to communicate across cultures and push artistic boundaries.

The structure of Out The Box

Out The Box is divided into two main categories: the Adult Festival and the Family Festival.

ADULT FESTIVAL

The adult festival contains within it several forums for artists to participate. These are: presentation of a visual theatre production; art installation/live art piece; participation in Iqonga (Platform); participation in Active puppets; presentation of an illustrated talk at the conference; facilitation of a practical workshop.

Visual Theatre Production

A stand-alone professional production aimed at a principally adult audience. These pieces can be dance or theatre based.

Installation/Live Art

A site-specific installation, live art performance, kinetic art, interactive art. Any duration. To be located on Hiddingh or the immediate surrounds.

Iqonga/Platform

A Platform for professional theatre-makers/dancers/artists to experiment with visual performance. Six 5-15 min pieces will be presented on Saturday 15th afternoon at the Little Theatre complex. Artistic and developmental support will be offered to those who wish it.

Active Puppets

Active puppets brings together theatre-makers using puppetry for social development and education. It is a forum for exchange, learning and experimentation with using this dynamic medium for effective communication. Recommended duration: 15-20 min. Shows to be presented at Guga Sâ??tebe, Baxter and the Little Theatre Complex. Active Puppets is competitive.

Conference:

Centre to the Edge: the relevance of visual theatre pushing boundries. A mini-conference will take place on Friday 14th afternoon where leading ideas on contemporary visual performance will be discussed. Artists and academics are asked to talk about their work to open the debate and stimulate thinking in this area.

Workshop

Practical workshops for performers and theatre makes as well as students will be offered on Thursday and Friday morning. Consider offering a workshop to develop emerging puppeteers, performers, artists and /or theatre makers.

FAMILY FESTIVAL

The Family Festival will include shows, festivities and a schools exhibition of puppet creations.

Show

For 2007, a selection of fully professional, high quality childrenâ??s theatre (with puppets/masks or other visual media) will be made. A presentation should last 50 min (for schools audiences) and may include a show and a talk. Shows will be presented at the Baxter (Main Theatre and Studio) as well as Guga Sâ??thebe.

Festivities

The Baxter foyer becomes a space of free-roaming performance and celebration. All stilt-walkers, clowns, face painters, musicians and roaming puppeteers welcome. Stalls with puppets on sale and puppet-making stands will sell their wares.

Exhibition

Open to all learners, this exhibition will be an expression of free creativity and play. Puppets will be displayed throughout the Baxter foyer. A prize will be awarded for the craziest creation and most beautiful puppet. The top 10 puppets will be sent to Australia for the 2008 International Puppetry festival exhibition.

Venues

Out the Box is located in three key and high profile venues around Cape Town. These include the popular Little Theatre Complex in the heart of the city (with over five theatre venues and diverse found spaces). The Gugasâ??thebe Cultural Centre in Langa, a popular and centrally located township venue. The Baxter Theatre Complex, one of South Africaâ??s most popular and thriving venues for live performance.

Publicity

Out the box is marketed widely throughout the media and has extensive coverage in newspapers, television, and radio. We have media sponsors such as Fine Music Radio on board the programme for 2007

The Team Behind Out The Box

Contact: outhebox@telkomsa.net

Janni Younge: (Director)

Aja Marneweck: (Artistic Director)

Jacqueline Van Meygaarden: (Active Puppets Manager)

Rouxnet Brown: (Active Puppets Manager)

Ntombi Makutshi: (Iqonga manager and Active Puppets)

Jason Potgieter: (Iquonga manager)