There are times, often late at night or in the wee hours of the morning, and often at The Long Table, when Grahamstown feels like a massive love-fest. You look around and everyone is laughing, smiling, deep in conversation. Performers, directors and designers are congratulating each other on their shows and also giving insightful, constructive advice. This little world becomes a stage upon which we all strut our stuff, our hearts full of meaning, beating upon our sleeves. But, as always, the converse exists. Fest is also hard and demanding. And I’m not just talking about the hangovers. For ten, now 15, days, we stretch ourselves to the limit. Theatre makers and audience alike. We live together in a rarefied atmosphere, transported ...

FestBuzz bloggers Steve Kretzmann (West Cape News), Mike Loewe (Makana Moon) and Caitlin Ross (WCN). This is post number 80. The pic is of us; FestBuzz, a three-person gig who produced the copy/content/stories/blather on this site.  (I exclude the Fast Forward podcasts. They were other people, but we still have to meet them.) For the first time the NAF (National Arts Fest) hired journos for the blog show. We loved it. more_link_text Related posts:Magic. In a particular time, in a particular place Bring it on!! (The writings of a ASSUM/grand/slightly deranged teen!) Like a kid at the sweetie buffet

 James Phillips was adamant we should pelt cover artists with vrot  tomatoes.   Booze, rock n roll and the dirt road from Riebeek East to Festival conspired to rob us of a great South African performing artist whose originality was mesmerising. In 1995, the year "Bernoldus Niemand" died from head injuries sustained when he skidded, over-corrected and rolled his car (his driving skills were paltry in comparison to his composing and performance talents), I took on Stef the hypnotist and clown on Fiddlers (he was handing out flyers) and told him I was sceptical about his artistic contribution to the National Arts Festival. more_link_text Related posts:Magic. In a particular time, in a particular place Comments by Sheena Stannard ‘Amazing…for a dead guy’