Cape Town Fringe Festival

As its name suggests this new festival is programmed as a mix of all that is small, independent and experimental in the performing arts, but mainly theatre, dance, comedy, jazz and cabaret. It is a new offshoot of the successful and well-tried Grahamstown National Arts Festival but the organisers emphasise that it is an addition not a replacement for East Cape's Grahamstown, which takes place in July each year.

Over 80 events are programmed, about 90 per cent of which are local creations. Some of these have already received recognition, such as Gavin Krastin's # Omnomnom, Rehane Abraham's What the Water Gave Me, Scott Allen's Free the Foetus and The Champion, the winner of the Baxter Theatre's Zabalaza festival best production award, written and performed by Khayalethu Anthony.

In addition there are 18 new theatre pieces. Dance includes If these Bodies Could Speak featuring Bailey Snyman and Nicola Haskins, which has already been performed in Amsterdam, and Raw Silk by the Afrika Ablaze dance company. The Fringe Club on the top floor of Cape Town's city hall is one of the main locations for performances, but also the Galway Theatre, the Alexander Bar, the German Club, as well as more unusual places such as the crypt of St George's cathedral.

For the full programme and locations see the website.