The productions for the Toyota Stellenbosch University (SU) Woordfees 2021 are currently being filmed, with the intention of airing the festival on television (TV) for the first time this year.
The filming of Woordfees productions began on 12 August, according to Saartjie Botha, festival director of Woordfees. By airing the festival on TV, the organisers aim to avoid the spread of Covid-19 that could occur at a physical festival. The festival will air from 1 to 7 October, exclusively on channel 198 on DStv, according to the Woordfees website.
“The last shows will be filmed on 18 September, and we are planning on delivering footage to DStv from 16 September. We are shooting footage which will accumulate to roughly 60 hours over the next six weeks,” said Botha.
Woordfees has also licensed productions that were filmed by artists themselves during 2020, according to Botha. These productions will air on DStv as part of the 2021 Toyota SU Woordfees, she added.
“We will also have no reruns. The broadcasting will run once, like a live show. So if you miss it, you miss it. Some of the performances will be available on CatchUp,” said Botha.
Afrikaans content*: Saartjie Botha, festival director of Toyota SU Woordfees, explains how the broadcasting of the 2021 festival on DStv will work. AUDIO: Heléne Leonard
Most of the footage will be filmed in the Artscape Theatre in Cape Town, and at Stark Studio in Gauteng, according to Botha. However, Woordfees aims to include Stellenbosch’s “important” presence in the festival, she said.
“We plan on shooting at Stellenbosch, although this is not finalised yet,” said Botha.
The Stellenbosch University choir during a show at the 2018 Toyota SU Woordfees festival. At the time, the choir consisted of roughly 120 students. Under current lockdown restrictions, there are too many people to gather inside for filming. PHOTO: Heléne Leonard
Some of the performances for Woordfees have had to reduce the number of performers involved, due to the Covid-19 restrictions under the current lockdown level. Botha told MatieMedia that she hopes that some of the restrictions will be lifted in the next few weeks, which will allow Woordfees to film big groups such as the Stellenbosch University Choir.
“As it stands now, we will not be able to find a big enough venue to accommodate all the students who form part of the Stellenbosch University Choir. Hopefully, the restrictions change soon,” stated Botha.
The difference between theatre and film
Some of the production managers for the Toyota SU Woordfees 2021 have decided to adapt the shows produced for the online festival to ensure that they resonate with a TV audience, according to Marie Voigt, a freelance producer working for Toyota SU Woordfees 2021.
“The fact is that if you place a staring camera on a theatre show, you will not get the same effect as in real life. So the productions are produced for TV specifically, so they have the same feelings as a live show. This year’s Woordfees is a beautiful merging of theatre and film…it is an interesting union of the arts,” said Voigt.
The type of shows that will be showcased on DStv will stay as close to the festival’s usual program as possible, and will include dance, theatre and poetry pieces, according to Botha.
Afrikaans content*: Saartjie Botha, festival director of Toyota SU Woordfees, explains how this year’s productions will differ from previous years, as the audience is no longer in-person. The camera serves as the new audience member, which brings a different element to performances. RECORDING: Heléne Leonard
The importance of celebrating the arts
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of the arts in society has not been recognised, claimed Ingrid Howard, owner of Drostdy Theatre.
“The arts speak against injustice in our society. Once theatres are not there any longer…then people will realise and miss their importance,” said Howard.