The Centre for Creative Arts (CCA) within the College of Humanities has announced the launch of the new Cabaret and Beyond (CAB) Festival in 2021. This annual event aims to bring together musical theatre creatives from across South Africa. It will promote, develop, and commission new compositions and writing within the broad spectrum of musical theatre, cabaret, and music-related storytelling.
Music theatre composers, lyricists and book writers are invited to apply for the Festival. The deadline for applications is 6 June.
The organisers recognise the impressive local industry and will use this platform to champion new work to empower writers and provide opportunities to showcase material that is socially relevant and retains the entertainment value inherent in the genre, while at the same time engaging in audience development on the festival’s theme of Cross-wired.
CCA Director Dr Ismail Mahomed said, ‘Cross-wired provides musical theatre writers with the latitude to experiment with the intersection between genres as well as the several social and identity intersections that can inspire the crafting of their songs. It invites a no-holds-barred approach to innovation and creativity.’
The Centre has appointed UKZN music lecturer Dr Roland Perold to curate the inaugural CAB Festival. Perold holds a Licentiate in Musical Theatre Performance and an M.Mus in Songwriting from Bath Spa University, UK. He has written and produced four original chamber musicals and is a strong proponent of new writing development for the genre.
‘The CAB Festival is open to submissions that are experimental and push the boundaries of the genre, as well as more traditional music theatre works,’ said Perold.
Those wishing to participate should complete the online form before 6 June. Shortlisted candidates for the inaugural CAB Festival will be announced on 21 June. Successful applicants will be paid a fee of R2 500 for a song that is selected for a showcase performance during October 2021. If a lyricist and composer wish to work collaboratively, they will receive R1 800 each for each collective work created.
The CAB Festival organisers will provide support and encouragement for the writers during July, August and September. The final song(s) need to be submitted by 12 September. A Durban-based creative team will then stage the CAB Festival Showcase, presenting all the new material on 16 October during an event at the 25th edition of the Poetry Africa festival.
Writers may compose for up to four voices, should they so choose. There will be a cast of four; two men and two women. Casting will be finalised by the artistic director after entries have been finalised. A Durban-based creative team, consisting of a director and musical director/pianist, yet to be confirmed, will mount the showcase production. Should a writer wish to incorporate elements such as soundscape, or a specific production element, these requirements can be discussed with the creative team.
Following the showcase, two winning composers/writers will be announced whose work has potential for continued development. Each will receive a grant to develop their ideas into a longer format theatrical production which will be produced in conjunction with the CCA in April 2022.
Interested persons should complete the form found at the following link: https://forms.gle/5UaAqWa4ftgDcanK9
