The Women's Humanity Festival at Artscape in 2019
This August, the 20th annual Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival will transform Cape Town into a powerful platform for dialogue, healing, activism and artistic expression under the theme A Place For All, with the sub-theme: Women in Action, Vroue in Aksie and Abafazi Kwintshukumo.
The festival coincides with two significant milestones; Artscape Theatre Centre’s 55th anniversary and the 70th commemoration of the historic 1956 Women’s March, creating a deeply symbolic moment to reflect on equality, inclusion, disability rights and the urgent need to reclaim women’s voices in South Africa.
Running throughout Women’s Month, the festival brings together theatre productions, dance, music, exhibitions, film, intergenerational conversations, workshops and public discussions that challenge silence, celebrate resilience and advocate for a society where all citizens are equal.
The Artscape festival will once again host the August 9 Women’s Humanity Walk from the Civic Centre to the Artscape complex. This year’s walk will also honour Sophie Williams-De Bruyn, one of the leaders of the historic 1956 Women’s March, as part of the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of this landmark moment in South Africa’s history. The shortened version, less than 100m, of this iconic walk will be accessible to Persons with Disabilities. Following the Walk, all participants will gather on the Piazza steps for a moment of silence, rip tape from their mouths and shout “stop the silence”, symbolising the need to break the silence around women’s voices. This will be followed by an interfaith blessing.
Woman Zone’s Everywoman Project is working on two textile artworks to commemorate the 55 years of the Artscape building and 70 years of the Women’s March. The works will be unveiled during the Artscape festival.
“In a world where exclusion, violence and inequality continue to silence many voices, the Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival remains committed to creating a space where every person feels seen, heard and valued. This festival is about humanity, dignity and collective healing. It is time to put policies into action. The March to the Union Buildings made a powerful statement against all odds, thousands of women risked their lives to protest against the Dompas. We must ask ourselves: where are we today? Gender-based violence continues to devastate our communities.
Persons with disabilities remain invisible and excluded. Pro-women working environments are yet to become the norm. And the LGBTQ+ community remains under threat. August is our moment to reflect on how far we have come and how far we still need to go in realising the human rights for all that are embedded in our Constitution.” The Artscape Women’s Humanity Festival continues to stand as one of South Africa’s leading cultural movements advocating for equality, inclusivity and social change through the arts, says Marlene le Roux, CEO of Artscape Theatre.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:
Bottelnek Breek Bek, the ground-breaking novel by award-winning Dianne Du Toit Albertze, that makes its way from page to stage at Artscape. Join us for the official book launch, featuring live extracts performed by Dianne and Riaan Visman, with direction by Basil Appollis. Discussion is led by Executive Producer Marlene Le Roux who brings this gripping investigation into identity and belonging to life.
Kom Fietna Saam is a vibrant and heartfelt South African theatre production that celebrates community, resilience, humour, and the rich spirit of Afrikaans storytelling. Featuring Gaireyah Fredericks, Celeste Matthews Wannenburgh and award-winning actor/director, Lee-Ann van Rooi.
The Divalicious Dames show sees drag-mime artists Ramsay Davids and Martin Neethling take audiences on a nostalgic trip down memory lane for a fun-filled evening celebrating the songs of yesteryear.
ABFAB is back by popular demand; its more than a performance, it’s a showcase of the best Drag Queens in South Africa. We skipped a beat. ABFAB is back with all the glitter and more glam. This spectacular show is a tribute to the late, legendary Soli Philander.
Directed by Nomandla Vilakazi, Bones is a documentary that explores the repatriation of the remains of Sara “Saartjie” Baartman and the fight, fuelled by a poem by the late Diana Ferrus, to return her to South Africa in 2002, where she was finally laid to rest.
The festival will also feature a critical panel discussion with Sabrina Walter Founder of advocacy organisation Women For Change, known for amplifying the voices of women affected by violence and injustice in South Africa and other iconic women together with other iconic women.
Falling Forward is the unfolding documentary of a woman who has lived, loved, learned, fallen and risen again and again. It is Rachel Kolisi’s invitation to every person, especially women, to step into the parts of themselves they have outgrown, avoided, silenced, or forgotten.
Radio Tygerberg’s Sisters Women’s Conference is back on Women’s Day, Sunday 9 August 2026, at the Artscape Opera House. Themed: “Freedom”. Guest speakers include Greta Wiid, who will share her inspiring journey, along with Jenna-Leigh Bilong, speaker, author and TV news presenter. Panel discussions featuring Rochelle Liedeman, Ingrid Venter, Liomee Vosloo and Bernice Janse van Rensburg will also form part of the programme.
Another staple on the AWHF calendar is the 1000 Women Trust, a pioneer in the field of amplifying women’s voices, this year will host an interactive art-based session August 5th.
Thandi Swaartbooi, founder of the all-female ensemble Women Unite, will host a traditional marimba production.
Woman Zone will launch two books at the AWHF:
- jackï job’s book, Choreographing Rebellion: Dance practice from South Africa to Japan. Developed over three decades by the South African-born author working in both South Africa and Japan, it is a powerful auto-ethnographic account of choreography that engages with identity, decolonisation and transformation from a feminist perspective.
- Rusana Philander’s memoir, Chasing Deadlines. The book takes readers beyond the newsroom and into a deeply personal journey.
From university, youth and community choirs to church and chamber choirs, the Voices in Unison celebrates the excellence, dedication and diversity of our choral groups through a vibrant programme.
The Arise Women of Africa Symposium is a prominent annual event hosted by the Sport for Social Change Network Africa (SSCN) that will take place at the AWHF this year. The symposium celebrates strength, resilience and empowerment, bringing together women and girls to advocate for rights, gender justice and personal well-being.
For more information check www.artscape.co.za and tickets can be purchased via Webtickets.
