Darling Voorkamerfest

The darling citizens of the West Coast open their doors to host a theatrical mash-up in their living rooms

Get a good dose of local theatre and a hearty helping of small town hospitality at the much-loved Darling Voorkamerfest, which takes place in the charming West Coast dorpie from Friday, 4 to Sunday, 6 September 2015.

The word ‘voorkamer’ translates to ‘living room’ from Afrikaans, and whole idea of the fest is to invite visitors to view an exciting array of performances – from dance, music and poetry to stand-up comedy, drama and puppet theatre – in the cosy homes and comfy lounges of Darling’s residents.

The Voorkamerfest comprises seven different routes, and each course includes shows at three theatre homes. Local taxis whisk festival-goers from one venue to the next and the settings range from township abodes to Cape Dutch manors. Part of the fun is that revellers have no idea which performance they will find on their pre-determined tour. With another killer line-up of South African and international acts on the cards this year, it’s pretty much guaranteed they’ll have a great time. 

Ticket sales for the weekend-long fiesta, which is now celebrating its 12th year, are open and spaces tend to be snapped up fast both by those who have been there before and those who have been told they should have been there before. So, read up on what to expect at this year’s fair and get booking!

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE 2015 DARLING VOORKAMERFEST

SHOWS AND PERFORMANCES: Over 20 artists will be swapping the stage for floor space at this year’s fandango, and some of the acts to look forward to include the Appassionato Quartet (a wind instrument quartet) and funny man Kagiso KG Mokgadi. Each show is 25 minutes long, and those who just can’t get enough can book for all three routes so they can catch a total of 21 productions. What’s more, at 4pm on Sunday, 7 September 2015, festival-goers can catch a summary of the programme when all the participating artists perform five-minute snippets of their show during a free concert in Darling East.

MARKETS: Sample some of Darling’s homemade snacks and wines at the food and crafts market and relax while taking in the fresh air and small town magic. The market will be hosted in front of Evita se Perron.

PARTYING: Aside from all the fabulous shows, another must-see and do is the annual Perron Festival Party at Evita se Perron, Pieter-Dirk Uys’s legendary theatre, on Saturday, 6 September 2015. Prepare for a downright jol, Darling style! A cash bar will be available. Folks can fuel up for the dance floor with the delicious eats on sale at the market.

DARLING’S CHARMS: The annual arts and drama fiesta coincides with the one of most beautiful times of the year – spring! The blooming flora and fynbos wrap the countryside in a wonderful kaleidoscope of colours, making for a breath-taking drive to and from the event. Not to mention, the outstanding Darling wine route is just one of the many draw cards that makes this West Coast hamlet well worth a visit.

LINE UP FOR THE 2015 DARLING VOORKAMERFEST

Routes are scheduled for 5pm on Friday, 12pm and 5pm on Saturday and 12pm on Sunday. Revellers can pick up tickets at the box office next to Evita se Perron, where the taxis will be making pick-ups for the tour (guests are advised to arrive an hour before the taxi departs).

• Abavuki
• Appassionato Quartet
• Aron Ha’Levi
• Caroline and Julie Blundell
• Cleo Raatus and Tankiso Mamabolo
• The Dance Connection
• Hazel Hinda
• Hemel Besem
• Emmelie Zipson sings with the two Gs
• Godfrey Johnson
• Julian Wenn
• Kagiso KG Mokgadi
• Leon Giesen
• Makudupanyane Senaoana accompanied by Philippus Hugo
• Matzer
• Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi
• Nina Hastie
• Petra Müller
• Samantha Durrant
• Watervolk

TICKETS FOR THE 2015 DARLING VOORKAMERFEST

Tickets are available online via Voorkamerfest-darling.co.za or you can contact Chanda Burrows by calling +27 (0)82 321 7542 or emailing bookings@voorkamerfest-darling.co.za. Tickets for the Friday route cost R195p/p, and the cost for the Saturday and Sunday routes is R235p/p. Bookings for the Perron Festival Party can be made by contacting Chanda. Some of the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the Darling Trust to further education and empowerment for residents of the area.

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Hurry and book to find out the incredible secret line-up of live music, spoken word poetry, comedy and dance in Muizenberg homes at Village Vibes.

Interested in other festivals around Cape Town? Take a look at our overview of September events in Cape Town and surrounds so you don’t miss a single shindig.

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