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iPhulo Drama Festival 2025: A Celebration of Cutting-Edge Drama in the Eastern Cape

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The highly anticipated iPhulo Drama Festival 2025 is set to take the stage from March 10-15, 2025, at The Athenaeum. This premium drama festival, proudly supported by the National Department of Sport, Arts & Culture, and the Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture. This festival will feature groundbreaking theatrical productions from some of the resilient voices in the theatre industry.

Under the banner of innovation and artistic excellence, this year’s festival presents a dynamic lineup of captivating productions, each offering unique perspectives and powerful storytelling.

Featured productions include:

  • Weave (March 11 & 13) – A poignant exploration of generational ties and resilience. Produced by Mojalefa Koyana, Lungelwa Magqamfana & Mfundo Zono based in Gqeberha .
  • Uvuko Lwethongo (March 13 & 14) – A bold theatrical experience that challenges boundaries. Produced by Sakhumzi Sogcwe based in Gqeberha.
  • Spirit of Shakespeare in Africa (March 13 & 14) – A fresh, African perspective on Shakespearean themes. Produced by Thamsanqa Mbongo based in Johannesburg.
  • Top Dog / Underdog (March 14 & 15) – A gripping drama exploring race, class, and identity. Produced by Niyi Coker, Jr. based in San Diego, USA
  • Jika (March 12 & 15) – A moving piece reflecting on transformation and resilience. Produced by Ayanda Billie based in Kariega.
  • The Journey (March 12 & 15) – A thought-provoking exploration of personal and collective history. Produced by Simphiwe Vikilahle based in Gqeberha.

Beyond the stage performances, iPhulo Drama Festival 2025 offers an enriching program of masterclasses, book discussions, and industry engagements.

Masterclasses & Book Promotion

This year’s festival will host exclusive masterclasses led by theatre luminaries:

  • Acting Masterclass (March 12 & 13) with Bheki Mkhwane a veteran stage and television actor – Sharing insights from his illustrious career.
  • Script Development Masterclass (March 15) with Prof. Anton Krueger an academic and lecturer at Rhodes University – A deep dive into the art of crafting compelling narratives.

The festival will also feature a special book promotion for the book titled: A Quest for Justice by Mzukisi Ndara (March 12), offering festivalgoers the opportunity to engage with literary works and their creators. The session will be facilitated by Mxolisi Nyezwa, a local internationally acclaimed poet and publisher.

Creative Industry Innovations

For Iphulo Drama Festival MBTC is partnering with the Mandela Bay Film Forum which will produce a capacitation encounter for local filmmakers. The Mandela Bay Film Forum shall launch a partnership with Dr Niyi Coker of the San Diego State University for collaborations on training of local filmmakers and a partnership to host the Africa World Documentary Festival – Eastern Cape Chapter.

To keep up with the tradition of long lasting scripts that was started by John Kani, Winston Ntshona and Athol Fugard, MBTC is partnering with the award winning playwright Nompumezo Buzani in launching a monthly scriptwriting development programme.

Iphulo Drama Festival of 2025 marks the turning point for theatre in Nelson Mandela Bay. The programming and productions are raising the bar and set a precedent that this festival and the MBTC will be known for and measured by.

Ticket Information:

Individual show tickets are priced at R80 per performance, with a festival pass available for R300, granting access to all productions. Tickets can be purchased via Webtickets.

A special discount in ticket prices are available for students and pensioners. These are R60 per show and R250 for a festival pass.

“This festival is a testament to the incredible talent emerging from the Eastern Cape and beyond. It is a space where stories come alive, and audiences can experience the richness of South African theatre,” said Kent Cairncross, Acting Marketing and Brand Manager for Mandela Bay Theatre Complex.

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