PUSSY RIOT DETENTION EXTENDED

You don' stomp on Superman's cape

You don' spit into the wind

You don' mess around with that ol' Lone Ranger

And you don' mess around with Putin

A FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER

Reflecting the richness and diversity of South Africa's cultural tapestry, the National Arts Festival is set once again to entertain, astound and invigorate in its 38th year.

The popular and inspiring National Arts Festival returns to the traditionally quiet, Victorian and intellectual city of Grahamstown bringing the customary - and always unprecedented - excitement and bustle in its wake, as visitors and artists make their annual pilgrimage from the rest of South Africa and the world to celebrate the finest in artistic endeavour.

Taking place from 28 June to 8 July, it has been dubbed South Africa's cultural crucible offering the established artist significant public exposure - and unknown talent the opportunity for discovery. It has become renowned as a springboard for artistic excellence.

Seeking to impart the resounding and unforgettable vibrancy the Festival generates, the slogan for this year's event is aptly named '11 Days of Amaz!ng'. Here is a sample of what to expect from this extraordinary show.

Theatre

The 2012 Main Theatre programme boasts two world premieres and a list of world-class productions.

The Blue Iris

Athol Fugard's latest work is billed a love story of tender and personal revelations.

Trapped

A drama - and the first play-script of Princess Zinzi Mhlongo, winner of the 2012 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Drama.

Little Foot

Described as a multi-media event that promises to be a unique piece of storytelling, actor Neil Coppen continues to challenge the boundaries of contemporary South African theatre in Craig Higginson's latest play. It is due to be performed at the National Theatre in London before the 2012 Olympics.

Manolibera

Actors interact with the characters and become part of the story in this multi-award winning production by Italian-based company Scarlettine Teatro, who take their audience into the world of the comic book.

Red

John Logan's 2010 Tony Award winning play explores the creative process and inner conflict of famous American artist Mark Rothko.

Race

Race, sex, lies, class, shame and guilt feature in the Playhouse Company's production of David Mamet's fast-paced play.

This year, the National Arts Festival will present the biggest Fringe offering in its 38-year history. An estimated 390 Fringe productions are expected during '11 Days of Amaz!ng' and with an average of 295 productions showing on any one of the 11 days, theatre-going audiences will be spoilt for choice. Among street theatre, outstanding musicians, art exhibitions, the Village Green craft market and pop-up restaurants and stalls one cannot but be comprehensively entertained.

Dance

Contemporary dance is given more exposure at this year's Festival, with a rich tapestry of international influences and a space for young, cutting-edge choreographers to display their potential.

Baily Snyman explores the fears, anxieties and denial of militarised gay people in the sensitive production Moffie. It is billed as delving into both the historical and contemporary understandings of homosexuality in the armed forces.

Two pieces, considered a key turning point in the history of dance, Pudique Acide and Extasis, are presented by French choreographers Mathilde Monnier and Jean-Francois Duroure in a double bill duo.

Cutting edge digital art and evocative stage design feature in Inter.Fear - a production by Athena Mazarakis and Hansel Nezza, who explore fear in its various facets in our contemporary lives.

Two other productions likely to appeal are Cape Town City Ballet's Giselle and Eastern Cape Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts & Culture's Rhythms of the Eastern Cape, a production signifying the regional government's commitment to preserving and promoting indigenous knowledge systems and culture.

Award-winning artists' productions

Jeffrey Jay Fowler directs Hope is the Saddest, a bittersweet story of a childlike young woman who draws all her life lessons from the lyrics of Dolly Parton.

Amsterdam Fringe's award-winning 2011 production Bye Bye World features Anne Gehring and Vera Katelaars dealing with an upheaval in their perfectly normal lives.

An evolving relationship between two men into a deep, lasting, unexpected and little understood friendship is the subject of Janna Ramos-Violante's Callum's Will.

Tara Notcutt, James Cairns, Albert Pretorious and Rob van Vuuren deliver a dark but delightfully twisted psychological thriller in an unexpected take on the classic children's story The Three Little Pigs.

Among the best of solo theatre is likely to be:

Conversation with Pieter-Dirk EISH - featuring the doyen of South African political satire, Pieter-Dirk Uys.

Thembi Mtshali-Jones in Mother to Mother - a portrayal of the tragic killing of Amy Biehl.

Omphie Molusi in Itsoseng - a damning indictment of government indifference and cynicism.

David Butler as Herman Charles Bosman in the delightful character ensemble Post Office.

Sunday Morning - James Cunningham makes a gruesome life-changing discovery.

Musical items to consider are:

Award-winning South African soprano Kelebogile Boikanyo.

The KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra performing Camille Saint-Saens and Paul Dukas.

Chanticleer Singers - music inspired by the indigenous peoples of South Africa.

Stunning Armstrong classics by Prince Lengoasa and friends in Louis Armstrong & Friends.

Two Trios and a Quintet - virtuoso string, percussion and wind ensemble.

Space does not permit a comprehensive list of the outstanding array of artistic talent that will grace the 2012 National Arts Festival. Each year the base expands and provides a laudable platform to encourage eager and aspiring artists to excel and carve a niche on the global stage.

The vibrant, pulsating spirit produced by the energetic artists and collective throngs is an endearing and lasting testimony to the beautiful undercurrents of the nation in its celebration and enjoyment of Art.