Phezulu Project

Taking Street Performance To New Heights

he Phezulu Project started in May 2009 as a new development initiative supported by the National Arts Festival and BASA to give street performers a chance to reach for the stars. In an attempt to revitalise the National Arts Festival and bring the “carnivalesque” atmosphere back to the streets, the NAF are supporting this project to give the Festival a face-lift (literally). Headed by Richard Antrobus, a past resident performer for the First Physical Theatre Company and creator of the hit show, “Stilted”, Richard has equipped 5 unemployed local performers with the training and means to walk tall and stand out from the crowd. It’s risky business, and many may question the stability of this project, I’m confident that with public support it has the potential to get over its shortcomings and develop, grow and expand into other styles of street performance. We’re simply taking it one step at a time!

N.A Waterfront

These performers are skilled in stilt-walking, gumboot dancing and are currently developing their skills in poi. Following the success at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, 2009 (featured briefly on SABC 2’s Morning Live), the Phezulu Project have since been invited to perform at the Hilton Arts Festival and have also performed at conferences, corporates, and various other local events. More recently, Phezulu embarked on a national tour to help promote the National Arts Festival, travelling to Port Elizabeth, Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and East London. – Richard Antrobus (Project Manager)