Now in its second year, the Festival Enterprise Catalyst continues to support artists and technical crews by creating extended opportunities for South African theatre work to travel between the country’s premier festivals.
The FEC is a partnership between Aardklop, the Klein Karoo Kunstefees, the National Arts Festival, Suidoosterfees and Woordfees, as well as Concerts SA, SAMRO and Tribuo. The collective funds generated from these partners is matched by funding from the National Treasury’s Job Fund to support the creation and touring of new work through a circuit of arts festivals. Works are selected through joint sittings of the festivals’ artistic committees and each festival selects work that are considered appropriate for their festival programming.
This year, participating member, Suidoosterfees has chosen the theme ‘Home’, indicative of their wish to welcome everyone to this growing Cape Town festival held at the Artscape Theatre Centre from 29 April-3 May 2026.
Two new works that are supported by FEC will debut at Suidoosterfees.
First performed in 1977, A Women Alone is a one-woman play delivered as a powerful and thought-provoking monologue that explores the life of a housewife. Delving into themes of oppression, liberation and social commentary, this reimagining of the work combines elements of satire, farce and drama to recount the daily life, struggles and frustrations of a housewife navigating relationships with her husband, family and society. Directed by Quanita Adams it features accomplished actress Kim Engelbrecht. The script was written by Franca Rame and Dario Fo and it will be performed in English on 30 April, 1st and 2nd May 2026.
Picture: Gys Loubser
The second new FEC-supported work set to debut at Suidoosterfees on 29 April, with shows on 1st May and 3rd May 2026 too, is Eugene. Based on Kirby van der Merwe’s multi-award-winning novel, Saartjie Botha has scripted a raw and poetic portrait of a man who lives between worlds. Featuring Carlo Daniels, Lynette du Plessis and Kirby van der Merwe, the streetwise, yet seemingly upper middle class, Eugene is a wanderer, seeker, lover and lost son – a hard-edged outsider who has mastered the art of truly seeing. The production explores marginalised masculinity, mental health and trauma. With Brechtian estrangement as an undertone, Eugene’s journey becomes a quest for integrity and humanity amid injustice and despair, Eugene is directed by Nico Scheepers.
Suidoosterfees will also stage works that have enjoyed full houses and critical acclaim across FEC partner Festivals in 2025 and 2026. These include:
1 & 2 May 2026
29/30 April & 1 May 2026
29 April, 1 & 2 May 2026
Lemoene, lemoene, lemoene, lemoene, lemoene
2 & 3 May 2026
30 April & 1 May 2026
“This partnership with the FEC represents exactly what Suidoosterfees strives for – the amplification of diverse voices and creating space for innovative storytelling,” says Jana Hattingh, CEO of Suidoosterfees, “These works embody the spirit of ‘Home,’ they’re intimate, honest and deeply connected to the human experience.”
Festival Details
Suidoosterfees is Cape Town’s premier cultural festival, celebrating stories, music, theatre and dance that reflect the diverse voices and experiences of our communities. Taking place this year from 29 April-3 May.
Suidoosterfees 2026 is made possible through partnerships with the Western Cape Government, the Western Cape Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, City of Cape Town, Netwerk24, Die Burger, NATi, kykNET, ATKV, National Arts Council and Artscape.
Visit the full 2026 programme: suidoosterfees.com/program-programme-2026/