Formed in 2024, the Festival Enterprise Catalyst (FEC) fosters partnerships to support new and touring works—generating employment opportunities in the arts. The FEC’s creative sector partners include the KKNK, National Arts Festival, Nasionale Afrikaanse Teater-inisiatief (NATi), Concerts SA, SAMRO, Woordfees, Aardklop, Suidooster Fees, and the Tribuo Fund. Each partner has contributed to a joint budget, supported by funding from the Jobs Fund—a government initiative designed to catalyse innovation and investment that drives job creation. The R20 million budget spans two years, also supporting the development of technicians and providing free networking opportunities and artist development programs across South Africa.
Established in response to sector-wide calls for more sustainable creative opportunities, the FEC aims to provide both longevity and a more reliable economic benefit for creative work—helping to alleviate the pressure on artists to shortcut production and development to meet lean timelines and budgets.
“Providing a longer platform for a programme of works will ensure some sustainability for these producers, cast, and crew, expanding the potential to grow more robust works in our arts landscape. While we realise that this is a drop in the ocean, we see it as a pilot project in creating a model for shared collaboration among creative sector partners. During this initial phase, we will be able to test and refine the model for proof of concept and create a valuable case study for duplication,”
says KKNK’s Artistic Director, Hugo Theart.
This year, the FEC presents four major works at KKNK 2025, including two existing touring productions and two new works debuting at the festival:
- Laaitie Mettie Biscuits – A compelling Afrikaans play written and directed by renowned theatre-maker Christo Davids.
- Stinkhout – A gripping production written and directed by Philip Rademeyer.
- Die Een vat Bly – A new work co-written and directed by Wessel Pretorius.
- Sonde met die Spoke – A debut piece written by Marianne Thamm and directed by Lee-Ann van Rooi.
After their performances at KKNK, these four plays and an additional one, Kompoun, based on Ronelda Kampher’s novel, will move to Suidoosterfees’ NATI Teatrefees in Cape Town between 1 and 4 May. Some of the works will then move to the National Arts Festival and Aardklop.
These works are part of a collective pool of FEC works selected by the various festivals’ 2025 artistic committees for co-production and touring, ensuring they travel on to the participating partners’ festivals.