Darling, host town of a most unusual festival

Great excitement as the festival celebrates a decade

A decade of festival magic in Darling

A Festival with heart, great artists and a focus on community

A night beneath the stars

Evita memorabilia is strewn all over Darling

Two Icons of south African history: Our beloved Madiba with Pieter Dirk Uys’ creation, Tannie Evita Bezuidenhoudt

A world of lights

Evita se Perron: a place of dreams

Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3…

A reminder of the contradictions that is our country. The old and the new: The “Old” Oxwagon and the “New” South African Flag

Oxwagon Piano – Ossewa Klavier

“Starry, starry night”

Albert Combrink

Why did the chicken Cross the road?

Voorkamer Flowers

Soprano Louise Howlett outside our “Concert Hall”, the Voorkamer (Lounge) of someone’s house in what would be known as a “Township” area. Bringing communities together.

Louise Howlett (Soprano) performing at the VoorkameFest.

Small space is a challenge, and not all venues have pianos, therefore a good keyboard has to suffice.

The festival is unique in the artists perform in people’s houses. Here’s our theatre – a house in a suburb (what might have been called a township). One starts to question all one’s terminology and assumptions. Please note the sign on the window of the sponsors of this venue: the Rupert Foundation. Artists are divided into 6 routes and audiences move from house to house, not knowing which act they are going to see.

View of the Voorkamer

One of the local schools around the corner. An eye-opening experience for all.

Late afternoon shadows.

The street in which we performed

Darling is famous for its Spring Flowers and this year was as spectacular as any we’ve ever seen

Audiences rotate via Taxi from Voorkamer to Voorkamer. They drink wine and make friends and see the world from an angle they might not have seen before.

Albert Combrink, our hostess Magda Lewis and Louise Howlett

The Voorkamer is ready for the audience to arrive.

Albert Combrink tucked safely in the corner

Riding with no saddle

Arum Lilies. Everywhere!

Darling Flowers. Everywhere. Just flowers. Beauty everywhere!

Exquisite fields and peaceful atmosphere.

Beautiful sunsets as we prepare for the early-evening shows.

Fun in the trees.

Having a ball on God’s Jungle Jim.

Wonderful views right from the Voorkamer where we performed. Ever afternoon there were horse-riders in the fields.

Very well-behaved neighbours!

Mister Grumpy greeted us for every show. he was obviously not too impressed with all the comings and goings.

Horse rider in the field opposite our Voorkamer

Everyone came to see the sights.

Ottoman Slap

Ottoman slap

Violinist Anele Mhlahlo

Barney’s Angels Educare performing in the street. Such concentration!

Barney’s Angels Educare Street Dance. How cute is that little smile!

Miss Molly & Me from the Netherlands

My country’s beautiful people.

DMA Street performance

Dizu Plaatjies. Lecturer in Ethno-musicology at UCT

African Percussion Maestro Dizu Plaatjies performing with a member of his Ibuyambo Ensemble

Festival Staff members put on a number for the artists as well, welcoming everyone in style.

The lovely teacher from “Barney’s Angels Educare Center”, whose children performed in a street-theater dance.

Getting ready for the week.

Audience members included old and new friends and colleagues in the industry, including Fahiem Stellenboom from the Baxter Theater

“The Roof Guy” – a man with a guitar that randomly appeared on Rooftops serenading the Festival goers

Louise Howlett, Dizu Plaatjies, Albert Combrink, and Ibuyambu band member

Potbrood. Wicked.

Pieter Dirk Uys (middle) receving the 10 Year Anniversary cake from one of the Festival staff (l), with comedian Shimmy Isaacs (r)

Pieter Dirk Uys attending our evening performance

Always time for a party…

A kiss from co-ordinator Omnia Grobler, with Pieter Bosch Botha in the background

Louise Howlett giving an impromptu a-capella encore in the moon as the Taxis were a bit late at the end of our late show,

Mixed Mense Hiphop

“Emile Yx? with Mixed Mense” Hiphop school

Penny for your thoughts Minnie Mouse?

Louise Howlett & Michael Kudukwashe (Zimbabwean Comedian)

Cape Celtic Dance Academy – they needed a Voorkamer with a high roof because they had the longest legs and could lift them so high you could just imagine someone yelling “Oppas vir die ligte!”

The festival ended with a community performance.

Albert Combrink & Louise Holwett opening the outdoor Community Concert at the Darling VoorkamerFest (Photo: Lise Day)

Albert Combrink & Louise Holwett opening the outdoor Community Concert at the Darling VoorkamerFest (Photo: Lise Day)

“The HoolaHoop Lady” certainly made an impact!

“Frasier has left the building…”

Zanne Stapelberg (Soprano) was guest presenter for Fiesta Morning television

Phillipus Hugo (Piano) & Zanne Stapelberg (Soprano)

Violinist Anele Mhlahlo

Supplies. ‘Nuff said.

Sound-man Stefan and Co-ordinator Omnia Grobler

Slow beer – not always consumed slowly!

The Unique talents of Shimmy Isaacs always guarantee an entertaining time!

Darling and “Evita se Perron” is a wonderful opportunity to revisit our problematic history

Apartheid Architect Hendrik Verwoerd

Our History

Evita

Evita kitsch everywhere

Evita se Perron

Evita se Perron

That Chandelier!

Louise Howlett (Soprano) & Albert Combrink (Piano) performing at the Voorkamer Festival (Photo: Paul Darne Photography)