JOBURG'S LEADING ARTS FESTIVAL

Now that the stages are cleared, the seats packed away, and the fading echoes of music and laughter have left the campus, the Redhill Arts Festival 2024 reflects on the unforgettable collection of artistic brilliance, mesmerising drama, and enthralling entertainment that filled our school for three days in late July.

This year’s festival exceeded all expectations, with incredible support from the Redhill community and the wider Sandton and Johannesburg areas. Living up to its reputation as Joburg’s leading arts festival, #RedFest2024 saw record numbers attending over 25 theatre productions and enjoying the vibrant Village on the Oval, which featured some of South Africa’s leading musicians performing live on our stage. Highlights included Watershed on Friday evening, the amazing Mzansi Youth Choir and renowned Lady Zamar on Saturday, and the phenomenal Jesse Clegg and Zolani & The Feminine Force bringing the festival to a rousing close.

The Village on the Oval was a bustling hub, attracting over 5,000 guests throughout the weekend. With more than 80 artisanal market and food stalls, an SAB beer tent and gin bar, fire pits, photo booths, and more, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

In terms of our theatre offerings, this year’s standout favourite was the award-winning VINCENT with all three shows selling out. The children’s theatre performances were hugely popular, and it was heartening to see so many young people captivated by live theatre. We also hosted a range of highly acclaimed one-act plays from local schools, including St Stithians, St Benedict’s, St Barnabas, and the National School of the Arts.

New to #RedFest2024 was the introduction of BookFest, where renowned local authors such as Gail Schimmel, Fiona Snyckers, Craig Higginson, Sue Nyathi, and Marian Scher led a series of engaging writing workshops. KidsFest offered young readers the chance to meet talented authors, listen to captivating stories, and embark on imaginative adventures. The onsite Art Jamming workshops were also a huge hit with attendees of all ages.

This year’s art exhibition featured carefully curated pieces from local galleries as well as impressive student works from nearby schools. It was wonderful to see people of all ages browsing and purchasing artwork.

Feedback from the event has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees praising the diverse 3-day offering, meticulous organisation, and the overall experience. Massive thanks go out to the #RedFest2024 team, volunteers, and everyone who supported the festival.