WITH a bold and sassy programme of more than 70 productions, this year’s Cape Town Fringe – which runs until October 4 – promises to be a showcase of the best of South African theatre.

Audiences can look forward to an invigorating mix of new and original work spanning every genre. It is the second time this annual event will be held in the Mother City.

Artistic director, Ismail Mahomed, said the Cape Town Fringe was evolving its own artistic fingerprint – that of an engaged, original, and socially aware programme.

“It demonstrates how independent artists and arts companies are passionately engaging with the world around them and bringing that experience to their work,” Mahomed said, adding that more productions are likely be added in the coming weeks as contractual and other discussions are concluded..

While the programme comprises mostly theatre, dance, performance art, physical theatre, music, family theatre and magic will round off the festival.

“The programme includes work that has left audiences stunned at other festivals and theatres, as well as fresh work from established companies and a selection of new voices. We believe it is an invigorating mix that will blow audiences away,” Mahomed said.

This year’s line-up aims to offer a wide choice, ensuring that the Fringe matches the vibrancy and creativity of other Fringe Festivals worldwide.

“Audiences will be able to craft an amazing experience, drawing from productions that won the coveted Standard Bank Ovation Award at the recent National Arts Festival, through to original work that is devised and created specifically to premiere at this year’s Fringe,” he added.

A broad selection panel reviewed the proposals submitted for the Fringe this year. Led by Mahomed, it comprised Jaqueline Dommisse, Yazeed Kamaldien, Warona Seane, Sifiso Kweyama, Adrienne Sichel and Lynette Marais.

Produced by the experienced team at the National Arts Festival, the Cape Town Fringe will make use of venues in the City Centre, at the V&A Waterfront (for the first time in 2015) and Langa.

“The programme has a strong Cape flavor with locally based artists making up approximately 60% of the programme,” Fringe CEO Tony Lankester said.

More than 18 000 tickets were sold last year, and the event was estimated to have an economic impact of over R4-million, over and above its R2.7-million direct spend, Lankester added.

Local partnerships are crucial to staging the event, Mahomed said, highlighting relationships with initiatives such as the Zabalaza Festival, PANSA and ASSITEJ, all of which have made the programme “richer and more relevant.”

Lankester said last year’s event had given the organisers a solid base from which to innovate: “We want to grow the event even more and we will be introducing some innovations developed as a result of open engagement with Cape artists and institutions earlier this year.”

Some of this year’s innovations include:

• Patrons who book via the Cape Town Fringe website will be able to make use of the print-at-home-ticket function, reducing queuing time for patrons.
• An enhanced and more user-friendly Cape Town Fringe mobile booking and planning app.
• A stronger programme of events for schools and learner groups during the daytime.
• Greater cognizance given to religious and other holidays in the planning process.
• Expanding to venues beyond the City Hall precinct.
• Partnering with Cape Town Tourism and a specialist travel agent to put packages together for visitors from other cities wanting to attend the Fringe.
• More specials for workers in the City to attend shows during their lunch breaks. “Give us your lunch hour, we’ll give you a show and a sandwich,” say organisers.
• A busier and more vibrant Fringe Club in the City Hall, where patrons will be able to meet for coffee, a glass of wine and a light meal.

Joining the City as a full sponsor of the event this year is Standard Bank, who will play host to the Standard Bank music stage in the City Hall.

“The venue will feature some amazing entertainment,” Jenny Pheiffer, Head of Brand and Group Sponsorships at Standard Bank said. “We are proud to continue our support for the arts in South Africa through the Cape Town Fringe Festival. For Standard Bank this is a natural fit and extension of our National Arts Festival sponsorship and we look forward to seeing the best new original work across all genres in Cape Town.”

Book at http://www.capetownfringe.co.za

Full list of productions selected for the 2015 Cape Town Fringe:

Last Cow Standing – Nu-Breed Theatre Company, KwaZulu-Natal
7 Deadly Sins – Macbob Productions , KwaZulu-Natal
Acatears Music – Vaal University of Technology – BOTC, Gauteng
Adam Small BeJazzed – Applauz Arts Initiative, Western Cape
ADAM:Vichistravrya or I wish I were Caitlyn Jenner – Tazmé Pillay, Western Cape
Al Julle Volke – Wessel Pretorius, Western Cape
An Extraordinarily Ordinary Life – KB Theatre Productions, Western Cape
Ashes – Rust Co-Operative, Western Cape
Astonish – Wonga Magic, Western Cape
B*tch Stole My Doek – Copy Dog, KwaZulu-Natal
Barbed Wire Wallpaper – Clockwork HeART, Gauteng
Barred – Yellow Glove Collective, Western Cape
Big Girls – Follow Spot Productions, Western Cape
Blaqseed – Vaal University of Technology – BOTC, Gauteng
Blood Orange – Untouchable Productions/Craig Morris, Gauteng
Butlers and Babysitters – Slick ‘n Sleeve, Western Cape
Detritus for One – Alan Parker, Western Cape
Douche – JawBreaker Productions, Western Cape
Ella’s Horses – Charles Fourie Productions, Western Cape
Exhibit S, Ode to Saartjie Baartman by a Black South African Woman – Thola Antamu, Western Cape
Exit the King – Flat Monkey Company, Western Cape
Fat Man’s Coop – Applauz Arts Initiative in association with PANSA, Western Cape
Gug’Othandayo The Musical – Vukani Emalahleni Service Centre, Mpumalanga
Hatchetman – Hatchetman, Western Cape
How Stories Began – Jungle Theatre Company, Western Cape
ĦREJJEF – folktales – Soundscapes, Malta
Inja ka Vuyo – Isibane Puppet and Drama Group in association with UNIMA, Western Cape
Is this for Keeps?/ Between Love and Pain – Baxter Theatre, Western Cape
Jazz with Asanda Mqiki – Asanda Mqiki, Eastern Cape
Johnny Boskak is Feeling – Funny Untouchable Productions/Craig Morris, Gauteng
Magic through the Ages – Brendon Peel, Eastern Cape
Mime La France – Mime Theater promotions, Gauteng
Monna ga se Nku – Baikitsi Arts Collective, Western Cape
Mooi Street Moves – Nompumelelo Mtshali, KwaZulu-Natal
Morayks Live – Ramamudi Trading Enterprise (Pty) Ltd, Gauteng
Naked Knitting and Other Contradictory Acts – Liquid Fusion, Gauteng
Nat – Rust Co-Operative, Western Cape
Ndendile – Baxter Theatre, Western Cape
NguMzimba Wam – Art of Hearts in association UNIMA, Western Cape
Nomadic Orchestra, Western Cape
On and On – Cape Junior Ballet Company, Western Cape
Ontwrig –  Drama Department, Stellenbosch University & Woordfees, Western Cape
PANSA Unplugged: Collaborations PANSA Western Cape, Western Cape
Rooivalk – Nico Scheepers, Western Cape
Sleepless Dreams – Stuart Lightbody, Western Cape
Sleight of Mouth II: Now Talk Your Way Out Of This! – Marcel Oudejeans, Western Cape
Smaarties – Abstr(ACT) Productions, North West
Stil(l) – Abstr(ACT) Productions, North West
Suggestion Box #justsaying – OddBody Theatre, Western Cape
Sweet Sounds of Maya Spector – Maya Spector,Western Cape
The Brothers Live – The Brothers, Eastern Cape
The Incredible Journey – KB Theatre Productions, Western Cape
The Politics of Love & Femininity…Black hair & all that Jazz – Wild Young Bohemians, Mpumalanga
Tom Thum & Jamie McDowell, Australia
Trophy – Gavin Krastin, Western Cape
Tumi Thusi – TTM Productions, Gauteng
Uhambo Lomhambi – Baxter Theatre, Western Cape
Waltz – The Gatherings/Intlangano supported by First Physical Theatre and endorsed by Creative City Grahamstown, Eastern Cape
Warrior On Wheels – The Chaeli Campaign Theatre,Western Cape
Waterline – Uyabona Ke, Eastern Cape
We didn’t come to hell for the croissants: 7 deadly new stories for consenting adults – POPArt Productions in association with Jemma Kahn, Gauteng
What goes UP… – FTH: K, Western Cape