The Zip Zap Circus is on stage in the Klein Karoo for the first time with MOYA. Photo by Joan Ward.

“The KKNK, sponsored by Absa, also known as the mother of the Afrikaans festivals, celebrates a full-on 30th milestone in Oudtshoorn from 28 March to 4 April 2026.”

These are the words of Hugo Theart, CEO and Artistic Director of the KKNK. According to Theart the festival looks back to where it all started and how the festival developed as part of its history over the years. “However, this celebration also looks ahead full-on. For the 30th year, festivalgoers can look forward to a festival that boasts talent – from both veterans and emerging. The popular aspects of the festival remain jam packed, with a few new additions and exciting adjustments.”

“The theatre programme includes various debut productions of newly written scripts and translations, as well as a selection of award-winning and popular works recently performed on stage at other theatres and festivals.

“The Feesmark (the festival terrain) is extra busy with two music stages where some of South Africa’s foremost popular artists and musicians are on stage. A special Voluit-openingskonsert (28 March) with various surprises and the well-known Karoo Pops (29 March) and Kaktus (2 April) are back. Furthermore, the Feesmark also presents children’s theatre in the Klein KKNK-teater, short theatre productions with Blitsteater, as well as stalls and lifestyle experiences across the festival. All offered at an affordable price. In addition, there is also free entertainment in Baron van Reede Street at the RSG en ATKV-Kuierkol, various discourse series and visual arts.

“We invite everyone to the special 30th birthday celebration in the heart of the Klein Karoo. It is eight days of full-on festivities, with entertainment that includes something for everyone – young and old. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you”, Theart concludes.

Theatre highlights include the return of Nicola Hanekom with a site-specific drama in Die gebed van ’n halfmens, directed by Hanekom with Tobie Cronjé, Annelisa Weiland, Marlo Minnaar, Brendon Daniels, Alyssa van Reenen and Gretha Brazelle. The celebrated Flemish writer Tom Lanoye’s reimagining of the Trojan War in Atropa: Die wraak van vrede directed by Marthinus Basson with Anna-Mart van der Merwe, Antoinette Kellermann, Rolanda Marais, Tinarie van Wyk Loots, Carla Smith and Geon Nel also debuts at the KKNK.

Saartjie Botha is back with a brand-new drama, ge-gebergtes, with Nic de Jager, Daneel van der Walt, Miché van Wyk and Ntombi Makhutshi. Botha did an adaptation of Die ander dogter, a one-person performance with Sandra Prinsloo. The script is written by Annie Ernaux, translated from French by Naòmi Morgan and under direction of Lara Foot.

The first theatre production by Carla Smith debuts at the KKNK with CRYBABY, which she also directs, with amongst others Frank Opperman, Nicole Holm, Wian Taljaard and René Cloete.

Kanya Viljoen directs the comedy drama Lemoene, lemoene, lemoene, lemoene, lemoene with Mienke Ehlers and Dean John Smith. Deep Heat with Carin Bester and Hendrik Nieuwoudt is a site-specific drama and translation of a script by Ashraf Jamal, translated and directed by Ilana Cilliers.

The award-winning Karoo Kaarte behind Die Swartmerrie returns with a brand-new drama from this project’s research for Spoel, with Theo Witbooi, Chantell Phillipus, Janion Kennedy, Melikhaya Blou and Ira Blanckenberg.

Breyten Breytenbach’s first and last dramas are on stage at a festival for the first time. Boklied, with De Klerk Oelofse, David Viviers, Obed de Koker, Ntombi Makhutshi, Wian Taljaard, Keagon Cochrane, Hannah Borthwick, Jurgen McEwan and Ben Albertyn directed by Basson and Verwelkingslied with Antoinette Kellermann and Dawid Minnaar directed by Marí Borstlap are on stage in the Klein Karoo. Festivalgoers have an opportunity to see both these dramas at a saving of 30% with a special Breytenbach ticket package.

Andrew Buckland is on stage in a brand-new drama, The Fool’s Guide, as well as the multi award-winning The Ugly Noo Noo. The Zip Zap Circus takes the audience on a multi-coloured journey through the microcosm of South Africa in MOYA, their first performance in the Klein Karoo.

Popular dramas from other festivals are also on the programme, including amongst others Danie Marais’s Ek is nie Danie with Albert Pretorius and Schalk Joubert directed by Nico Scheepers and Athol Fugard’s Boesman en Lena with Veronique Jephtas, Brendon Daniels and Tshamano Sebe directed by Christo Davids.

There are multiple opportunities for hilarious laughter on the programme, with an array of comedies and stand-up performances. Comedies include Lizz Meiring in Die ‘Real Housewife’, Wynand van Vollenstee and Thiart Li in Geagte kampeerders, Chris Vorster in Gebou soos Steffi Graf, Marion Holm in Gryp elke grasHOLM, Holm and Dean John Smith in Kry vir jou ’n tux, Thomas, Hannes van Wyk and Desiré Gardner in Magda Louw en haar Erhard: How Louw can you go?, Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck in Ouma en die ou koeie, a worldclass hit comedy Police Cops: The Original, Frank Opperman in Reünie and Mandri Sutherland in Vrou ens. 1.2.

As part of the stand-up offering festivalgoers can look forward to performances by Alfred Adriaan, Alan Committie, Mel die Storieverteller, Hannes Brümmer, Kurt Schoonraad Aletta Francina de Kock, Uncool Tea and Christie van Niekerk.

Vonkprop, a special fringe festival programme, is a new venue for various works by emerging artists. From drama and comedy to physical theatre and everything in-between is presented here.

Four dance production are included: GAT by the Garage Dance Ensemble, The Reservation with the Figure of 8 Dance Theatre company, Twee siele, een omhelsing / Dos almas, un abrazo with Shaun Oelf and Ramsey Lewis as well as Wings of Light with the Figure of 8 Dance Theatre and Jozi Youth Dance Company.

The music programme is packed with debut works. Nataniël shares the stage with Charl du Plessis in SOOIBRAND, Frieda van den Heever, Coenie de Villiers, Mauritz Lotz and Deon Meyer are on stage in Stille vuur, Francois van Coke in Hoe ek dit onthou, Rocco de Villiers’s KLAWER, Jak de Priester’s 25 jaar van songs, Amanda Strydom and Je-ani Swiegelaar in Tillie/Mathilda, Elzabé Zietsman in Wat om te doen as die wêreld brand, Albert Frost and James Grace share the stage in Twee wêrelde, twee kitare, een verhoog, Anna Davel and Ilse Klink are In Harmonie and Davel is also on stage with The Melisizwe Plaatjie Collective, the Charl du Plessis Trio celebrates 20 jaar, Ommitafel with Steffie le Roux and Mariette Galjaard, Plektrum pays homage to two-time Grammy winner Mauritz Lotz, STOK: Moenie ophou speel nie (1996 – 2026) with Jahn Beukes, Leon Ecroignard and Mauritz Lotz, Strate van my hart with Leslie Javan, Francois Afrika, Kurt Bowers, Eugene Ackerman, Elton (Speed) Cupido and Llewellyn Adonis, Twee oseane with Vernette Wessels, Helenè Bester, Marius Wessels, Charlie Botha and Gavin Young, Voor die gordyn oopgaan with amongst others Brandon October and Woordenaar with Churchil Naudé, Jackie Lätti, Riku Lätti and Jannie van Tonder.

Other music productions include amongst others: Loukmaan Adams and Alistair Izobell in Back 2 Back, Die kronieke van Buks with amongst others André Schwartz, Die lewe en die langpad with amongst others Elvis Blue, Die Vyftigers with Neil Sandilands, Schalk Joubert, Gian Groen and Abel Kraamsaal, Een keer om die son: Die klankbaan with amongst others Almero Welgemoed, Ivan Botha and Donnalee Roberts, Hoort with Stephanie Baartman and Janine Neethling, Lize Beekman is back at the festival in Tussen hier en daar, Loki Rothman Live, Luna Paige’s Die reisigers, Mathys Roets in Songs of Leonard Cohen, Omwentelinge, ’n papierspel with Jana Cilliers and Koos Kombuis and The Scullery Quintet in Stir-Fried Sonatas.

Families can look forward to Jakob with Bryan Hiles, directed by Michael Taylor-Broderick of the award-winning The King of Broken Things, as well as Eldon van der Merwe and Mia van der Merwe in Liewe Heksie word ‘gescam’, with script and directed by Margit Meyer-Rödenbeck. Eight children’s theatre productions for various ages are presented in the Klein KKNK-teater in the Feesmark.

In addition to the two music stages and the Klein KKNK-teater, other activities in the Feesmark include Blitsteater’s short theatre productions, stalls, the KKNK-winkel, bars, a funfair, an expo area by Klein Karoo Agri and much more.

Liza Grobler, the festival’s curator for visual arts, compiled a programme around the theme Discussions across Place and Time, on display across the town. nomThunzi Mashalaba is the Festival Artist for 2026 and the visual arts offering also includes amongst others an exhibition titled PLACE, with works by all the previous Festival Artists over the past three decades.

Ample free entertainment is presented in Baron van Reede Street at the Netwerk24-feeskafee next to the C.P. Nel Museum, where discussions and other special experiences are hosted. Book talks are presented in the ATKV-Boeke-oase by Exclusive Books and the kykNET-leefarea in front of the Absa Burgersentrum, as well as street performances throughout the day extend the offering of free entertainment. At the RSG en ATKV-Kuierkol (in front of the C.P. Nel Museum) RSG and the ATKV provides live radio broadcasts and other activities throughout the day.

KKNK 2026 is sponsored by Absa, with the support of the Het Jan Marais Nationale Fonds, NATi, Checkers, Netwerk24, kykNET, ATKV, Oudtshoorn Municipality and the Western Cape Government.

The complete programme for the 30th KKNK, sponsored by Absa, is available online at https://kknk.co.za. Tickets are available from Webtickets or the KKNK office. For more information, visit https://kknk.co.za or contact 044 203 8600, info@kknk.co.za or send a WhatsApp to 065 285 2337.

J.C. Aucamp
jc@kunste.org.za
KKNK
https://www.kknk.co.za/en/