Hilton Arts Festival 2025: Curtain Up on Creativity, Culture, and Community

KwaZulu-Natal’s premier arts event returns from 8 to 10 August with record crowds expected.

With just days to go before the curtain rises on the 32nd Hilton Arts Festival, anticipation is building across the country. Hosted on the beautiful grounds of Hilton College in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, the 2025 edition promises an electrifying celebration of South African theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual art, and family fun.

Organisers are preparing for a bumper turnout of more than 25,000 festivalgoers over the long weekend.

“This is much more than a drama festival,” says organiser Evan Roberts. “It’s a celebration of creativity and community that draws visitors for the performances, the market, the scenery, and the spirit of Hilton.”

Festival Highlights at a Glance

Here’s what to expect across the three-day cultural showcase:

• 41 Ticketed productions (theatre, dance, comedy, music)
• 48 Visual artists and 100 craft stalls
• 28 Free music acts and 3 music workshops
• 45 Food vendors offering local favourites and artisanal eats
• Children’s theatre and puppetry galore
• Birding walks with Rockjumper
• Retro Rides classic car showcase
• Film screenings, lectures, and dance installations

What’s On: A Taste of the 2025 Line-Up

Theatre That Moves You

• Girls & Boys – A gripping solo show by Janna Ramos-Violante
• Woza Albert – South African theatre at its finest
• Immortal – A haunting story of love, loss, and survival
• Making Wine in Scotland – Dystopian satire meets climate crisis
• The Hollow Crown – A Shakespearean mash-up with modern bite

Comedy & Cabaret That Delivers

• Schalk Bezuidenhout LIVE – South Africa’s funniest man returns
• Actress – A musical comedy about balancing stage lights and home life
• Becoming Benno – Ben Voss tackles immigration with humour and heart
• Namaste Bae – A cheeky send-up of the self-help generation
• Date Night – A musical laugh-fest by Lisa Bobbert and Aaron McIlroy

For Music Lovers

• Amy Winehouse Tribute – Celebrate the voice, the story, the legend
• Piano Man – Evan Cullum’s tribute to Billy Joel and Elton John
• Funk the Disco – Get groovy with That 70s Band
• Jou Ma Se Platespeler – A joyful musical romp through Afrikaans classics
• Hot Club d’Afrique – Django Reinhardt-style Gypsy Jazz at its best

Family Fun and Outdoor Experiences

• Puppet shows, storytelling and physical theatre including The Boy Who Cried Ninja, Msizi, Peter and the Wolf, and The Nature Thieves
• Birding walks, talks and drives curated by Rockjumper
• The Cleansing – An outdoor ritual of movement and poetry by FLATFOOT Dance Company
• Once Upon a Teacup – A visual theatre journey of adolescence

Celebrate the Midlands’ Creative Heart

Held against the backdrop of the rolling Midlands hills, the Hilton Arts Festival supports hundreds of artists, stimulates the local economy, and champions arts education. Over 2,000 learners will attend the Jongosi Schools Festival – an inspiring programme nurturing South Africa’s future creatives.

“We’re so proud to showcase this corner of KwaZulu-Natal,” says Julia Clarence of the organising team. “The festival is about stories, connections, and community.”

Plan Your Visit

• Dates: 8–10 August 2025
• Tickets: R100 per car (valid for the full weekend)
• Bookings: Available via Webtickets
• Full Programme: Browse the official guide online