The HIFA Opening always draws a diverse and united audience to experience the magic of the official opening of the Festival. This year was no different. The packed to capacity crowd in the grounds of the Telecel Main Stage was treated to a dazzling display of art with a social conscious created by the visionary theatre impresario Brett Bailey. Brett Bailey has returned to the HIFA family after a year’s absence to create his fifth opening show. Titled Trea$ure, the opening show combined memorable music and dazzling dance to tell the all too common story of how the powerful seek to posses all the riches, leaving the poor to scrounge for crumbs.

The show opened with the fat-cats displaying their opulent riches, with pianos turning into fabulous cars and giant sparkling washing-machines that symbolised that “life was good.” The dancers were dressed as religious, military and political leaders with their faces painted in gold and silver. This was a true celebration for the elites while the common-man, from the youngest to the oldest, was forced to accept the crumbs from the chief’s table and brutality at the hands of the powers-that-be. A people’s revolt forced the chief, cowering, into the audience as the singer sang the disco-favourite “I Will Survive.” The show ended with a glittering and exciting fireworks display as the cast returned to sing the South African classic “African Dream” led by a singer in a maid’s costume, who herself had suffered under the deposed chief’s rule.

The enthralled audience were left hoping for a brighter future where the treasures and riches of the country are used for the common good, the elites and the common-man working in unity. If this is a reflection of the engagement HIFA 2011 will have with the community, then we are all in store for a wonderful week of art and culture in all its unique forms.