It’s Open Book month, WOMAD is coming to town, and the Cape Town Photo Fest is on. Then there’s all the theatre and music and general spring jols to be had.
Theatre
We have a deep loyalty to ABBA. It’s pure, straight-into-the-veins fun. Mamma Mia! returns to the Artscape Opera House, so rip on your bell bottoms and take a shot of tequila to mentally prepare for the disco assault. The musical runs 3 September–11 October, with tickets costing R200–R580 via Ticketmaster.
Yasmina Reza’s ART runs at the Baxter Flipside, 1–12 September, directed by Marthinus Basson as a follow-up to his Afrikaans KUNS. Three friends fall out over an all-white painting. Tickets cost R220 via Webtickets or the Baxter box office.
The fantastic Albert Pretorius (who plays the iconic boss in the hit TV series Die Kantoor) plays alongside Lyle October in David Ireland’s critically acclaimed and subversively funny play The Fifth Step at the Baxter theatre from 3 – 26 September. After years in the Alcoholics Anonymous 12-step programme James (Pretorius) becomes a sponsor to newcomer Luka (October). The pair bond over black coffee, trade stories and build a fragile friendship out of their shared experiences. But as Luka approaches step five – the moment of confession – dangerous truths emerge, threatening the trust on which both of their recoveries depend. Charmaine Weir-Smith directs. Tickets cost between R150 and R280 and are available on Webtickets.
Superfan, the second collaboration between CapeTalk’s John Maytham and playwright Mike van Graan, uses Springbok rugby to poke around at South African identity. The solo show runs at the Antique Theatre & Bar, Kloof Street, until 12 September. Tickets cost R180 via theantique.co.za
At the same new venue, Playthings: Back To The Future is on 5 September. Comedians, poets and theatre-makers test brand-new material in front of a live audience. The experimental variety night started at the old Alexander Bar, and – unlike the wonderful venue – survived Covid. Tickets via theantique.co.za.
Festivals
The Open Book Festival is at the Homecoming Centre, District Six, 4–6 September, with around 60 events covering fiction, poetry, feminism, queerness, climate and South African history. Krystle Zara Appiah, Sue Nyathi, Mia Arderne, Athambile Masola, and Maneo Mohale are among the writers on the programme. Full programme on the Open Book Festival website.
WOMAD runs 15–24 September, with Artscape as its base and events at the Baxter and V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre. The Korean Culture Concert is 18 September; the Desmond Tutu United 4 Humanity Peace Concert and New Generations follow on 19 September. Alt-folk artist Lizzie Gaisford, whose incredible debut album we reviewed in our April edition, takes a break from working in Cape Verde to come home and perform with Chambre Rouge at KAYA HQ on 19 September. We’ll be there. The festival culminates with a free Heritage Day celebration at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre on 24 September. Full programme at womadsa.co.za
Comedy
Bafunny Bafunny: Festival of Comedy brings Trevor Noah, Eugene Khoza and Ntosh Madlingozi to the Grand Arena at GrandWest on 26 September. Doors open at 6pm and the show starts at 7pm. Tickets from R475 via Quicket.
Art
The Cape Town Photo Fest runs 2–26 September across venues around the city. This year’s theme is TRUTH, looking at photography, fact, memory and representation. Programme and tickets at capetownphotofest.co.za
More than 70 works by emerging and established artists are on display as part of the Matereality V2 exhibition at the Iziko South African National Gallery in the Company’s Gardens. There are some astounding works in an exhibition that challenges ideas about artistic medium. Materials include soil, concrete, textiles, glitter, and repurposed consumer objects to create works that tell stories about identity, history, land and ecology. The exhibition opened on 24 August and runs until June next year.
Music
Shortstraw launch their new EP, Everything In Between, at District, 61c Harrington Street, on 18 September. The sound that launched a thousand indie ships. It’s like bottling Dezemba on the beach, you know these guys! The gig runs 8pm–1am, with supporting acts still to be announced. Tickets from R100 via Quicket. No under-18s.
The SAFRA Heritage Gala, 24 September, celebrates 100 years of accordion, concertina and harmonica music in SA. A century of squeezing and wheezing with some of the country’s most endearing instruments. The gala runs from 3pm at the Hugo Lambrechts Auditorium, Parow. Tickets cost R175 via Quicket.
Markets
The Miniaturia Guild’s annual Miniature Fair is at St Thomas Church Hall, Rondebosch, on 5 September, 10am–4pm. Dollhouses, tiny furniture, dioramas, live demonstrations, children’s activities and a miniature haunted house. Think of those teensy, tiny plates, and itsy bitsy kettles – adorable! Proceeds support Volunteer Wildfire Services. Tickets cost R40 for adults and R20 for under-18s, at the door.
Side Quest Socials: The Tide Turns Strange at Fish Hoek Civic Centre on 5 September, 11.30am–6.30pm, with a geek market, artists, makers, workshops and community activities. Tickets cost R30, children under 10 enter free,book online at geekculture.co.za or pay at the door.