Spooky season isn’t just the rising cost of petrol, or that 2kg of onions costs R70! It’s HALLOWEEN. Try out some culture instead of ghosting the arts.
Theatre & Performance
Everyone has an opinion, but nobody seems to be listening. In FILLED, Tshiamo Moretlwe plays a woman navigating the aftermath of violence and the endless stream of people telling her how to deal with it. Armed with little than a bench, paper props and razor-sharp humour, this award-winning solo show takes aim at victim-blaming and society’s expectations of survivors. Directed by Roshina Ratnam, it’s at the Baxter Studio from 17 – 21 November. Tickets cost R150 – R180. Booking on Webtickets
A songbird in glittering, gilded garments, Nataniël: SOOIBRAND is another sassy and sharp observation of life through song and phenomenally glam costumes, accompanied by pianist Charl du Plessis. A flourish of new stories and reworked classics performed in Afrikaans from 4 – 8 November, with evening and matinee performances. Tickets cost R280 – R360. No under-14s. Available on Webtickets.
We all have devils eating away at our insides, these two made a play about it. In Her of Perfidy, Emily Child is drawn into the darker corners of her own mind, where desire, betrayal and obsession begin to unravel – I mean, her character does in this one woman show. But with a director like Louis Viljoen, this is sure to be a twisted tale from beginning to violent end. On at The Antique Theatre, Kloof st, from 10-28 November. Tickets cost R180. No under-18s. Bookings through The Antique website.
Music
Ten years of music, memories and baie liefde (literally)! Liefde by die Dam celebrates its 10th anniversary at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville on 7 November. Die Heuwels Fantasties, Fokofpolisiekar, Jack Parow, Early B, and Robbie Wessels rockout for a day of rok bruh. Bring your picnic blanket, and an extra one to donate to Liefde Wen (their charity situation). Runs from 9am – 7pm, with general admission at R399 and children’s tickets (ages 4 – 12) at R200. Under-fours enter free. Tickets via Ticketmaster.
Comedy
Adele was all “divorce, babes, divorce”, but Comedian Vision Masango is hanging on in I Think I’m Happily Married. With no question mark at the end, he’s not second guessing this comedy show at Ground Culture on November 3 at 8pm.Doors open at 6.30pm for dinner and drinks. Tickets cost R120, plus a R3 booking fee. Bookings via groundculture.co.za
Dance
A super fun one in the V&A Waterfront’s Silo District for This Thing Called Swing on 6 November. Mike Campbell’s 18-piece Swing All Stars Big Band will have you grooving to old tunes. Social dancing starts at 6pm, the lesson 6:30pm and the brassy live music follows. Plus: Entry is free, go one oh yee of two left feet, try something new! More info at The Waterfront website.
Cape Town City Ballet sinks its teeth into Bram Stoker’s classic, DRACULA. Choreographed by David Nixon, this gothic ballet is black tights, bloody obsession and haunting seduction from 28 October – 1 November, with evening and matinee performances. Tickets cost R250 – R500. No under-13s. Booking on Webtickets.
Film & Art
A little day out of the city, for some exquisite culture, Franschhoek Creates highlights the town’s arts throughout November, with exhibitions across several galleries. At Everard Read, Nic Bladen’s intricate botanical sculptures go on show from 7 November, while Shany van den Berg explores womanhood, identity and nature at Leeu Estates from 14 November. Ebony/Curated, Grande Provence and Alchemy of Nature Gallery are included in the programme. Dress fancy, look pretty, be wowed by some fantastic curation. More information on the Franschoek Creates website.
Alternatively, have a night out. The Art of Light illuminates the Norval Foundation’s sculpture garden into an after-dark wonderland, with glowing installations from LUMENOCITY, should make for a mystical, magical evening. From 20 – 29 November (excluding 23 and 24 November), 5pm – 10.30pm. Tickets from R250, available on Quicket.
Halloween scene
I could never, but many can, and do. South African HORRORFEST at the Labia on 28 October – 8 November. New, rare and classic horror films, dark literature, a live silent-film soundtrack, dress-up and the annual Rocky Horror Picture Show audience-participation screening. Some fun screamy stuff, check out the programme and tickets via Quicket.
Death of a party, girl. The Death of Glitter closes the book with D.O.G: THE END at 54 Queen Victoria Street in Gardens on Halloween night. AYLI, BUH, Cistamatic, Damage, Deylin Universe, Dragmother, Ina Propriette, Kras, Lightbeams and Pure x Denise Onen are on the line-up from 9.30pm–4am. Strictly 21+, with phase iii tickets from R305. Tickets via Quicket. My pick of the lot, if you see me jolling hard in a dress made entirely out of safety pins, you didn’t.
The dead take their annual decaying trudge through the Company’s Garden on 31 October for Cape Town Zombie Walk. The walk is free, all-ages and pet-friendly, with the event raising funds for local animal welfare organisations including the Lucky Lucy Foundation. Smush some pain on your face and go RRRPPPAAAWWGGHHH! For more info check out the Zombie Walk website.
Newlands gets its own Halloween nonsense with Rabbit Heart: The Manor of Mischief at Glenhof Manor on 31 October. The interactive adventure takes over 10 rooms across two floors, with family sessions during the day and a scarier 13–18 teen slot from 4pm–6pm. Ticket prices vary by age and session, with current phases generally around R200–R300. Tickets and session info via Howler.