Schools are having their civvies day, people are diving into the ocean at dawn en masse, flowers are blooming up the west coast, the City of Cape Town is holding back on cutting the grass in their parks and verges. Because: Spring. Well, in theory. We know it’s going to stay bliksems cold until like, December probably, but it can’t be denied the days are getting longer. Enjoy.
Theatre
There’s a lot happening at the Baxter theatre this month, from drama to comedy to music.
First off are the two winners of the Zabalaza Theatre Festival, Hostel Lights and Back to Ashes.
In Hostel Lights, friendships are tested when one of a tight group of four high school boys living together in hostel, does something that could get them all expelled. This storyline has elements of Booker Prize-winning SA author Damon Galgut’s first novel about it, but that’s likely just perchance. It’s about loyalty and friendship and is written, choreographed, and directed by Sohail Booise who has also scooped Best Script and Best Director awards at the Zabalaza Festival.
Hostel Lights is performed in Afrikaans and runs from 3 to 17 September at 7.30pm nightly with a few matinee performances. Check baxter.co.za for details.
Back to Ashes deals with gender-based violence through a powerful story about a young woman’s journey from village to city in a quest to pursue her dreams of education. It is directed by Magnet Theatre graduate Molupi Lepeli who won Zabalaza’s Best Supporting Actor award in 2019, and recently performed in the The Good Soul of Szechuan, which is a really good play directed by Mark Fleishman. Back to Ashes is performed in Xhosa with English surtitles. It is performed nightly at 7.30pm from 10 to 17 September, with a three matinee performances. Check baxter.co.za for deets.
Tickets for Hostel Lights and Back to Ashes cost R80. Book through webtickets online.
For discounted block or schools’ bookings, charities or fundraisers, contact Carmen Kearns on email camen.kearns@uct.ac.za or call 021 680 3993.
There’s comedy by Liya Nqaba, who delivers stand-up with his show I have stories to tell but you have to move fast, it’s only on tonight (1 September) and tomorrow is sold out. Tickets cost R150 and the show is at 7pm. Webtickets and baxter.co.za for more info.
Aaaaand, on the main stage we have opera. From 7 – 10 September all the stops are pulled out for Sara Baartman – The Opera by Hendrik Hofmeyr. Directed by the acclaimed Janice Honeyman and featuring the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra, is, of course about the famous Khoi-Khoin woman Sara Baartman who was exhibited in Europe during the early 1800s, the attraction being her exotic buttocks.
The complete version of the opera traces her journey from Cape Town to London to Paris where she died a lonely death in 1815. Tickets cost R100, go to baxter.co.za for info and link to online booking.
Mike van Graan, some of whose satirical plays we have found tiresome in the past and have panned on The Critter, but who always appears to be an audience favourite has his play He Had it Coming performed at Theatre Arts (theatrearts.co.za) in Observatory until 3 September at 8pm every night. Whatever we may think of van Graan as a playwright, his play is directed by Daniel Mpilo Richards, who is a brilliant actor, and performed by Kim Blanché Adonis (a lot of triple-barrel names here). Go to the website to book.
Also at Theatre Arts is the play based on the famous Drum writer Can Themba’s life, House of Truth. This play was performed by the soapie star Sello Maake kaNcube at the National Arts Festival six years ago and it will be interesting to see what director Siphenati Siqwayi does with Simphiwo Mahala’s writing. On from 7 to 10 September at 7pm every night, with a 3pm matinee on Saturday 10th. theatrearts.co.za for info and bookings.
Music
Back to the Baxter. There’s a Steve Newman benefit concert on 9 September at 8.15pm. Anyone who was of age in SA during the 90s will know of guitar maestro Steve Newman’s incredible virtuosity mixing folk with a kind of jazz calypso African fusion. For about a decade he and Tony Cox would duo together and make those strings do things us plebiscites could barely imagine. There was always those who preferred Tony’s playing and those who preferred Steve’s but really they’re both incredible musicians (although I lean slightly to Steve). Steve has been plagued by ill-health and being an artist, of course he can’t afford proper medical care, so this concert is to raise funds for him. Marius Fransman, Hilton Schindler, Carlo Fabe, Peter Ndlala, and Wendy Oldfield will entertain us, and it seems Steve himself will grace the stage. R250 for the ticket, deets and bookings on baxter.co.za
Literature
Of all the events we missed thanks to Covid, the Open Book Festival is top of the list, wit and the art of conversation being so rare at the best of times. Open Book is back, albeit whittled down from the pre-covid five days to three, but still, it’s back. This weekend 2 to 4 September, there are 40 great events to choose from. Some are free of charge (but you still need to book) and others are R50 a pop and well worth the dosh. Meet your favourite local authors, browse their books, get them signed, rub elbows with intelligent people, feel good about life. It all happens at the Homecoming Centre on Caledon Street (old Fugard Theatre), with a Saturday event for children at the Book Lounge (cnr Buitenkant and Roeland St). Go to openbookfestival.co.za for the full programme etc. See you there.