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Gig guide: September

Like, spring is coming. You think? GET OUT AND DO SHIT

Theatre

There’s been some antici……..pation titillating the nerve endings since the announcement a couple of months ago that SA author Damon Galgut’s Booker Prize-winning novel The Promise would be adapted for stage. Finally, this month, it’s happening. Directed by award-winning, exacting director Sylvaine Strike, The Promise will play in the Avalon Theatre in the Homecoming Centre (where The Fugard used to be) from 16 to 30 September. If you haven’t read the book, you should, and consider yourself on notice to read it over the next three weeks before you see the show. Although, I’m sure with great actors such as Rob van Vuuren, Jenny Stead, Albert Pretorius, Kate Normington, Chuma Sopotela, Frank Opperman, Sanda Shandu, and Jane de Wet playing the characters, you’ll enjoy it whether you’ve read the book or not. Galgut himself has been involved in the adaptation. Also, this is a world premier. Tickets are from R200 and available through webtickets.

Delela, an apparently ruthless satire on white privilege exerted through vanity and philanthropy, plays at the Baxter Theatre from 6 to 16 September. Having premiered at the National Arts Festival, the play follows the story of The Strauss-Smith Foundation, one of South Africa’s oldest and wealthiest private charitable foundations, as they embark on an ambitious ‘transformation and diversity’ project. Public relations disaster ensues. It features Frances Sholto-Douglas, Katlego Lebogang, Fadzai Simango, and Daniel Newton. Journalist and author Jo-Ann Bekker, who we respect, said Delela was “Brilliant and uncomfortable but spot on”. Full price tickets are R150 and you can book through baxter.co.za

The three best plays from the Zabalala Festival whicih toook place earlier this year, are being performed at the the Baxter Masambe Theatre

Lamentations “explores the journey of a young girl, Nobuhle, who is kidnapped and forced into an arranged marriage”. It is written by Rhorho Zolani Mnyamana, directed by Samkelo Zihlangu, and performed by Ayakha Gwadela. It plays from 12 to 16 September.

A play about our sunrise-to-sundown hustle and making a success of life after moving from a rural dorpie to the Mother City, the Afrikaans play Oorwinnings Reis is on from 19 to 23 September. Written and directed by Patwill Titus, it is peformed by Chantell Makok.

Tiro’s Toughloop Testimony is a dramatised look at the life of Onkgopotse Tiro, who was the first cross-border victim of the apartheid regime. Mixing documentary, poetry, and history, the play gives tribute to Tiro’s contribution to the Black Consciousness Movement. It can be seen on stage from 26 to 30 September.

All shows have full price tickets at R80, with bookings through baxter.co.za

Wisecracking, sardonic, irreverent, well-informed Daily Maverick associate editor Marianne Thamm is back on stage at the Baxter Golden Arrow studio after being captivated by the keyboard for a few years. Daily Maverick readers may find it hard to imagine but Marianne, although always a journalist, was also a stand-up comedian when freelance reporting couldn’t pay the bills, and organised an ensemble of up-and-coming female comedians in a show called Cracks in the City. Most of those women are now successful in their own right, thanks to Marianne. One of them is Anne Hirsch. Catch Marianne in Round of Applause – South Africa still standing with Marianne Thamm before the Daily Maverick buries her under deadlines again. Her show has been extended until 2 September, so move fast. Tickets cost R150 and bookings are through baxter.co.za

Lovers of Opera, and those who have yet to love opera, can delight in Puccini’s Toscaat the Artscape Opera House from 12 to 17 September. Tosca is a tragedy about two lovers, with their star-crossed romance playing out in the political turmoil of Italy in 1800. There’s jealousy, passion, deception, and love (of course), with these profound emotions distilled into music. Tickets cost between R180 and R520, with bookings through Computicket.

Queer/Underground

Kink meets Club and it’s the 11th installmant of Repentance at Safehouse on the corner of Bree and Church Streets on 8 September. If you don’t make an effort on your threads, you won’t get in. It’s like that. What constitutes effort? Mesh and leather works, as does a tux. You decide. Also, you have to buy tickets online, no sommer rocking up at the door. For deets follow them on insta @repentance_cpt

Ballroom dancing with an inclusive twist (not The Twist) is part of a redefinition of SA queer culture. Wear your leather-soled shoes to the VNJ Ball on 9 September at District, Harrington Street. In this second edition they’re teaming up with F.A.M.E Week Africa. Tickets are R150 on Quicket.

POPPERS (as in get-down, ass-shaking pop hits, you sleazy minded what-what) started off as a birthday party idea by the partay genius D.O.G (that’s Death Of Glitter, peeps) and is now becoming a thing. Dress up and shack your bits at Evol, 69 Hope Street, on 23 September. Tickets probs to come up on Quicket, keep scrolling.

Then, word is: Ilukuluku Sunday Funday on 3 September at Public House, Kloof Street. More than that, we don’t know or can’t tell, take your pick.

Music

If you’re down south, or want to pack sandwiches for a trip beyond the lentil curtain, the Fishwives will make it worth it. This briny band decamped to Eshowe after lockdown, but Lizzy Lou is revisiting the salty shores of False Bay on 3 September to play with Nish Pillay at the Cottage Club. Expect fantastic unfathomable lyrics set to tunes that seem to have been hauled out of Davy Jones’s locker. Tickets cost R120 and this is old school, dear readers: to get one, you have to call Bill Knight on 082 393 2568. Like, actually make a phone call, you dig. No WhatsApp what-what. Bring your own booze to 33, 2cnd crescent, Fish Hoek before the gig starts at 7pm.

Literature

Open Book is back. WhooHoo! Three days of real conversations with people who actually think. Happening at and around the Homecoming Centre from 8 to 10 September. Programme is up on openbookfestival.co.za.

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