Woordfees, out in Stellies is wragtig impressive. It’s giving the National Arts Festival a runs for its money, and is much, much closer (but tickets are much, much pricier). Check it out if you can.
Theatre
An unusual love story, apparently, is It Went Above Your Head at Theatre Arts on the corner of Wesley and Milton roads in Obs. Written and directed by NT Jikwa, this play had sold out runs at the Suidoosterfees last year. The protagonist is a young boy called Newt who seems to be (we’re reading the blurb here) holding a secret that, if revealed, could break his family apart. Of course, having to keep a secret like this is no good for him, either. It’s on stage at 2pm on Sunday 6 October, with tickets costing R120 at the door but R100 online through theatrearts.co.za
Of course, it’s October, so all the Halloween theme is big this month. In Playthings, which is essentially a staging of various new writing, the theme is Spooky. Co-produced by Sophie Joans (who seems to be the hardest working person in theatre in Cape Town at the moment) and Cailyb Prinsloo, Playthings is staged at 6pm on Sunday 6 October. Tickets cost R100 at the door or through theatrearts.co.za
If you have not yet seen Île, you should. And you’ve got a chance to on 12 October at Theatre Arts (cnr Wesley and Milton roads, Observatory). This is the fresh talent of Sophie Joans at her best (so far) in her self-penned, semi-autobiographical play about Mauritius and its surprising psychological impact. In that best but not updated often enough theatre review site (because someone really should pay, somehow, for theatre reviews), The Critter, David Mann called it “a hell of a play”. Seeing it at 7pm will only cost you R100.
Film
The CELLUDROID Film Festival, featuring sci-fi, fantasy, and animation flicks is showing for the 15th time at the Roxy in Woodstock (354 Albert Road, across from the Biscuit Mill). There’s a main movie every night except Saturday until 6 October, with each one preceded by a bunch of short films that fit. You’re in for some rare treats, with movies you’re not likely to see anywhere else in the country. Check out the original so-bad-it’s-good B-movie classic from the legendary Ed Wood, Plan 9 From Outer Space on Friday night. Tickets at Quicket or go to www.celludroid.net for the full programme. Tickets are only R50. Go get some popcorn and thrills.
Kink
The party for all the fetish freaks who have given it a cult following, Repentance is back on 11 October at Botanik Social House. You can get sweaty in your leather, spandex, or rubber (or fur it that is what gets you flushed) to the beats, in addition to getting a spanking at the spank station, getting tied in knots, or checking how to do the tying with a shibari sexion, enjoying the domme performance, etc. While it’s sexy to the max, this is not an orgy, ok. It’s full-on queer and trans friendly vibes and no, no, no, you don’t even lay the tippy tip of your little finger on an exposed midriff without full consent, clear? Check @repentance_cpt and read up on the gospel and dress code or you’ll be left out in the cold. Tickets are selling fast.
Woordfees
It is proper billed as the “Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees”. Thanks for the money but they’re not giving us any so we’re not going kiss corporate ring. Nonetheless, Woordfees is chock-full of great theatre, music, studio visits, lectures, and literature events. Yes, it’s in Stellenbosch, so it’s a bit of a trek, but well worth it, both for the quality of theatre and other events, and because it’s the next best thing to what the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown (now Makhanda) was in its heyday (1980s, ‘90s, and ‘00s – hopefully it’ll climb back to that level again if we keep supporting it), in that a whole small town is alive with art and ideas and creative engagement and conversations that revolve around ideas. Woordfees ends on 6 October so you need to get your gat-in-rat. Also, it’s not all Afrikaans. You can peruse the programme at woordfees.co.za but here’s some choice things that’ll make the trip more than worth it:
Albatros is a play directed by the esteemed Tara Notcutt, starring Louw Venter, one of the most under-rated actors in SA at the moment, who was also Corne in the crazy Corne and Twakkie’s Most Amazing Show. It also stars Ben Albertyn in a story about a father, a son, forgiveness and self-discovery. Shows at 10am on 2 October, and midday on 4 and 5 October. Tickets cost R190.
Don’t miss this production of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler, which Britannica lists as “remarkable for its non-judgemental depiction of an immoral, destructive character, one of the most vividly realized women in dramatic literature”. Additionally, it stars Albert Pretorius, who is a simply fantastic actor who also did much to carry Lara Foot’s adaptation of Othello which played at the Baxter Theatre earlier this year. Rolanda Marais plays Hedda, and the text is adapted and translated by Christiaan Olwagen, with music by the inimitable Charl-Johan Lingenfelder. It plays everyday until 6 October, with some days having two shows. Tickets are between R200 and R300.
When De Klerk Oelofse is the director, you know you’re in for a show that is wonderful in its weirdness. Reünie stars Frank Opperman, who you will instantly recognise if you ever watched Orkney Snork Nie. It’s about a school reunion, but only one show left, on 2 October at 2pm. Tickets from R210.
De Klerk Oelofse would have learnt from the master, Marthinus Basson, who directs theatre doyen Antoinette Kellermann, with Chris van Niekerk and Lindokuhle Melaphi in an adaptation of Eguène Ionesco’s absurdist tragic farce The Chairs, reimagined as Die Stoele. It plays at various times everyday until 6 October. Tickets from R200.
Ashley Dowds takes on Paul Slabolepszy’s great South African play, The Return of Elvis du Pisanie, in which a middle-aged salesman, standing beneath a street light, contemplates his life and loses his shit. It plays on 2, 4, and 6 October. Tickets from R190.
On Saturday 5 October, Gregory Maqoma’s Exit/Exist, which blew our little minds when we saw it at the National Arts Festival, is staged. Maqoma is on the edge of retiring from dancing so do not miss him in this dance which centres around his own ancestor, the Xhosa warrior and chief Maqoma. This is the elite of South African dance, and you can see it at 7pm on 5 October, or 4pm on the 6th. Tickets from R200.
Outside of the theatre, there is a film festival, literature festival, and music festival with acts ranging through classical, rock and pop, and jazz. It’s worth making a weekend of it. Check the programme here.
If you’ve got a venue or a gig you’d like us to consider featuring on this page, drop a line to westcapenews@gmail.com with the subject: GIG GUIDE