Equinox has come and gone, the nights are getting shorter, which is all the more reason to make the most of them. Also, doing something during the day no longer means you have to get home in the dark.
Theatre
The award-winning, exemplary, acclaimed theatrical team of Andrew Buckland, Sylvaine Strike, directed by the inimitable Toni Morkel, with live piano accompaniment by Tony Bentel, return to the Baxter theatre with Firefly. This dewdrop of a play ran at the Baxter in April and is back from 17 to 29 October, having just played at the Hilton Arts Festival in KZN. Mother City News sister arts publication The Critter reviewed it, which you can read on page 4. Details and bookings through baxter.co.za.
If you like some struggle history in your theatre, the Fleur du Cap Theatre Award-winning and multiple-nominated, The Unlikely Secret Agent, directed by Paul du Toit, is on in the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from 20 to 29 October. Based on Ronnie Kasrils’ Alan Paton Award-winning novel, the play explores the brave journey of his wife Eleanor, a clandestine agent for the Underground ANC, as she navigates her escape from apartheid South Africa. Broadway World said, “in equal measures chilling and heart-warming … truly is a must-see. It is a part of South African history that needs to be told and this play tells it so beautifully through a cast of talented and dedicated actors.” Details and bookings here.
If dreamscapes or a bit of struggle history on stage aren’t your thing, perhaps a dose of contemporary township life might be of interest? In Powerless, Magnet Theatre graduate Sivuyile Dunjwa tells a painful story about love and how a young man will do anything to win it and create a family. But in a context of scarcity and gender-based violence, unspeakable acts take place. Powerless is based on true life events and is at the Baxter Masambe theatre from 6 to 8 October. Times and bookings here.
For unadulterated entertainment, East London-based Wela Kapela productions bring three great Cabarets to die Kaap. Two of them, Vincent, and Julie Andrews – Uncut, were performed at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda earlier this year. Both received praise from critics. “I nearly fell out of my seat in shock when they burst into Somebody to Love, by Queen,” wrote Keren Banza of Vincent, and loved the rest of the show. Reviewer Jenna Kretzmann wrote Julie Andrews – Uncut “is a worthwhile musical experience filled with melodies that will leave you smiling”.
We’re sure the third Cabaret, NEXT!, about a young woman from Mount Frere who dreams of stardom, will be equally entertaining. The Wela Kapela Cape Town Caberet Fest is on from 27 September to 8 October at the Baxter Golden Arrow theatre. Go here for times and bookings.
Response to our climate crisis is the creative spark behind Magnet Theatre’s new production Surge, featuring 11 young actors in their third year of internship. Directed by Roshina Ratnam and designed by Hansie Visagie, the play features puppets (or a puppet at least) and is bound to conform to Magnet Theatre’s high standards. It runs from 20 to 22 October at the Magnet Theatre at the corner of Lower Main and St. Michael’s Roads in Observatory before touring schools. There are matinees from 20 to 21 October – times to be confirmed, with a 3pm matinee on 22 October followed by a show at 7pm. Magnet’s website is not kept updated so email zamah@magnettheatre.co.za if you need info. General tickets are R80.
Given the controversy and successful challenge to the seismic survey Shell wanted to conduct off the former Transkei coast, and applications for seismic surveys off the west coast, a theatrical storytelling project by award-winning Empatheatre with director Neil Coppen at the helm, is highly relevant. Lalela uLwandle is an interactive, immersive theater and public storytelling experience that take place at the Magnet Theatre until 1 October. Times are 7pm on 28 and 30 September, and 3pm and 7pm on 1 October. Think of it as putting a large shell to your ear and hearing what the ocean has to tell you. Contact maristimie@gmail.com to RSVP, it seems the experience is free of charge, but don’t hold us to that.
Edward Albee’s great but monster of a play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is playing at the Theatre on the Bay in Camps Bay until 8 October. If anyone can tame this beast and ensure it’s as enthralling as it should be, it’s director Sylvaine Strike, and critics are of the opinion she’s succeeded magnificently. It stars the great Robyn Scott and Alan Committee, alongside Sanda Shangu and Berenice Barbier. Book on Computicket.
Music
The Ndlovu Youth Choir, the group from Limpopo who set tongues wagging around the world when they reached the finals of America’s Got Talent, are performing at Artscape on 7 October at 7:30pm; Saturday, 08 October at 3pm and 7:30pm and Sunday, 10 October at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets are from R150 and available online at www.showtime.co.za or through Webtickets at Pick ‘n Pay outlets.
Luxury watch brand Rolex have a programme in which various emerging artists from various disciplines are placed with a veteran who mentors their creative production for two years, with a larnie exposition of all the new works at some top-end venue in the world at the end. We played host to one of those extravaganzas at the Baxter in February 2019 (which is why the Baxter was given a facelift). It’s a massive, career-altering boost for the mentees and one of those protégées, Egyptian singer and composer Dina Elwedidi is here with a seven-piece ensemble to enthrall us with her middle eastern sound at the Baxter concert hall on 30 September and 1 October. Tickets are R150 and the gig, which promises to be a good one, starts at 7pm on each evening. Detail and booking here.
If the warmer weather is making you lus to get out of town, the Nederburg Sunday Stoep Sessions have started up at the Paarl wine farm’s The Manor restaurant. You can suip the wines and check out the view while listening to local music from 3pm to 6pm. If you’re feeling rich you can rock up earlier and enjoy their traditional Sunday lunch at R295 a person. The October music line-up is Vosloo Bekker on 2 October, Juan Casey on 9 October, Chris Rain on the 16th, Lukin Joshua on the 23rd, and Werner Bekker on 30 October. Oh, you can bring the children as they can jol in the garden and on the jungle gyms and zip-lines and whatnot. There’s even lawn games for the adults. Entrance is free but you need to book. Do so by contacting The Manor on 021 877 5155 or emailing info@nederburg.com