South Africa Theater Reviews

Review: Dive Into Teenage Angst and Then Some With HEATHERS – THE MUSICAL
by Faeron Wheeler - July 22, 2024

I can regularly be heard saying that I wouldn't want to go back to being a teenager for all the money in the world, and HEATHERS - THE MUSICAL definitely confirmed my opinion! I felt like this musical was equal parts MEAN GIRLS and CARRIE - in the best possible way....

Review: PIECES OF ME at the Baxter Haunts and Heals
by Faeron Wheeler - July 16, 2024

There's something special about being invited into a story that's deeply personal. PIECES OF ME is Bo Petersen's family history, and it is her relationship with her father. However, it's also a story that encompasses all of South Africa and our shared past. This balancing act between broad history a...

Review: MONIKA, IT'S ME at The Drama Factory
by Faeron Wheeler - July 11, 2024

Klara van Wyk has a wonderful brand of humour and heart, and it's on display once again in MONIKA, IT'S ME. It's a beautiful piece of theatre. It makes you laugh, cry and think - and that's a good thing....

Review: WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION gives whodunnit twists and turns
by Faeron Wheeler - July 08, 2024

The story is full of all the classic stuff you'd expect from an Agatha Christie. Twists and turns, red herrings as to who the murderer is, characters clearly lying (but for what reason?!) and some very sharp dalogue. In this version of WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION, that dialogue was delivered beautif...

Review: HOLLYWOOD at Theatre on the Bay Is Another LAMTA “Blockbuster”
by Jaime Uranovsky - June 23, 2024

Review: HOLLYWOOD at Theatre on the Bay Is Another LAMTA “Blockbuster”...

Review: BLONDE POISON at Baxter Studio - Baxter Theatre Centre
by Michelle B Lewis - June 20, 2024

BLONDE POISON is a must-see production, offering a profound reflection on human choices in the face of unimaginable threat....

Review: LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR at Artscape, Opera House
by Michelle B Lewis - June 20, 2024

This restaging of LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR is a fitting tribute to Cape Town Opera's 25 years of artistic excellence. Under Gobbato's direction, the production not only honours the company’s past but also looks forward to its future, showcasing the enduring power of opera to move and inspire. ...

Review: DUDE! WAA'S MY PHONE? at Artscape Arena
by Michelle B Lewis - June 13, 2024

DUDE! WAA'S MY PHONE? performed at the Artscape Theatre is a delightful comedic play that exceeded my initial expectations. Focusing on the pervasive issue of cellphone addiction and the pitfalls of digital life, this production manages to blend humour with an important social message....

Review: THE RETURN OF ELVIS DU PISANIE at Theatre On The Bay
by Faeron Wheeler - June 07, 2024

It's always a pleasure to see a Paul Slabolepzy piece! I'm a huge fan. And THE RETURN OF ELVIS DU PISANIE does not disappoint in any way, shape or form. It is an extraordinary performance by Ashley Dowds and a story with pure heart from Slabolepzy....

Review: THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES is on tour
by Faeron Wheeler - May 31, 2024

I do love a fresh twist on a classic fairytale! And THE EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES from The Drama Factory definitely delivers. It's vibrant and fun, with laughs for young and old....

Review: ANDRE SCHWARTZ: ANY DREAM WILL DO – MY PAD MET WEBBER at Theatre On The Bay
by Michelle B Lewis - May 30, 2024

MY PAD MET WEBBER is an enthralling theatrical experience starring ANDRé SCHWARTZ, celebrating the timeless works of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The production features Schwartz's powerful interpretations of Webber's most beloved songs, blending moving storytelling with beautiful music....

Review: BAKED SHAKESPEARE: THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA at the Outlore Base Has Cape Town Abuzz(ing)
by Jaime Uranovsky - May 29, 2024

Of the four baked Shakespeare productions that have been staged in Cape Town since 2021, I have been lucky enough to have seen three of them. 2024’s show, THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA is, in my book, the group’s best production yet and provides a fun, relaxed, and interactive night at the theatre....

Review: GOLDEN GIRLS at Masque Theatre Is a Hilarious and Moving Tribute to the Classic TV Show
by Jaime Uranovsky - May 29, 2024

GOLDEN GIRLS is one of those TV shows – you know the ones I mean. Those with a fan base whose members would murder to preserve the sanctity of the show in question. It was brave then to stage a show comprising four episodes of this beloved sitcom – but it proved an excellent choice because GOLDEN GI...

Review: DOG ROSE Explores Family Dynamics with Grace
by Faeron Wheeler - May 28, 2024

It was beautiful and I am so thankful for that moment of being drawn into this world. The writing and performances were funny and heartfelt, and you should definitely experience it for yourself....

Review: TROUBLE IN MIND at the Flipside Provides Hilarious and Tragic Social Commentary
by Jaime Uranovsky - May 28, 2024

I’ve always loved seeing plays at the Flipside at the Baxter. Something about observing a production performed in the actual backstage area of the theatre makes me feel like I’m on hallowed ground – I’m somewhere that is sacred, special and usually off limits to the public. These feelings became eve...

Review: I GOT RHYTHM from choreographer David Nixon CBE
by Faeron Wheeler - May 21, 2024

I GOT RHYTHM kicks off the season that marks 90 years of Cape Town City Ballet. And that is something that we should be truly proud of here in the cape. I was curious to see that CTCB went with something non-traditional for the start of this big season. I GOT RHYTHM celebrates the music of George Ge...

Review: THE KING OF BROKEN THINGS at Baxter Studio - Baxter Theatre Centre
by Michelle B Lewis - May 13, 2024

This bittersweet adventurous and magical excursion into the rehabilitation of broken and discarded objects will have you immediately enthralled from the opening sounds of children teasing and taunting right through to the end....

Review: AMADEUS at Theatre On The Bay
by Faeron Wheeler - April 28, 2024

AMADEUS by Peter Shaffer is widely regarded as an absolute classic play from the 20th century. The words flow off the page with a rise and fall that can mimic great music - exactly what is needed to tell the story of the rivalry between Mozart and Salieri. What I loved most about this offering from ...

Review: TELL ME ON A SUNDAY at the Avalon Auditorium Is a Musical Journey of Self-Discovery
by Jaime Uranovsky - April 25, 2024

Most of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals comprise a large cast and elaborate sets. TELL ME ON A SUNDAY is different: this understated, one-woman musical tells the story of Emma, a Brit who journeys to America to find a man and who ends up finding herself along the way....

Review: ROUND OF APPLAUSE – SOUTH AFRICA STILL STANDING at the Baxter Theatre Centre Should Be Required Viewing for All South Africans
by Jaime Uranovsky - April 25, 2024

Just because you saw ROUND OF APPLAUSE in 2023 does not mean that you’re exempted from seeing Round 2.0. On the contrary, the follow-up to Marianne Thamm’s performative journalism is an absolute must – especially for those who attended last year’s show. It’s one of those rare occasions when the sequ...

Review: SHORTS – A FESTIVAL OF POCKET OPERAS at Artscape Arena Offers Bite-Sized Operatic Treats
by Jaime Uranovsky - April 14, 2024

While there are three mini-operas within the SHORTS programme, this reviews centres around two of them: LA VOIX HUMANE and THE IMPRESARIO. Over the last couple of years, I have been lucky enough to attend various operas staged in Cape Town. They are magnificent: grand and opulent....

Review: OTHELLO at the Baxter Theatre Centre Is a Relevant Retelling of the Classic Tragedy
by Jaime Uranovsky - April 13, 2024

Shakespeare’s OTHELLO, written in the early 1600s, predates traditional notions of decoloniality and, arguably, colonialism itself. Nonetheless, it is a text that, some contend, contains a built-in decolonial perspective or, at the very least, lends itself to be staged through this lens....

Review: SPRING AWAKENING at Theatre On The Bay And Pieter Toerien Montecasino Main Theatre
by Michelle B Lewis - April 09, 2024

At its core, SPRING AWAKENING is a coming-of-age tale that resonates across generations. The play follows a group of teenagers as they navigate the turbulence of adolescence, longing for knowledge about the mysteries of womanhood, the trauma of abuse and the challenges of societal norms. This produc...

Review: MAMMA MIA is an ABBA-solutely fantastic time!
by Faeron Wheeler - April 01, 2024

I am so glad I got to catch MAMMA MIA here in Cape Town. This cast is brilliant - you will have an ABBA-solutely fantastic time, you will want to get up and be the Dancing Queen, and you will certainly be saying 'thank you for the music' by the end of the show....

Review: WRONG FACES and TOMMY AND DOMINICK at the Masque Theatre's One-Act Play Festival Showcase Local Playwrights
by Jaime Uranovsky - March 24, 2024

During my adolescence, the annual one-act play festival held at my high school was the highlight of my academic year. So, whenever I hear that a one-play festival is being staged, I am filled with excitement and nostalgia. For the first time, the Masque Theatre has introduced what will become its an...