The current season of WEST SIDE STORY - produced by the Fugard Theatre in the Artscape Opera House - is still as grand as it was in 2015, but is even better in 2018 than it was before - an emotional rollercoaster that is second to none. When I look back at the various productions and performances of... (more...)
There is something thoroughly fabulous about watching a performer who knows exactly who they are doing what they were born to do. THE FABULOUS CERI DUPREE SHOW offers Capetonian audiences an opportunity to see just such an artist at Gate69, with Ceri Dupree having returned to South Africa for this l... (more...)
There is something utterly inspiring about IMMORTAL, the theatre experience currently playing two shows a night at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town. Billed as the first-ever immersive theatre production of its kind in South Africa, it is exciting to see a new company going out on a limb to offer... (more...)
There is a great deal about AUNTY MERLE THE MUSICAL that deserves to be recognised. Most importantly, it is a homegrown musical created largely by people of colour with a significant number of roles for people of colour. It attempts to connect with contemporary South African social dynamics and is... (more...)
It is an incredibly fascinating experience watching EVITA in South Africa at this time, particularly given the events that have transpired in Zimbabwe over the last month. This musical will speak to the world for as long as the struggle against colonialism and its legacy of inequality continues.... (more...)
As hilarious as it is unsettling, KIDCASINO is a candid exploration of some of the ideas that have taken hold in contemporary popular culture. Perhaps the reality of what it means to take gamble will come as no surprise to you. No matter, you will still be tickled pink by this show. You can bet on i... (more...)
MOEDERTAAL is the latest in a welcome series of Afrikaans theatre productions in The Fugard Theatre's annual line-up, with Naskrif Produksies presenting this poetic meditation on life, love and loss at the popular venue in the Mother City through the beginning of December.... (more...)
In many ways, it comes as something of a surprise that DIE REUK VAN APPELS has not made its way to the stage until now. Theatrerocket's presentation of DIE REUK VAN APPELS is top class South African theatre, not only a reminder of our painful collective past but also a recognition of our current col... (more...)
'I - will have poetry in my life. And adventure. And love. Love above all,' says Viola de Lesseps, the woman who is destined in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE to win the titular Bard's heart. 'Not the artful postures of love,' she continues, 'but love that overthrows life.' In this most memorable of quotations... (more...)
An extraordinary talent is currently onstage at Gate69, Cape Town's 'Purple Palace', which continues to deliver on its aim of being a complete sensory experience and South Africa's premiere cabaret theatre. This time, Cathy and her Trolley Dollies present the phenomenal Christina Bianco.... (more...)
Stuart Lightbody's UNIQUE WONDERS closes today after a dream season at the Alexander Bar, Theatre and Cafe. The popular Capetonian sleight of hand artist and psychological illusionist's newest show has been a sold-out smash success, with bookings filling up far in advance of the nightly performances... (more...)
Watching KING KONG, the Fugard Theatre's latest musical theatre production, is as complex an experience as it is a thrilling one. The first revival of a legendary South African jazz opera, as it was called when first performed in 1959, KING KONG is at once a historical document, a contemporary reima... (more...)
South Africa, says the note in the programme of STATE FRACTURE, is 'a country that keeps on giving as far as satirical material is concerned.' What a pity, then, that the humour in STATE FRACTURE never transcends the comic to become satire.... (more...)
Imagine a late-night German television programme like MANN, SIEBER! filtered through the pop culture aesthetic of an American variety show like SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, and you might know what to expect from IN WHOREFISH BLOOMERS: THE WAITRESSES' LAMENT, which is more a 'kabarett' than what South Africa... (more...)
THINGPHONY takes as its theme the philosophical question of whether order is intrinsic in the universe, or whether it is human beings that give order to the phenomena they experience. Performer Philip Southey discusses a wide array of topics in the show, including colour, physics, music and sex.... (more...)
For as long as prejudice exists in the world, people will tell stories of star-crossed lovers. The plot of CHEERS TO SARAJEVO places a Serbian Romeo opposite a Bosnian Juliet, but this iteration of the archetypal story makes them live through the conflict in which they find themselves.... (more...)
The Market Theatre production of Paul Slabolepszy's SUDDENLY THE STORM is currently in the middle of its Cape Town season at the Baxter Theatre. Having opened just two days after the Naledi Theatre Awards presented the play and its production with three awards, SUDDENLY THE STORM arrived in Cape Tow... (more...)
People often forget is that hubris walks hand-in-hand with nemesis, and Louis Viljoen shines a spotlight on this particularly damning walk of shame in his latest play, THE EULOGISTS, which features a top-notch performance by Emily Child.... (more...)
There is something indescribable about returning to Gate69, the glitzy dinner theatre venue that opened less than a year ago in central Cape Town. It is that ineffable feeling of coming home, of belonging. CATHY AND THE TROLLEY DOLLIES, one of the venue's current offerings, is a blast for everyone -... (more...)
HEMELRUIM is a deeply personal and moving piece of theatre. The Afrikaans translation of Nick Payne's CONSTELLATIONS, created through the theatrical mastery of Nico Scheepers, is performed by Tinarie van Wyk Loots and Paul du Toit.... (more...)
The Fugard's first new musical production of 2017 puts FUNNY GIRL on South African stages, and the results are delightful - with a powerhouse performance from Ashleigh Harvey as Fanny Brice, the stage, radio and film personality around whom everyone and everything in the show revolves.... (more...)
Although it is about the process of creating art, SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION will appeal to audiences wider that those with direct links to the arts. We all love a good intrigue, and we all love a good behind-the-scenes expose.... (more...)
There is an almost overwhelming sense of humanity in Lebogang Mogashoa's THE REAL DIRT, which is currently enjoying a week-long season at the Alexander Bar's cosy Upstairs Theatre. David Fick reviews the show, which he says is proof that theatre can heal what many other things cannot.... (more...)
David Fick reviews The Stephan Fourie Theatre Company production of RENT at the Artscape Arena, a production filled with passion - but which leaves a great deal to be desired. SPOILER ALERT: There is a spoiler about the plot of RENT in the first paragraph of this review.... (more...)
Following the South African premiere of Florian Zeller's THE FATHER last year, the same playwright's companion piece, THE MOTHER, made its bow last week at The Fugard Studio. David Fick reviews.... (more...)
BWW Review: The Fugard's WEST SIDE STORY at the Artscape Theatre a Musical for the Ages
BWW Review: Wit, Sequins and Feathers Fly in THE FABULOUS CERI DUPREE SHOW at Gate69
BWW Review: Impeccable Worldbuilding the Highlight of Standing O's Immersive Theatre Experience IMMORTAL
BWW Review: Popular AUNTY MERLE - THE MUSICAL Leaps Forward in Concept, but Falls Back in Its Execution at the Baxter
BWW Review: Rainbow Tour of EVITA at Artscape a Qualified Yes, with a Magnificent Eva in Emma Kingston
BWW Review: Wildly Entertaining KIDCASINO is All Kinds of Fabulous at the Alexander Upstairs
BWW Review: Resourceful Prinsloo Brings Life to Naskrif's Poetic MOEDERTAAL at The Fugard Studio
BWW Review: Theatrerocket's DIE REUK VAN APPELS is Unforgettable, First Rate South African Theatre at The Fugard Studio
BWW Review: Polished SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE at The Fugard Theatre An Artful Posture of The Film That Inspired It
BWW Review: Extraordinary Talent Onstage in THE MANY VOICES OF CHRISTINA BIANCO at Gate69
BWW Review: Stuart Lightbody Himself is the Most Magical of His UNIQUE WONDERS
BWW Review: Revival of KING KONG at The Fugard Theatre as Complex as it is Thrilling
BWW Review: Remarkable Richards Lands Skilful Comedy in STATE FRACTURE at the Baxter - But Is It Satire?
BWW Review: IN WHOREFISH BLOOMERS Has the Potential to Be the Battle Cry it Sets Out to Be
BWW Review: Derivative Meme-style Show THINGPHONY Needs a Directorial Hand
BWW Review: Aimée Goldsmith the Heart of Passionate War Drama CHEERS TO SARAJEVO
BWW Review: Thunder Rumbles in Paul Slabolepszy's SUDDENLY THE STORM at the Baxter Theatre
BWW Review: Viljoen Places Observers and the Media In Camera in Philosophical THE EULOGISTS at The Fugard
BWW Review: CATHY AND THE TROLLEY DOLLIES a Blast for Both Frequent Flyers and First-Timers at Gate69
BWW Review: Beautifully profound, HEMELRUIM is a Soul-stirring Journey through the Heavens and Humanity
BWW Review: The Fugard's FUNNY GIRL - with Ashleigh Harvey as a Powerhouse Fanny Brice - a Valentine to Gentler and Jollier Times
BWW Review: Steyn, Hopkins and Rebelo Riveting in Howard Barker's Fascinating SCENES FROM AN EXECUTION
BWW Review: Lebogang Mogashoa's THE REAL DIRT Filled with Humanity and Compassion
BWW Review: This RENT is Spent, and Passion is Not Enough to Pay the Piper at the Artscape Arena
BWW Review: Pinteresque THE MOTHER an Utterly Arresting Ordeal on The Fugard Studio Stage