The Baxter Theatre Centre is an iconic Cape Town spot for lovers of the performing arts. Sitting at the foot of the mountain on UCT’s lower campus, the theatre is known for telling important South African stories.
Here’s what you can watch for the rest of February:
Expelled
Expelled is a family drama which focuses on the largely ungoverned world of social media. Alex, a Matric pupil at an elite school, gets caught up in a viral scandal and is suspended. Once shared, lives alter in seconds, what’s seen cannot be unseen. The ramifications for his family are profound.
Expelled is a play about social media’s power to connect and its power to destroy. Can a few minutes of bad judgement ruin a life?
This new South African play was commissioned by the How Now Brown Cow Writers’ Collective and is written by Rosalind Butler. Direction by Craig Freimond. Starring Charmaine Weir-Smith, Antony Coleman and Nicolas Hattingh.
- Dates: 7 February to 2 March
- Duration: 80 mins
- Age restriction: 14+
- Cost: R140 to R240
- Tickets: webtickets.co.za
The Gold Rhino Of Mapungubwe Ballet
Celebrating a precolonial South Africa and Africa this story follows a young Jerry van Grean as he and two friends discover the historically significant gold rhino. Upon discovery the spirit of a princess from Mapungubwe appears to him and leads him down a road of discovery of an ancient civilisation at the peak of its success.
- Dates: 7 February to 17 February
- Cost: R120 to R330
- Tickets: webtickets.co.za
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The Good Dad (13 – 18 Feb) / Die Goeie Pa (20 – 24 Feb)
A good dad. A happy family. A dark secret.
A young woman is sitting in a prison cell. A serious crime has been committed. But what precisely? And why? Everyone thought they were a lovely family.
But every family has something to hide and drawn curtains hide dark secrets.
Under the direction of Paul du Toit (Fleur du Cap winner for Best Director 2022), Erika Breytenbach-Marais (Fleur du Cap nomination for Best Actress 2022) delivers a solo performance which takes the audience on a magical theatre journey with the use of a single prop, staggering design, and an almost unbelievable story.
Breytenbach-Marais received her second Fleur du Cap nomination for Die Goeie Pa in 2023.
- Dates: 13 February to 24 February*
- Duration: 65 minutes
- Age restriction: 16+
- Cost: R100 to R150
- Tickets: webtickets.co.za
*From 13 to 18 February the play will be performed in English and from 20 to 24 February the play will be performed in Afrikaans.
CTCS presents Benedict Kloekner
The Cape Town Concert Series 2024 presents new generation artist Benedict Kloekner in the Baxter Concert Hall at 11am on Saturday 17 February 2024.
Described by Daniel Barenboim as ‘Remarkable, really remarkable, perfect playing! Absolute control of technique, intonation and color’ and he was reviewed in Rheinpfalz as ‘He is a young rock god with a cello … convinces on world class level…what he transports to the public is remarkable…one is completely under the spell of the soloist… he enchanted the audience with his cello magic.’
This will be his first recital in Cape Town. The concert starts at 11am – as always the Baxter restaurant and bar will be available before
- Date: 17 February
- Cost: R100 to R250
- Tickets: webtickets.co.za
Also read: Win tickets to the Reimagining Heritage, Archives and Museums convening
A Monster Calls
‘Stories are wild creatures. Who knows what havoc they might wreak?’ In this highly imaginative and theatrically exciting adaptation of Patrick Ness’s beautiful young adult novel, Conor O’ Malley is visited by a monster at 12:07am who promises to tell him three stories that will help him understand the moral complexity of the world and face up to the truth of his grief.
Brought to you by the exceptional Drama Department of the International School of Cape Town, this show promises to wreak havoc with your heartstrings. Suitable for age 10 and above.
- Dates: 21 to 23 February
- Cost: R100 to R150
- Tickets: webtickets.co.za
Working Title at Masambe Presents: Everything is Political
Working Title Multimedia Curation presents an experimental, Live Art weekend at Masamba Theatre.
It’s 2024 and this year’s elections will be the seventh election held under the conditions of universal adult suffrage since the end of apartheid in 1994. 30 years later, South Africa is still one of the most unequal countries in the world. How does this make you feel?
4 artists, each present work around the theme ‘EVERYTHING IS POLITICAL’
Featuring artists:Qondiswa James – The People Should Govern
We point an accusing finger at the “rainbow nation” myth and welcome disillusion.Miché van Wyk – No Colour Allowed
Stuck in the middle for being “oraait”.Darion Adams / The AIM Society- STAND TF UP!
No need to be a casualty of domination.Carin Bester – No Time to Wait
How long will you wait for change before you act?
- Dates: 29 February to 2 March
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Age restriction: 16+
- Cost: R100 to R150
- Tickets: webtickets.co.za
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Picture: Baxter Theatre