From Table Mountain to Table Bay, the Mother City boasts a contemporary mix of historic and modern landmarks. One of which is the Artscape Theatre Centre in Foreshore.
It’s a vibrant and multifaceted arts centre that showcases a world of performing arts and creative excellence. Whether you’re looking for a sophisticated night out, a good laugh, an evening of profound perspective, or an appreciation of great music, there is endless entertainment at this iconic theatre.
Also read: Cape Town’s Artscape to host tenth SA International Ballet Competition
Here’s what you can watch at the Artscape this August:
Artscape Woman Humanity Festival
Now in its 17th year, the Artscape Theatre will once again be the place to be this Women’s Month as a focal point for women’s empowerment and the arts with its Women’s Humanity Festival.
In the spirit of recalling the boldness and courage of the 20 000 women who marched against the pass laws and racial oppression on 9 August, 1956, this year’s theme is Milestones: Celebrating, supporting, empowering women of yesterday, today and tomorrow.
From an art installation, to knitting, walking, workshops and theatrics, there’s a whole lot in store to celebrate the ‘rock’ of society, the woman.
For more information and the programme, click here.
My Kroon se Krank
My Kroon se Krank showcases three characters on a journey of renewal, repentance and new beginnings set at the time where Miss South Africa 2019, Zozibuni Tunzi, has just been crowned as Miss Universe and natural hair is more in fashion than ever before.
Auntie Pat, a council member in the community, has to take new photos for her campaign and wants to follow the natural route.
Roxanne, her baby, is busy opening a hair salon and also finding her roots, while confident Debbie begs them to be their natural selves.
Even if it’s over. Even if it hurts. You’ve seen all three, but haven’t really heard from them, or really listened.
- Date: 3 to 5 August
- Duration: 55 minutes
- Cost: R108 to R120
MOYA
Following a successful tour performing 90 shows to over 300 000 audience members in France and Switzerland, the professional wing of Zip Zap returns home with a revamped version of MOYA.
A pulsating acrobatic performance based on the award-winning Acrobatic Art Film showcases an infusion of contemporary and traditional circus, using the narrative of true-to-life Zip Zap stories.
Revamped to include elements of comedy and acrobatics, dance sequences and a brand new original score written by Josh Hawks (former bass player of Freshlyground), the show celebrates both unity and diversity, through its unique and artistic interpretation.
- Date: 3 to 6 August
- Duration: 80 minutes
- Cost: R240 to R300
Dope Saint Jude Live
Fulfilling her dream of presenting with a big band, Dope Saint Jude will be performing a special live show on Women’s Day.
Supported by a live band made up of Giovanni Serci (drums), Antonio Cencherle (keys), Arianna Carini (guitar) and Jody Engelbrecht (musical direction) and many more, this will be her first live band offering in South Africa in over five years.
Long-time Dope Saint Jude collaborator and Drag Queen, Manila von Teez, will serve as the opening act of the show.
- Date: 9 August
- Duration:
- Cost: R100 to R150
Do Not Fear The Past: A Mother’s Word
Brought to us by a multidisciplinary collaboration led by Stanford associate professor of classics, Grant Parker and music lecturer Marie-Louise Catsalis, Do Not Fear The Past: A Mother’s Word examines the universal theme of a mother’s love.
A string quartet led by Fairda Bacharova will join with soprano Donita Volkwijn in a performance of Bongani Nodana-Breen’s newly commissioned piece, Do not fear the past, which is based on Zuhura Seng’enge’s poem of the same title.
- Date: 9 to 11 August
- Cost: R120
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ABFAB DRAG
The annual hit returns to Artscape with a bang shortly after Women’s Day.
With fine feathers preened, sequins glittering and false eyelashes fluttering, the fiercely feminine/masculine are gathering to celebrate the world of ‘lip sync’, with ambiguous seduction and gender identification.
ABFAB DRAG endeavours to put the crème de la crème of DRAG centre stage, featuring top class DRAG diva Vida Fantabisher, SA’s Got Talent 2016 runner-up Manila von Teez, as well as Kat Gilardi, Jayde Kay Johnson and Angel Lalamore of drag cabaret group 3D fame, all choreographed and put together with the exquisite dancers of the Jazzart Dance Theatre
Audience members can expect to be narrated through a magical show by the iconic Soli Philander as MC and Basil Appollis stitches it all together and cracks the designer whip as director.
- Date: 11 to 12 August
- Duration: 1 hour, 50 minutes
- Cost: R135 to R150
Don Quixote
The talented duo of Kirstel Paterson, a principal dancer of the Cape Town City Ballet, and Jonathan Levya, a first soloist of the National Ballet of Cuba, will be gracing the stage as the iconic character’s in Maina Gielgud’s extraordinary production, Don Quixote.
Loosely based on an episode from the Cervantes novel, Don Quixote is a comedy ballet depicting the trials and tribulations of Kitri and Basillo’s love affair frowned upon by Kitri’s father, and the Don’s search for his Dulcinea among the tutu clad Dryads.
The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra will appear at select performances.
- Date: 12 August to 12 September
- Duration: 2 hours, 30 minutes
- Cost: R175 to R745
He Had It Coming
Fresh off the heels of its extended Artscape run of My Fellow South Africans, MVG Productions will stage He Had It Coming with the same team, as part of Artscape’s Woman Humanity Festival.
Named after the lyrics of the Cell Block Tango in the hit musical, Chicago, the production uses comedy, satire, song, poetry and drama to explore and educate audiences about the scourge of gender-based violence and its related themes.
First produced in October 2016 and featuring the extremely talented and versatile Kim Blanche Adonis, the production has evolved with new sketches that take account of a younger audience at which a version of the revue is aimed.
There are two versions of the show, with an ‘adult’ performance of 60 minutes and shorter 45 minutes that targets high school learners, NGOs and their constituencies to serve as a catalyst for discussion and education about the themes raised in the piece.
- Date: 14 to 19 August
- Duration: 60 minutes | 45 minutes
- Cost: R120 to R145
Schools’ Arts Festival
The Schools’ Arts Festival offers learners the opportunity to showcase their talent on a professional stage.
The festival is aimed at stimulating a love for theatre and the performing arts in our youth while creating an individual sense of self-esteem, pride and achievement.
The project encourages nation building, as children and their parents from different cultural backgrounds come together to experience a common goal.
- Date: 16 August
- Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Cost: R50
For more information and to book your tickets, click here.
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Picture: Artscape / Facebook