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 this September:
Delela
• delela (verb): to be disrespectful, cheeky, rude, out of line.
Following an explosive premiere at the 2022 National Arts Festival, Delela, a new South African satire that conducts a ruthless audit of racial and economic privilege through vanity philanthropy comes to the Baxter Theatre for a limited season from 6 to 16 September 2023.
Tiisetso Mashifane wa Noni (best known for the award-winning, Sainthood) directs an electric cast starring Daniel Barney Newton (Shadowboxing, The Visigoths), Katlego Lebogang (Wounds, Jiva), Frances Sholto-Douglas (The Kissing Booth, Fatal Seduction) and Fadzai Simango (Raised by Wolves, The Lincoln Project).
Delela follows the story of The Strauss-Smith Foundation, one of South Africa’s oldest and wealthiest private charitable foundations as they embark on an ambitious ‘transformation and diversity’ project. The transformation project, which is managed by the heirs to the Strauss-Smith family fortune (played by Newton and Sholto-Douglas), proves tumultuous when a new diversity hire (Lebogang) challenges the family’s sense of responsibility towards the project and a public relations disaster ensues.
- Dates: 6 to 16 September
- Duration: 85 minutes
- Age restriction: 16+
- Cost: R120 – R150
- Tickets: Here

The Tales of Hoffmann
French composer Jacques Offenbach’s most well-known opera, Les Contes d’Hoffmann, or The Tales of Hoffmann, comes to the stage in Cape Town in a new production by Opera UCT.
The production, directed by Steven Stead, will feature a cast of young singers from Opera UCT at the University of Cape Town, conducted by their director, Jeremy Silver. The Tales of Hoffmann will be staged at the Pam Golding Theatre at the Baxter from 8 to 10 September 2023.
Offenbach’s opera was first performed in 1881, a year after the composer’s death, and has become part of the standard repertoire of opera houses across the world. Last performed in Cape Town in 2012, the opera contains the popular Barcarolle duet, “Belle nuit, ô nuit d’amour”, as well as the coloratura soprano aria “Les oiseaux dans la charmille”.
The Tales of Hoffmann, with a libretto based on three stories by German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann (1776–1822), is about a poet, Hoffmann, who relates the story of three women he loved: a mechanical doll, a young singer, and a courtesan.
- Dates: 8 to 10 September
- Cost: R100 – R380
- Tickets: Here

The Culture Exhibition
Presented by Kevin Mdoka and the Taor Foundation, the culture is a collaborated live music experience aimed at capturing the vibrant and soulful spirit of a South African September. The event features, choral music, local dj’s and multi award winning artist Langa Mavuso as headliner.
Hosted by emerging television personality and influencer Siboniso Tadéus Mbatha, The Culture promises intimate soul-inspired soundscapes accompanied by the serenity of the Baxter gardens, spring has sprung indeed.
- Date: 10 September
- Cost: R200 – R300
- Tickets: Here

Lamentations
Lamentations explores the journey of a young girl, Nobuhle, who is kidnapped and forced into an arranged marriage. Her cries are dismissed by both her birth family and the one she’s about to enter, involuntarily. Her childhood is lost forever, when she is expected to produce offspring and with her life changing so drastically overnight, she has no option, but to cry.
Sign up for The Baxter’s monthly newsletter for exclusive discounts and specials. Be the first to hear about all the up and coming productions, and benefit from early bird prices.
- Dates: 12 to 16 September
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Cost: R50 – R80
- Tickets: Here

Also read: ‘After Nature’: An exhibition exploring art and the environment
Hamba Nam Ndipheleke
Though barely 18 years old, Thandiwe has already suffered enough tragedy and grief to last her a lifetime.
Having been abandoned by their father at an early age, the death of their mother after a lengthy illness relegates Thandiwe and her older sister Mhizana to a life of servitude and exploitation as was the case for a lot of women and girls living in what was formerly known as the Transkei Bantustan during Apartheid.
Thandiwe is coerced into marriage with a man twice her age by her family. Mhizana is forced to live in poverty with her abusive aunt who holds a deep bitterness and resentment towards her late sister and now “orphaned” children.
Hamba Nam Ndipheleke tells the story of these two sisters whose indomitable spirits lead them to defy their circumstances and misfortunes by leaving their homes to seek a better life for themselves. Their separate yet intertwining journeys illustrate vividly the profoundly damaging impact Apartheid’s labour migration and Bantustan systems had on the fabric of South African society.
With Hamba Nam Ndipheleke Nompumezo Buzani lays bare the fracturing of families and the oppression and abuse women and girls suffer in a patriarchal society that perverts culture and tradition to facilitate their exploitation.
Thought provoking and, at times, surprisingly hilarious Hamba Nam Ndipheleke is an instructive and entertaining drama about love, redemption and discovering one’s own agency and power.
Performed in isiXhosa with English subtitles.
- Dates: 14 to 30 September
- Duration: 90 minutes
- Age restriction: 14+
- Cost: R60 – R90
- Tickets: Here

Oorwinnings Reis
Oorwinnings Reis is ‘n eenman vertoning wat sê, “Die lewe is ‘n reis alleen.” Daar is egter ‘n reis tussen sonsopkoms en sonsondergang, die volledige omstyging van die aarde om die son, en die half-tot-volmaan. In hierdie blitsvinnige toneelstuk vertel die 23-jarige Tina Naidoo van haar triomfantlike, sowel as haar lewensreis. Soos baie ander wat uit twee godsdienstige gesinne kom, was Tina se lewe nie maklik nie. Vir hierdie gelukkige jong dame was dit nie ‘n sprokie om die groot skuif van die klein plaasdorpie na die moederstad te maak nie. ‘n Hartseer reis na oorwinning solank sy haar passie kan uitleef.
- Dates: 19 to 23 September
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Cost: R50 – R80
- Tickets: Here

Laylatun Nabi (SAW)
A soulful unison of cultures from South Africa’s rich Muslim community, celebrating and honouring the beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The production is brought to life by local talent Zerina Sablay, who’s performed both nationally and internationally, alongside some of the world’s most prominent musical figures.
The support and fast-gaining popularity of her Naat Shareef covers inspired her to continue rendering Naat Shareef to educate, inspire and encourage the youth to follow the Prophet’s (SAW) example. It further led her to appreciate the many musical forms of offering praise.
Laylatun Nabi (SAW) is a collaboration between Zerina Sablay, 7 Steps Cultural Group – lead by Mansoor Joseph, and various other artists, harmoniously bringing together musical praise in the forms of Naat-shareef, Qawali, the sounds of a traditional cape Malay Moulood and enthralling renditions by a talented Nasheed group.
- Date: 23 September
- Duration: 180 minutes (including interval)
- Cost: R250
- Tickets: Here

Tiro’s Toughloop Testimony
“Earth, open up and swallow me. Perhaps, I may meet my forebears and they may wipe my tears”. In the face of colonial threat many fearless people in Africa were ready to give their lives for the resistance. This one-hander zooms in on the life of one of them, Onkgopotse Tiro. He became the first across-the-border victim of the malicious Apartheid regime. Moving from documentary to poetry and from history to the present, Tiro’s contribution to the Black Consciousness Movement, is remembered in a touching and enlightening way.
- Dates: 26 to 30 September
- Duration: 60 minutes
- Cost: R50 – R80
- Tickets: Here

Also read:
Exploring art and the universe: Southern Guild’s latest exhibitions
Picture: Baxter Theatre