South Africa Theater Reviews

Review: Pieter-Dirk Uys proves once again that he is the master of satire and characterisation in SELL-BY-DATE
by Faeron Wheeler - May 25, 2023

Pieter-Dirk Uys knows just how to tap into our fears and our challenges, and make us laugh at them. SELL-By-DATE does exactly that....

Review: THE PEARL FISHERS at Artscape Is Visually and Vocally Exquisite
by Jaime Uranovsky - May 12, 2023

Cape Town Opera’s production of Bizet’s THE PEARL FISHERS is a feast for the senses. The staging is minimal yet ethereal and allows the audience to float gently along the azure waters suggested onstage....

Review: MY FELLOW SOUTH AFRICANS at Innovation Lounge at Artscape Presents Relevant and Satirical Social Commentary
by Jaime Uranovsky - May 09, 2023

If South Africans know how to do one thing, it is to laugh – especially at ourselves. Award-winning playwright, Mike van Graan, has harnessed this famous South African humour and penned and directed a satirical revue that will be performed throughout 2023/24 in the build-up to the 2024 national elec...

Review: STRICTLY BRITISH at Milnerton Playhouse Is a Fun, High-Energy Ode to British Music
by Jaime Uranovsky - May 08, 2023

It is near impossible to pinpoint what exactly the essence of ‘British music’ is. It is far too varied to be distilled into a single type or genre. Indeed, it spans centuries....

Review: FIREFLY is a Heartwarming Delight
by Faeron Wheeler - May 08, 2023

FIREFLY was absolutely delightful, beautiful and charming. I suppose, how could it not be when you put two actors like Sylvaine Strike and Andrew Buckland together on stage?...

Review: CRUISE at Homecoming Centre Is Poignant, Relevant and Powerful
by Jaime Uranovsky - April 28, 2023

What did our critic think of CRUISE at Homecoming Centre?CRUISE, originally written and performed by Jack Holden, was one of the first plays to open after the COVID-19 lockdown in London, after which it moved to the West End, garnering an Olivier Award nomination for Best New Play....

Review: THE KING OF BROKEN THINGS from Theatre Smiths Will Stay in Your Heart
by Faeron Wheeler - April 28, 2023

Have you ever seen a piece of theatre that crawls into your heart and you’re happy for it to just stay there? This is how I feel after seeing THE KING OF BROKEN THINGS....

Review: MR HARE MEETS MR MANDELA and WANDA THE MUSICAL at the Homecoming Centre
by Klara van Rooyen - April 23, 2023

In the world of theatre, the attitude towards children's theatre is not always positive. Sometimes regarded as the lesser-than-stepchild, you'll often hear people say: 'It was good, for a children's production'. To me, children's theatre is vital and important work, and should be treated as such. Ou...

Review: SUEÑOS at Theatre on the Bay Is a Sensual Celebration of Spanish Music and Dance
by Jaime Uranovsky - April 22, 2023

SUEÑOS, which translates to ‘dreams’ is an ode to Andalucía in Spain and is the third collaboration between internationally acclaimed and 2020 SAMA-winning guitarist James Grace, and leading choreographer and principal dancer of South Africa’s foremost Spanish dance company, Compañía Sophia, Carli O...

Review: JAKOB is beautiful magical realism at The Drama Factory
by Faeron Wheeler - April 20, 2023

At its heart, JAKOB is a simple story. A bit of magical realism that tells the story of a boy who is different, and the way people react to someone who is different. What makes JAKOB remarkable is the way this story is told....

Review: DIE MOEDER at The Baxter Explores the Nightmarish Conclusion of Motherhood
by Klara van Rooyen - April 16, 2023

DIE MOEDER needs no introduction. After a highly acclaimed run at the TOYOTA US WOORDFEES last year and another successful run at this year's KKNK, DIE MOEDER graces The Baxter's Flipside theatre stage for a limited run. Starring a stellar cast with Sandra Prinsloo at the helm, DIE MOEDER marks Chri...

Review: IKRELE LE CHIZA…THE SERMON at Baxter Theatre Centre Is a Transcendental Experience
by Jaime Uranovsky - April 07, 2023

IKRELE LE CHIZA…THE SERMON, presented by the Baxter in collaboration with the Magnet Theatre, is a difficult to put into words – largely because of how experiential it is. Choreography and movement-heavy, this play is aptly described as ‘dream theatre’ by Director, Mandla Mbothwe....

Review: BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY is A Rocking Spectacle at The Artscape
by Faeron Wheeler - April 06, 2023

He may have lived way before my time, but Buddy Holly’s music is some of my favourite and it’s an absolute treat to see it performed live by the talented cast of BUDDY: THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY. This musical is a toe-tapping spectacle of lights, dancing and great music....

Review: DEVIL SONG is a Chocolate Box of Macabre Delicacies
by Klara van Rooyen - April 02, 2023

The mood was set from the get-go when I watched DEVIL SONG on an autumnal evening with a yellowing moon. Compiled and directed by David Fick, this cabaret consists of different monologues and songs that create a funhouse of humanity's darker aspects. Needless to say, my inner goth was hooked from th...

Review: PATISSERIE FEMME's Deliciously Baked Feminism
by Klara van Rooyen - March 28, 2023

The discourse surrounding feminism looks different than it did a few years ago. This is of course natural and unavoidable, but with the recent backlash of the MeToo movement and the overturning of Roe v. Wade in the United States, one wonders where things might be going. And what better place to loo...

Review: Fresh theatre at the ZABALAZA THEATRE FESTIVAL at the Baxter
by Klara van Rooyen - March 27, 2023

The Baxter's foyer was packed on Saturday night for the opening of this year's ZABALAZA THEATRE FESTIVAL. It is the festival's 13th year, and according to its Artistic Director and Curator, Mdu Kweyama, the core team started their planning in May of last year. One can imagine that this festival must...

Review: KEY CHANGE hits all the right notes at Theatre On The Bay
by Faeron Wheeler - March 24, 2023

I’ve known for some time now that Jonathon Roxmouth is a great singer. What I didn’t know until this week was that he is also brilliant on the piano, and very entertaining as the host of a show. KEY CHANGE has everything – great music and great personality....

Review: THE RANGERS at the Masambe Theatre Makes for a Riveting and Explosive Directorial Debut
by Jaime Uranovsky - March 21, 2023

THE RANGERS is a new play written and directed by Daniel Newton in his directorial debut. The 80 minute psycho-thriller is one of the most tension-wrought plays I have ever seen – and I absolutely loved it....

Review: TOM, DICK AND HARRY at Milnerton Playhouse Is Filled to the Brim with Hilarious Tomfoolery
by Jaime Uranovsky - March 21, 2023

Milnerton Playhouse’s most recent offering is the hilarious TOM, DICK AND HARRY – a farce that takes place over the course of one day in a London home. The play opens in the home of Tom (Anton Schäfer) and Linda (Grace Brain), a married couple, who are frantically preparing for the arrival of the he...

Review: A Kaleidoscope of Afrikaans Queerness In MY HART IS 'N MUURBAL (EN ANDER GEDAGTES)
by Klara van Rooyen - March 17, 2023

It's 2023 and homophobia in South Africa still rears its ugly head in our cultural landscape far too often. Although on paper South Africa seems to be a haven for LGBTQ+ members, it is still a challenge for many queer Afrikaners to reckon with their identity and feel accepted. MY HART IS 'N MUURBAL ...

Review: SUMMERSNOW at Maynardville Open-Air Festival Delights and Entrances
by Jaime Uranovsky - March 05, 2023

The 2023 return to the Open-Air Festival at Maynardville ends with a captivating double-bill production presented by Cape Town City Ballet. LES PATINEAURS and LES SYLPHIDES are the perfect one-act ballets to be staged at Maynardville, the lush foliage of which adds to the magical element of these pe...

Review: Sandra Prinsloo is masterful in MASTER CLASS at Theatre On The Bay
by Faeron Wheeler - March 01, 2023

I should probably start this review by stating that I am a huge fan of Sandra Prinsloo and the play MASTER CLASS. When I heard the two would be coming together this year – I was incredibly excited. I’m even more excited to tell you that this production is one for the history books. Prinsloo is simpl...

Review: BREAKING THE CLOSET: PRIDE EDITION 2.0 VARIETY SPECIAL at Waves Theatre Café Provides a Safe Space for the LGBTQIA+ Community
by Jaime Uranovsky - February 28, 2023

BREAKING THE CLOSET, conceptualised by Nicola Hetz and Eugene Mathews, is back! This offering, now in the form of a variety show, provides members of the Cape Town LGBTQIA+ community the opportunity to share their coming out stories in a safe space, through the art of performance....

Review: Heartbreak and haunting music from VINCENT – HIS QUEST TO LOVE AND BE LOVED
by Faeron Wheeler - February 28, 2023

I’ll start off by saying wow! I had goosebumps from the very beginning, all the way through. Vincent van Gogh is one of my favourite painters and this is largely why I was so excited to seen VINCENT – HIS QUEST TO LOVE AND BE LOVED when I first saw it advertised last year. It took me a while to get...

Review: CALLING US HOME at Artscape Provides World Class Performances
by Jaime Uranovsky - February 18, 2023

CALLING US HOME is a heartfelt musical that explores, among other things, the concept of home: What is it? Where is it? Can we ever really leave one home and create another? ...