Discover a world of imaginative performance art and musicals at these incredible stage shows. This season boasts critically acclaimed acts and visual spectacles suited for all ages.

You can expect the wonder of theatre at its finest, with classic tales reimagined, interactive performances, and local music productions that make the experience all the more immersive for the audience.

Prima Facie

How Now Brown Cow presents the South African premiere of Suzie Miller’s award-winning Prima Facie, directed by celebrated theatre maker Neil Coppen, whose previous credits include Isidlamlilo/The Fire Eater, Animal Farm and Tin Bucket Drum.

The production is a one-woman performance that tackles gender-based violence and the challenges survivors face as they navigate the justice system. Danica De La Rey Jones, known for Hunting Jessica Brok, Unseen and For Colored Girls, performs the role of Tessa, a brilliant young barrister who climbs her way up from working-class origins to the top of her profession. Tessa believes in the legal system until a brutal attack turns her world upside down, forcing her to navigate the same system she once championed.

Cost: R250 per person. Book now on Webtickets.

When: 4 – 29 August 2026 | From 8pm (Tue – Sat) | From 3pm (Saturday matinee)
Where: Baxter Studio, Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town

Musical Chairs

The Locksmiths Collective brings Musical Chairs to Magnet Theatre for a five-night run, following a run in Johannesburg and two Naledi Award nominations. The piece uses the structure of the children’s game to explore how social media shapes connection, belonging and self-presentation in daily life.

Choreography blends South African styles including pantsula and bhujwa with American street styles such as hip hop, locking and popping, set against a score spanning classical and contemporary music. The production marks the directorial debut of actor Hungani Ndlovu, choreographed by Genesis Shirindza and co-directed with Sipho Didiza. The cast includes South African performers Yemimah Jacobs and Jamie-Lee Jansen alongside international dancers Alain Lauture and Angela McNeal, with Ndlovu and Shirindza also appearing on stage.

Cost: R200 per person. Book now on Webtickets.

When: 19 – 23 August 2026 | 7.30pm – 8.30pm
Where: Magnet Theatre, 1 St Michaels Rd, Observatory, Cape Town

Masque Theatre’s One Act Play Festival

The Masque Theatre in Muizenberg presents its annual One-Act Play Festival, featuring four new South African plays making their world premiere. Each work has been developed through The Masque’s Play Reading Programme, a structured process that takes scripts from submission through staged readings and feedback sessions to a fully produced performance. Post-show discussions with the playwrights, directors and cast follow each performance.

The programme pairs two plays per evening. Thursday and Saturday evening performances present The Black Bird, written by Clive Myburgh and directed by Kerith Coulson, a psychological thriller set in a remote bird hide where fear and suspicion mount between a young couple and an elderly birdwatcher, alongside Bottle Service, written by Savannah Steyn and directed by Andrea Grant, a comedy following two fathers who form an unlikely friendship after being stranded at a parenting class.

Friday and Saturday afternoon performances present An Unexpected Guest, written by Lindy Wilson and directed by Kaulana Williams, a 1965-set drama in which a former anti-apartheid activist’s arrival at a newlywed couple’s home forces buried truths to the surface, alongside Lady Marmalade, written by Kudzai Mhangwa and directed by Tanya Smith, a comedy built around the legend of a famous dancer who returns to perform one final dance each year after her death.

Cost: R180 per person (standard). Book now on Quicket.

When: 20 – 22 August 2026 | 7.30pm – 10pm | From 2.30pm (Sat matinee)
Where: The Masque Theatre, 37 Main Road, Muizenberg, Cape Town

The Rocky Horror Show

The legendary cult musical The Rocky Horror Show, presented by Pieter Toerien Productions in association with the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy (LAMTA), is back in Cape Town after its successful run earlier this year. This electrifying staging by director Steven Stead promises to unleash all the wild energy, wicked humour and rock ’n’ roll rebellion that has made the show a global phenomenon for over 50 years.

The show stars an award-winning South African cast led by Craig Urbani (We Will Rock You), who reprises his role as Frank-N-Furter, with Léa Blerk (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat) as Janet, and Robert Everson (Noises Off) as Brad.

Cost: R295 – R495. Tickets available on Webtickets.

When: 28 August – 18 October 2026 | 8pm | 4pm & 8pm (Saturdays) | 2pm (Sundays)
Where: Theatre on the Bay, Link St, Camps Bay, Cape Town

WGRUV’s Highlights: Tracing The Line

Highlights: Tracing the Line is the second production of WGRUV Dance Company’s 2026 season, following their new work Juxtapose earlier in the year. Johannesburg-based WGRUV (pronounced “W-Groove”) was founded by Holly Gruver and is registered as a non-profit company dedicated to contemporary ballet production across South Africa and internationally. The company works with South African and international choreographers, and the Cape Town run marks their return to the Star Theatre at the Homecoming Centre in District Six.

The programme brings together works by four choreographers: Jessica Lang, an internationally recognised American neo-classical ballet choreographer whose work has been commissioned by major companies worldwide; Jesse Obremski, known for physically driven movement language grounded in human connection; Michael Trusnovec, a former principal dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company celebrated for sculptural and precise movement; and WGRUV co-artistic directors Holly Gruver and Lex Gruver, who contribute collaborative choreography to the programme.

Cost: R220 – R300 per person. Book now on Webtickets.

When: 28 & 29 August 2026 | 7pm (Fri) | 3pm (Sat)
Where: Star Theatre, Homecoming Centre, cnr Caledon Street and Buitenkant Street, Zonnebloem, Cape Town

Coppelia: Cape Town City Ballet Youth Production

The Cape Town City Ballet is bringing the iconic comic ballet Coppelia to the stage once again, promising a delightful mix of comedy, romance and a touch of mystery, all wrapped up in dazzling costumes and sets. The story is a whimsical fairy tale about young love, a curious inventor, and a lifelike doll that causes quite a stir.

After being performed by the company in October 2025, this latest youth production gives the next generation of dancers an opportunity to showcase their talents, while audiences can see a beloved ballet at a heavily discounted price.

Cost: R50 per person. Tickets available on Webtickets.

When: 19 September 2026 | 12pm & 3pm
Where: Joseph Stone Auditorium, Protea St & Klipfontein Rd, Athlone

Velvet Feathers

Cape Town City Ballet presents a special one-weekend show at the Norval Foundation. Inspired by iconic numbers from Swan Lake and other beloved ballet classics, Velvet Feathers brings some of the company’s most talented dancers to perform captivating sequences from across the ballet canon.

The show starts with Swan Lake’s iconic second act, featuring the defining white tutus and Queen Odette’s captivating transformation, before diving further into famous ballet pieces, with the exact lineup remaining a mystery to audiences – making it an engaging performance for ballet enthusiasts to recognise each dance number throughout the production.

Every guest is treated to a welcome glass of exquisite Boschendal bubbly and canapés, photo moments captured by the on-site professional photographer, and access to the Norval Foundation’s Museum and Sculpture Garden. Everyone is encouraged to enjoy self-guided tours of the acclaimed exhibitions on show, including Brett Murray’s Wild Life and Githan Coopoo: Tears Now But Heaven Tomorrow. The Sculpture Garden is home to various striking artworks surrounded by indigenous Cape flora, making for a peaceful setting for a quiet stroll.

Cost: R925 per person. Book now on Webtickets.

When: Saturday & Sunday, 26 & 27 September 2026 | 12.30pm & 6pm (Sat) | 2.30pm (Sun)
Where: Norval Foundation, Steenberg Road, Tokai, Cape Town

Woordfees 2026

Woordfees, the Stellenbosch-based week-long cultural festival, has a theatre programme that remains one of its strongest offerings, featuring acclaimed productions, celebrated performers, and some of South Africa’s leading directors.

Among the highlights is Grootmeisie, winner of the 2026 Reinet Nagtegaal Text Prize. Written by Rachelle Greeff and directed by Lee-Ann van Rooi, the production explores an unlikely friendship between a mathematics teacher and her former student.

Audiences can also look forward to major productions including My kind druip starring Shimmy Isaacs and Joshwin Dyson, Atropa featuring an ensemble cast led by Anna-Mart van der Merwe and Antoinette Kellermann, and An Iliad, with acclaimed comedian Alan Committie bringing one of history’s greatest epics to life.

Other anticipated productions include FAUSTX, directed by internationally renowned theatre-maker Brett Bailey; Vlindervry by Wessel Pretorius; Die ander dogter starring Sandra Prinsloo; and ’n Middel featuring Tinarie van Wyk Loots and Stian Bam.

Cost: Various prices. Tickets are available on Quicket.

When: 3 – 11 October 2026
Where: 37 Ryneveld St, Stellenbosch

Elysium: Cape Ballet Africa

Cape Ballet Africa presents Elysium, a programme of four ballet works by choreographers George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, Kenneth Tindall and Michelle Reid. The production is directed by Debbie Turner, founder and artistic director of Cape Ballet Africa, who established the company in 2024 after serving five years as CEO and Artistic Director of Cape Town City Ballet.

The confirmed works include Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, set to Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and staged by Diana White, formerly of New York City Ballet; a work known for its technically demanding ensemble choreography and joyful, expansive vocabulary. Nacho Duato’s Remanso, set to music by Enrique Granados and previously staged by Cape Ballet Africa at Artscape in March 2025, returns to the programme, an expressive, lyrical work created for the Nederlands Dans Theatre. Works by Kenneth Tindall, an English choreographer whose works have been staged by Northern Ballet and Cape Town City Ballet, and South African choreographer Michelle Reid, known for Smoke (Cape Ballet Africa’s inaugural SALT season), complete the programme. Specific works by Tindall and Reid have not yet been named publicly.

Cost: From R320 per person. Tickets are available on Webtickets.

When: 3 – 11 October 2026
Where: Pam Golding Theatre, Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town

Dracula

After a successful run earlier in the year, Dracula is back by popular demand, showing for a final few nights exclusively on Halloween weekend.

In this ballet adaptation by Cape Town City Ballet, the classic tale is reimagined through movement, music and theatrical design. Set between the refined world of Victorian England and the shadowy landscapes of Transylvania, the ballet follows Jonathan Harker, a young solicitor sent abroad to assist Count Dracula with his English property acquisitions. What begins as a formal business trip quickly transforms into a nightmarish encounter with an ancient force.

As Dracula sets his sights on London, the ballet unfolds into a dramatic exploration of seduction, fear and transformation. Iconic elements such as the haunting female vampires, heightened suspense and ever-present tension between good and evil are brought vividly to life on stage, as Stoker’s dark, atmospheric novel is translated into a visually striking and emotionally charged theatrical experience.

Cost: R250 – R500. Tickets available on Webtickets.

When: 28 October – 1 November 2026 | From 7.30pm | 2pm (Halloween matinee) | 12pm (final day matinee)
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, D.F. Malan St, Foreshore, Cape Town City Centre

Visit Drumstruck at Silvermist: Authentic African Drumming and Wine Tasting Experience

Drumstruck has performed for royalty, world leaders and celebrities from Shakira to Dolly Parton, earning a reputation as one of South Africa’s most successful cultural exports. 

Today, this global success story has its home at Silvermist Organic Wine Estate, where guests can enjoy interactive African drumming, theatre, rare traditional instruments, wine tasting and a generous South African braai — all in one unforgettable experience. 

Every guest receives a drum and gets to play along with the show. The Drumstruck cast guides the room with humour, rhythm and skill, turning strangers into a unified ensemble. Whether you’re musical or rhythmically challenged, don’t worry – you’ll fit right in.

The braai (lunch or dinner) is generous, delicious and full of familiar South African flavours. Flame-grilled chops, chicken, boerewors, pap and chakalaka, fresh salads and garlic bread are served as the sun sets over the Twelve Apostles. A sweet treat is served as dessert, and vegetarian and halaal options are available.

Cost:
African Lunch Experience: R930 per person, R830 for locals
Sunset Dinner Experience: R930 per person, R830 for locals
Wine Tasting & Drumstruck Show Only: R480 per person, R380 for locals
Drumstruck Show Only: R380 per person, R280 for locals

Book via website. For events, corporate bookings, or private parties, contact Warren on [email protected] or 082 901 0496.

When: Saturdays and Sundays, Selected weekdays | African Lunch Experience: 12.30pm – 3pm | Sunset Dinner Experience: 4.30pm – 7.30pm
Where: Silvermist Organic Wine Estate, Main Road, Constantia Nek, Constantia, Cape Town

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