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.
Mamma Mia!
The beloved international production of Mamma Mia! is here, returning to South Africa, and it’s a guaranteed feel-good experience that celebrates the magic of ABBA’s music and the beauty of human connections.
Featuring a full South African cast, crew, and band – led by the iconic Amra-Faye Wright, best known for being the longest-running actress in the role of Velma Kelly in Chicago: The Musical on Broadway, as Donna Sheridan – Mamma Mia! combines the finest talent this country has to offer both on and off stage.
Produced by Showtime Management, the musical production also features the timeless ABBA songs composed by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, including Knowing Me, Knowing You, Dancing Queen, I Have a Dream, Voulez Vous, and many more.
Cost: R280 – R580 per person. Book now on Ticketmaster.
When: Tuesdays – Fridays, 3 September – 11 October 2026 | From 7.30pm | From 3pm (Sat matinee) | From 2pm (Sun matinee)
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre (Opera House), D.F. Malan St, Foreshore, 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
Immersion
For one night only, Cape Town’s adventurous music lovers are invited to a cathedral-like sonic experience that transforms an intimate sound bath into a theatrical production. Going beyond the traditional concert to bring audiences deeper into the sounds themselves, Immersion is a historic sensory event held in City Hall’s storied walls.
With more than 150 acoustic instruments playing across 105 minutes of uninterrupted sound, Immersion is a truly unique sonic experience for Cape Town audiences. Building on the concept of a sound bath, each performer and vocalist adds their own piece to the puzzle, creating a living composition in real time as the sounds shift and change throughout the night. Each artist responds to the others and the cclaimed acoustics of City Hall itself, creating a live soundscape unlike anything heard before.
The ensemble is led by creator, conductor and sound performer Chris Roland, alongside featured sound performers Antoinette Bishop, Janet Farquharson, Paola Masullo, Sadek Ezzideen and Ylinel Trujillo.
Cost: From R528 per person (stage seating). Book now on Quicket.
When: Tuesday, 8 September 2026 | 7pm – 8.45pm
Where: City Hall, Darling St, Cape Town City Centre
The Craving
An immersive theatre experience that puts audiences in the middle of a psychological thriller unfolding within a fictional restaurant, The Craving is the latest of The Outlore Base’s series of unsettling and experimental stage shows. What seems like a passionate chef preparing an avant-garde seven-course meal gives way to her twisted experimentations on staff and guests in the pursuit of culinary perfection.
As she gets closer and closer to her goals, she uncovers a truth that begs the question: who is creating who?
There are three types of tickets available throughout the run. The “Watcher” is given a phone and tasked with recording the troubling events as they unfold, showing what is happening through their own eyes. “Tasting” tickets allow guests to reserve a seat for the seven-course dining experience, although what exactly they eat is up to the chef (fussy eaters are encouraged to save their stomachs). Finally, general access allows viewers to experience the night as it dives further into madness.
Cost: R180 per person (general access) | R150 per person (Watcher) | R750 per person (Tasting Ticket). Book now on Quicket.
When: Thursdays – Saturdays, 11 September – 3 October 2026 | 8pm – 10.30pm
Where: The Outlore Base, 80 Hout St, Cape Town City Centre
Damsel in Distress
Following a young librarian and her quest to conquer her past troubles, the latest work from Wela Kapela Productions stars acclaimed actress Kiruna-Lind Devar (Mamma Mia!, Chicago) as the titular damsel, who has her world shaken by the introduction of the Mr Darcy-like Edward Pamment. Slowly diving deeper into her difficult past and the realities of gender-based violence, the show proves to be a hopeful adventure in learning how to cope and move on after troubled times.
Damsel in Distress features many beloved songs, including I Love Paris (famously sung by Frank Sinatra for 1960’s Can-Can), Mein Herr from Cabaret, Cher’s Bang-Bang, The Windmills of Your Mind, and the 60s feminist anthem You Don’t Own Me.
Cost: R220 per person. Book now on the website.
When: Friday & Saturday, 18 & 19 September 2026 | 7.30pm (Fri) | 3pm (Sat)
Where: The Drama Factory, 10 Comprop Square, Henry Vos Close & Asla Cres, Somerset West Business Park
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.
Comedy fans can also expect plenty of laughs with stand-up performances from beloved South African names, including Committie and veteran playwright Andrew Buckland.
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
He Who Sent Me
Afro-soul artist Zuko SA brings his He Who Sent Me tour to the Baxter Concert Hall, combining live full-band performance with personal storytelling built around faith and identity. Born Zuko Kupiso in Dutywa, Eastern Cape, the singer built his following through the breakout single iQhawe Lam, featured on the soundtrack of the television series The Wife.
Zuko SA describes his sound as a blend of Afro-soul and Afro-pop, citing influences including Zahara, Vusi Nova and Amanda Black. He has released two studio albums, Umkhonto and Ondithumileyo, with Umkhonto earning a SAMA nomination, and won a Metro FM Music Award for the collaborative single Andikalibali featuring Vusi Nova.
The concert is framed around themes of spiritual identity and personal resilience, with the artist known for weaving reflection and testimony between songs rather than performing a straightforward set. Material draws from across his catalogue, performed with a live band.
Performed in English and Xhosa, the show carries an age restriction of no under 18s.
Cost: R350 – R550. Tickets are available on Webtickets.
When: 3 October 2026
Where: Concert Hall, Baxter Theatre Centre, Main Road, Rondebosch, Cape Town
The Legacy of Dance Gala
The South African National Dance Trust (SANDT) brings together eight South African dance companies for a single gala celebrating the country’s dance heritage, joined by Dutch National Ballet principal dancers Anna Ol and Jan Špunda as special guest artists. Both performances are accompanied live by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra under conductor Brandon Phillips.
Ol and Špunda perform a neo-classical work by incoming Dutch National Ballet artistic director Ernst Meisner, alongside an excerpt from Rudi van Dantzig’s Swan Lake. The South African line-up spans Cape Town City Ballet, Joburg Ballet, WGRUV Dance Company, Cape Ballet Africa and Jazzart Dance Theatre, alongside emerging artists from the Luitingh Alexander Musical Theatre Academy and Waterfront Theatre School, with additional choreography by George Balanchine, Martha Graham and South African choreographers Veronica Paeper and Sean Bovim.
The programme also honours South Africans who have built international dance careers, with each relevant performance preceded by a short film on their contribution to the field. The gala highlights longstanding ties between South African dancers and Dutch National Ballet, whose repertoire includes Onegin by South African-born choreographer John Cranko.
Cost: R350 – R550. Tickets are available on Webtickets.
When: 24 & 25 October 2026
Where: Artscape Opera House, D.F. Malan Street, Foreshore, 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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