Cape Town’s iconic performance troupe is teaming up with the School of Rock for Full Tilt, a collaborative show featuring 25 Zip Zap performers, 11 musicians, and a fusion of contemporary circus and live music.
Rather than a traditional act that features acrobats and aerial artists time themselves to a fixed, pre-recorded soundtrack, this new production sees Zip Zap’s daring performers respond to the band in real time, building the show’s rhythm as it unfolds.
More about Full Tilt
This is the latest collaboration between School of Rock and Zip Zap Circus, two organisations dedicated to providing performing arts training to Cape Town’s youth, particularly in underprivileged communities.
Zip Zap’s programmes are completely free for students, giving them the skills and confidence to show off their talents to audiences worldwide. Just under 1,500 young people participated in these programmes last year, and 5 of Full Tilt’s circus performers are members of the company’s professional troupe, which tours internationally, with a European tour on the horizon. All ticket income supports Zip Zap’s free initiatives, giving even more kids the opportunity to become acclaimed, professional performers.
School of Rock is a Claremont-based institution that offers music lessons across a range of instruments and genres, with programmes dedicated to key musical areas like live performance, songwriting, and playing in a band. Beyond the sounds, School of Rock prides itself on boosting students’ self-confidence and improving their teamwork skills, giving them essential life lessons they can apply outside rehearsal.
Full Tilt celebrates Heritage Month, with all performances in the Homecoming Centre, a historic building tied to the forced removals of District Six, now a hub that gives local South African artists a platform to push the culture forward.
How to get tickets
Each of Full Tilt’s seven performances features dazzling displays from Zip Zap’s talented circus performers, set to live music from School of Rock’s artists, aged 11 to 33. The special Thursday shows fall on Heritage Day, allowing audiences to enjoy their public holiday by engaging with Cape Town’s next generation of acrobats, artists, and creatives.
Photography and filming take place at each show. Click here for T’s and C’s regarding giving consent for Zip Zap Circus to use these images and footage for marketing and promotional purposes.
Cost: R180 – R250 per person. Book now on Webtickets.
When: Wednesday – Saturday, 23 – 26 September 2026 | Shows start at 2.30pm & 6.30pm
Where: Homecoming Centre, 15 Buitenkant St, District Six, Cape Town
Discover more ways to celebrate Heritage Day in Cape Town
