Cape Town Fringe Launches a 17-Day Theatre Feast

 

 

 

The Cape Town City Hall is being transformed into a multi-venue theatre, pop-up restaurant and coffee shop, as the Cape Town Fringe prepares to launch a Festival of theatre, dance, music, comedy and magic on Thursday, 22 September.

The Festival (which runs till 8 Oct) is also moving into the central city’s Alexander Bar, Guga S’Thebe, Theatre in the Backyard in Langa and AFDA Theatre in Observatory. Additional productions will be staged at affiliate venue Makukhanye Art Room in Khayelitsha.

 

ABOUT THE SHOWS 22-25 SEPTEMBER

The Fringe programme starts with a clutch of fresh shows - from the very first South African production of The Gruffalo to the adult play, The Finkelsteins are Coming to Dinner.

International acts Police Cops (a comic look at the stereotypical police television drama formula), and zany US act Machine Makes Man will get the energy levels way up with their much-awarded shows. The genre-busting music of Odysseus Finn is another key highlight from the international tour circuit.

The Nigerian production, Wait will also ask some pertinent questions about women’s access to education and Niqabi Ninja (made in SA but set in Cairo) introduces audiences to an avenging super hero who deals with harassment in her own unique way.

Dance and visual theatre lovers should make their way to In Between Breath or #balletmustfall and film buffs will get to see the documentary Disrupt that delves into the Rhodes reference list movement. Theatre lovers will be thoroughly entertained by the live reading of The Visit (at AFDA Theatre) and the Alexander Bar is where the critically acclaimed play, The Emissary, will be staged.

Standard Bank Ovation award winning Out of Bounds looks at Indian identity and community in the South African context and another play that enjoyed critical success at the National Arts Festival is Immortal about the sole child survivor of the Blaauwkrantz bridge collapse.

Brendon Peel will be playing with people’s minds in Mind Over Magic and illusion fans can also see Stuart Lightbody’s Memorable Moments this coming weekend. Ryan Napier will be exposing the artful torture that is to be a clown in Death of a Clown and City Varsity will be presenting Woza Sarafina; a physical theatre piece that looks at the South African narrative through a group of jailed fallist cadres.

Muofhe comes all the way from Limpopo with her music in Muofhe – Mysteries of Love and Cape favourites Hatchetman will also rock the City Hall. Music and poetry merge in Words of War while Fishwives bring their eclectic, playful sound to the stage on opening night. Capetonians will also be treated to soulful afro-pop band Khulage.

Brendan Murray and Milton Schorr bring The Game to Cape Town after sold-out runs nationwide and Butlers and Broadway return with their audience-derived plotlines. Also look out for Eat, Post, Love - a look at life in the social media age.

Zabalaza Festival winner Alunamda explores the notion of love over all in relationships. Catch riveting performances by ex-offenders in Ubuze Bam; meaning ‘my nakedness’ the play explores the power of forgiveness and healing.

The programme runs from 15h00 till 21h00 (when the last show for the day starts) on weekdays and on the weekend (Saturday and Sunday), the programme kicks off at 11am and runs through to 22:30 (last show). On Saturday night, 24 September, the Fringe Club will be hosting a Fringe Fresh party with live music performances, Dj’s and a bar – entrance is free from 10pm.

Says Cape Town Fringe CEO, Tony Lankester,”The Fringe offers Cape Town a chance to see fresh theatre, that they may not otherwise see, in a way that makes it affordable and accessible. We have created an easy-going, relaxed environment that is as appealing for someone who has never been to the theatre as it is for theatre die-hards and we hope that Cape Town will dive right in and enjoy it.”

 

To explore the programme and book tickets visit www.capetownfringe.co.za

 

Box Office: 0860 002 004

 

Cape Town Fringe Hotline: 079 605 7871

 

Follow Cape Town Fringe on Twitter @CTFringe / Facebook www.Facebook.com/capetownfringe and Instagram @ctfringe - hashtag #CTFringe

 

Follow the Cape Town Buskers Festival on Twitter on @CTbuskersfest / Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ctbuskersfest and Instagram @ctbuskersfest

 

ENDS

 

OUR NEWSROOM IS AT https://capetownfringe.prezly.com/

 

Media Accreditation – please visit https://capetownfringe.co.za/media/

 

ABOUT THE CAPE TOWN FRINGE

The Cape Town Fringe is managed by the National Arts Festival. The City of Cape Town is the Host Sponsor of the Cape Town Fringe, while Standard Bank is the Presenting Sponsor of the event.

 

MEDIA CONTACT

All media queries to:

Rabbit in a Hat Communications

Sascha Polkey

[email protected]

083 414 0552

021 300 0052

 

Image: Odysseus Finn with Pierre Bourgeois, Michael McQuilken and David Van Witt - credit Kevin Van Witt