Following the wild success of the inaugural first year, the mother of all comedy festivals, the Mother City Comedy Festival returns by popular demand to the Baxter Studio Theatre from 11 to 29 February.

With more than 45 comedians performing in 40 shows over three weeks, it’s even bigger and better than ever!

Produced by SIV NGESI, in collaboration with Taylor Made Productions, the Mother City Comedy Festival celebrates stand-up comedy in all its forms, presenting a full spectrum of different comedic styles.

With two shows daily, and three on weekends, the Festival will once again get audiences up close and personal with their favourite comedians while introducing them to some of the country’s most exciting upcoming talents. Comedy-lovers are spoilt for choice during this fabulous festival of funniness.

They producers said that they had such a phenomenal response to the first Festival, that they had to make the program longer this year around.: “The Festival proved to be not only a great event for comedy connoisseurs to get their fix, but also a key platform for newer stars to have the opportunity to perform at a major Cape Town venue.”

This year’s line-up features a diverse mix of performers from stalwarts of the comedy industry such as Nik Rabinowitz, Joey Rasdien, Jason Goliath, Donovan Goliath, Chantal Jax, Kate Pinchuck, Simon Orgill, Daniel Richards, Mike Van Graan, Soli Philander, Long John, Carmen Kearns, Chantal Jax, Carl Weber, Dalin Oliver, Kate Pinchuck Phil de Lange Shimmy Isaacs, Ta Fire, Sqhazolo, Kumkani Sibu, CJ Benson, Martin Davis, Nick Goliath, Daniel Richards, Long John the Comedian, Eugene Matthews, Dalin Oliver, Simon Orgill, Altaaf Sayed, Kurt Schoonraad, Robbie Collins, Yaseem Barnes, Simon van Wyk, Dylan Hichens, Mark Johnson, Kenwyn Davids, Liam Bento, Ambro Uren, Nik Rabinowitz, Kurt Langeveld, Wayne McKay, Piet Potgieter, Dugald Pieterse, Stuart Taylor, Simmi Areff, Mel Jones, Angel Campey, Dalin OliverDillan Oliphant, Keenan Cerff, and some more.

Tickets cost from R120 to R150. Bookings can be made at Webtickets or selected Pick n Pay stores.

For discounted school or group block bookings, fundraisers or charities contact Carmen Kearns on 021 680 3993 or email her at carmen.kearns@uct.ac.za

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The character of Nettie is the sister of the story’s protagonist, Celie, and shows her sister unconditional love and support. Although Nettie doesn’t bare her own children in the story, she is noted as acting as Celie’s protector and cares for Celie’s children. This caring, maternal nature is true of Sebe Leotlela herself, who recently gave birth to a little girl.

The role of Nettie is a significant one for Leotlela and she was acknowledged for her powerful performance by being nominated for a 2019 Naledi Theatre Award as best supporting actor in a musical.

Leotlela is excited to be returning to her role in the April 2020 season of The Color Purple. Since becoming a mother, she is set to instill many of the lessons from the novel and musical in her daughter.

The musical’s director in South Africa, Janice Honeyman, is also excited to know that Leotlela will be reprising her role as Nettie.

Sebe also played the role of the Disco Diva Candy in Bernard Jay’s production of Saturday Night Fever at The South African State Theatre. She has performed in two of Janice Honeyman’s pantomimes, Pinocchio and Snow White. She is currently serving as assistant choreographer in this year’s pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk.

Joining Sebe Leotlela on stage in The Color Purple next year are acclaimed South African actors Didintle Khunou as Celie, Lelo Ramasimong as Shug Avery, Neo Motaung as Sofia, Thokozani Nzima as Mister and Yamikani Mahaka-Phiri as Harpo.

The Color Purple

Joburg Theatre

2 April to 12 April 2020

Tickets are available at www.joburgtheatre.com

Theatre patrons can also book online and pay at selected Pick N Pay stores.

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Cellist Yo-Yo Ma, will be making his long-awaited South African debut at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, in Cape Town.  On Saturday, 8 February at 7pm, Mr Ma will perform Johann Sebastian Bach’s Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello without interval; his visit to Cape Town is part of his global Bach Project, presented locally by Showtime Management.

In August 2018, Yo-Yo Ma began the Bach Project, a two-year journey to play Johann Sebastian Bach’s six suites for solo cello thirty-six times on six continents. Since the project began, Yo-Yo has performed this extraordinary music in iconic and surprising locations including the Odeon of Herodes Atticus on the Acropolis in Athens, the ancient Huaca Pucllana in Lima, the Sydney Opera House, and Millennium Park in Chicago.

Alongside each concert, Mr Ma and his team partner with artists and culture makers, cultural and community organizations, and leaders from across sectors to design conversations, collaborations, and performances. Together with the concerts, these “days of action” invite us all to think differently about the role of culture in society, exploring and celebrating all the ways that culture makes us stronger as individuals, as communities, as a society and as a planet. In Cape Town, as it does all over the world, the Bach Project will explore how culture helps us to find truth, build trust, and act in service of one another.

His Repertoire will feature Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello, Bach’s six cello suites each unfold in six movements — 36 movements in all. Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007; Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008; Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009; Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV 1010 and Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011; Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012.

Yo-Yo Ma has taken the Bach Project across the globe — and early next year, he brings the Project’s mix of performance, conversation, and cultural action to Cape Town.

Yo-Yo Ma’s Bach Project

Saturday, 08 February 2020, 7pm

Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, Cape Town

The Concert will run for 2 hours, 15 minutes, with no intermission.

Tickets are R900.00 each, and available from Webtickets.

Customers without credit cards can book online and pay in any Pick n Pay store nationwide. Fans are encouraged to only book through the official authorized ticketing agent. There are significant risks in buying from other sources and entry to the concert is not guaranteed.

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Die Suid-Afrikaanse Staatsteater en Add-Life Productions bied met trots aan Aspoestertjie,  ’n Skreeusnaakse Afrikaanse pantomime op die Opera-verhoog van 5 tot 28 Julie 2019. Hierdie puik produksie met skerp teks, unieke en energieke danspassies en ’n uitstekende eindproduk waarop hulle kan trots wees, het een resensie gesê.  In 2015, is hierdie produksie genomineer vir nege Naledi-toekennings, onder andere vir Beste Musiekspel.

Pragtige Karlien Van Jaarsveld skitter in die titelrol, teenoor die talentvolle akteur Zak Hendrikz as die heldhaftige Prins. Bekend vir sy uiteenlopende rolle in film, teater en op TV, speel Fezile Mpela die rol van die Verteller.

Passievolle Marlee van der Merwe, slaan die spyker op die kop met haar uitstekende vertolking van die Nare Stiefma, terwyl die vlymskerp humor van die twee Lelike Stiefsusters, Tiaan Rautenbach en Mortimer Williams, oud en jonk gaan laat skaterlag!

Met gesoute Regisseur Neels Clasen aan die stuur, beloof Aspoestertjie  om weereens ’n hoogtepunt in Afrikaanse teater te wees.

Aspoestertjie word vervaardig deur Renier en Lise-Marie Keyser, wie sedert 2007 bekendheid verwerf het vir hul keurige oorspronklike Afrikaanse musiekspele. Hulle het nie verniet ’n reputasie as baanbrekers in die Suid-Afrikaanse teaterindustrie nie; vir meer as ’n dekade skep hulle karakter-gedrewe stories met uitnemende produksie kwaliteit.

Aspoestertjie

Staatsteater, Pretoria

5 tot 28 Julie 2019

Vrydae – 19:30

Saterdae en Sondae – 11:00 en 15:00

Kaartjies vanaf R160, Beskikbaar by Webtickets, of Pick n Pay Winkels.

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