Cape Town theatre delivers dance, drama and defiance

The productionputs a fresh twist on Igor Stravinsky’s classical ballet, mixing myth, magic and a journey of transformation. It fuses contemporary African dance with large-scale puppetry, creating a visual and emotional spectacle that reinterprets the classic story for modern audiences. At its heart, the ballet explores power, creativity and the struggle between darkness and light.

The play follows a young heroine as she discovers herinner strengthand agency. Stravinsky’s pulsating score drives the narrative, amplifying themes of resilience, courage, and rebirth. When: From Thursday, February 19, to Sunday, February 22, at 3pm and 8pm.

“The Return of Elvis Du Pisanie” is a celebrated South African one‑man play written by Paul Slabolepszy that has become a classic of local theatre, winning numerous awards and being performed internationally. The story follows Eddie du Pisanie, a retrenched East Rand salesman on the brink of despair who decides life isn’t worth living. Just as he tries to end his life, an Elvis Presley song on the radio triggers memories of his past, prompting him to confront lingering regrets and reflect on life’s twists.

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Performed by a single actor who shifts between voices and characters, the play moves from humour to melancholy and back, exploring themes of nostalgia, identity, hope and the search for meaning. When: FromThursday, February 19, to Saturday, February 21, at 7.30pm and 8.45pm. Thursday, February 19, to Saturday, February 21, at 7.30pm and 8.45pm. Gregory Maqoma’s GENESIS: The Beginning and End of Time This show is a powerful dance opera that blends movement, live music, poetry and text into a visceral performance exploring the cycles of existence, creation and transformation.

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