Here’s a selection of what you can look forward to in the Central City this festive season.
15 to 16 December
Cape Town Natural Hair Fest
The Cape Town Natural Hair Fest is a market style event that brings together people with natural hair in celebration of natural beauty and acceptance of self.
Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre, 1 Lower Long St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R125 – R380
https://bit.ly/2Rxo24B
15 December
Mother City Queer Project Party
Kick off the festive season with the annual Mother City Queer Project (MCQP) costume party which has grown to become one of Africa’s biggest and longest running costumed parties. The theme for this year is Drag Race. Remember, MCQP is not just a dress-up party; it’s a place where people get together without judgement and express themselves as they want.
Where: Cape Town Stadium, Fritz Sonnenberg Rd
When: 19h00 till late
Cost: See www.quicket.co.za for various packages
www.mcqp.co.za
14 December 2018 to 15 January 2019
The Little Mermaid
The fairy tale of The Little Mermaid appeals to all ages, and Adam Sage’s telling of this captivating story will appeal to the whole family.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R150 – R200
www.artscape.co.za
19 to 22 December
Ella Fitzgerald: A Century in Song
Join Anna Davel, and Sima Mashazi in this swinging tribute to the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald, presenting songs that she made her own such as “I got rhythm”, “Can’t take that away from me”, “Cheek to cheek”, “Ain’t got that swing” and “Summertime”.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan St
When: 08h00
Cost: R120
www.artscape.co.za
20 December 2018 to 5 January 2019
Swing Time
Relive the past as you watch Cape Town City Ballet dancers performing to the music of the swinging 1930s.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R180 – R220
www.artscape.co.za
22 December
Unlearning
Fresh from performing on Britain’s prestigious Live at the Apollo and recording a Netflix special in Montreal, Canada, two-time Emmy-nominated South African comedian, Loyiso Gola, returns from travelling the world to bring his latest comedy offering, Unlearning. The show is meant to challenge societal norms and make individuals question everything they thought they knew about politics, race, history and more.
Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre, 1 Lower Long St
When: 08h00
Cost: R140 – R200
www.loyisogola.com
28 to 30 December
Nama Jazz 2018
Well known Cape Town-based band, TOPDOG SA, plans to take audiences on an indigenous journey with their third instalment of the Nama Jazz Series. The group will be drawing music from an ancient well and fuse it with modern Cape Jazz traditions and genres.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R80
www.artscape.co.za
Now on till 15 December
When in doubt, say darling
Pieter-Dirk Uys’ newest show, When in doubt say darling, sold out when it opened at the Fugard Studio Theatre in August this year, creating an unprecedented demand for tickets. The show now returns to the same venue due to popular demand. Be sure to join Pieter and other darlings on an exciting walk to the edge of the next cliff, when the end of the world seems nigh.
Where: The Fugard Theatre, Caledon St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R150
www.thefugard.com
Now on till 6 January 2019
Langarm
Produced and presented by Eric Abraham for the Fugard Theatre, Langarm is a story of love and intrigue set in the story-world of Cape Town’s ballroom dance culture in the 1960s. This musical by the award-winning David Kramer is performed in English.
Where: The Fugard Theatre, Caledon St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R150 – R260
www.thefugard.com
Now on till 3 January
Café Roux Sessions
Treat yourself to Café Roux Sessions and enjoy listening to some of the country’s biggest as well as new up-and-coming musicians and comedians in an intimate setting. Some of the acts to look forward to this festive season include Arno Carstens, The Kiffness, Jesse Clegg and Acoustic Element.
Where: Cafe Roux, 74 Shortmarket St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: See website www.caferouxsessions.co.za for various packages
www.caferouxsessions.co.za
Now on till 24 February 2019
The 2018 Fugard Bioscope World Arts Cinema Season Part 2
These bioscope screenings have proven very popular with record attendances since the first season in 2011. If you haven’t treated yourself to any of the screenings showcasing the world’s best theatre, opera and ballet, now is your chance to do so. The programme is a theatre-goer’s treat with a selection that includes Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet and festive-season favourite, The Nutcracker.
Where: The Fugard Theatre, Caledon St
When: 10h00 (Sundays)
Cost: R100
www.thefugard.com
Now on till 18 January 2019
Kewpie: Daughter of District Six
Gay & Lesbian Memory in Action (GALA) presents the personal photographic collection of Kewpie, whose given name was Eugene Fritz. Kewpie was part of a queer community in District Six from the 1950s to the early 1980s. The curated photographs and accompanying material explore Kewpie’s life and drag culture in District Six, introducing a new audience to a fascinating period of LGBTIQ+ social history, and deepening historical understanding of the diverse District Six community.
Where: District Six Museum Homecoming Centre, 15A Buitenkant St
When: 09h00 – 16h00
Cost: Free
www.gala.co.za
Now on till 15 January
Matilda The Musical
Inspired by the beloved book by the incomparable Roald Dahl, Matilda The Musical from the Royal Shakespeare Company is the story of an extraordinary little girl who, armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, dares to take a stand and change her own destiny.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R100 – R520
www.artscape.co.za
2 January
Tweede Nuwe Jaar
Building on the long tradition and legacy of Tweede Nuwe Jaar, which has been celebrated in the Cape for more than 110 years, minstrel troupes from areas across Cape Town will once again delight both locals and tourists in a massive and colourful parade.
Where: Rose, Wale, Adderley and Darling streets; watch press for details
When: 12h00 till 23h00
Cost: Free
www.facebook.com/kaapseklopsekarnivalasosiasie/
15 to 20 January 2019
Abdullah Ibrahim Solo Piano Concert Series
Following previous sold-out performances, Eric Abraham and The Fugard Theatre present a series of intimate solo piano concerts by South Africa’s most distinguished pianist and a world-respected musician Abdullah Ibrahim. Abdullah’s career spans nearly seventy years, which all began in Kensington and District Six at the age of seven.
Where: The Fugard Theatre, Caledon St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R220 – R290
www.thefugard.com
17 January 2019 to 9 February 2019
The Michael Jackson History Show
Celebrate the life and talent of the King of Pop, with this casino-class production featuring a live international band, fully choreographed dancers, authentic costumes and brilliant effects.
Where: Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan St
When: Depends on booking
Cost: R190 – R390
www.artscape.co.za
27 January 2019
Open Streets City Centre
Hosted by Open Streets Cape Town, in partnership with the City of Cape Town and the Transformative Urban Mobility Initiative (TUMI), Open Streets days celebrate streets as shared public spaces, and encourage people to think differently about how they move around the city. On the day, Bree Street will be closed off to cars and open for people to walk, skate, cycle, play, dance, explore, or just connect with friends and family in a safe, relaxed public space.
Where: Bree Street, Cape Town CBD
When: 09h00 to 14h00
Cost: Free
www.openstreets.org.za
REGULAR/LONGTERM EVENTS
First Thursday of every month
First Thursdays
On the first Thursday of every month, take an after-hours walk between the galleries, restaurants and shops in the Cape Town CBD and experience what our Central City has to offer during the leisure hours.
When: 17h00 till late
First Thursday of every month
www.first-thursdays.co.za
First Thursday of every month
Hope on Hopkins Gin & Tonic Tasting
Hosted by Bootlegger Coffee Company on every first Thursday of the month, Hope on Hopkins Gin & Tonic Tasting offers information about the distilling process, the history of gin and what makes gin “gin”, guiding guests through a curated tasting of three different styles of gin and tonics and what makes them different.
Cost: Free (seats are limited to 20 people and bookings via Cara at marketing@bootlegger.co.za are essential)
Where: Bootlegger Coffee Company, 50 Harrington Street
When: 18h00
Every Thursday
Earth Fair Food Market
Where: upper St Georges Mall (Wale St side)
When: 11h00 till 15h00
www.earthfairmarket.co.za
Saturdays
Story time for kids
Where: The Book Lounge, 71 Roeland St
When: 11h00
Cost: Free
www.booklounge.co.za
For regularly updated event info, visit City Views on Facebook.
Images by artscape.co.za (Matilda The Musical), www.thefugard.com (The Fugard Theatre)