Surprises. The unexpected. The unforeseen. If these words fill you with dread then Play Things is not for you. Play Things is a platform for the odd, the eclectic, the unpredictable. It's an open-mic night of multiple genres and styles... we have poetry and comedy, drama and dancing, film and shenanigans. What will you see this time? 

Play Things is the Alexander Bar’s monthly experimental space for performers both established and up-and-coming to showcase anything they might be “playing” around with.

To be involved with Play Things please visit our website.

Audience Responses

Entertaining Mon evening. I especially remember the dancer in the retro fifties outfit-and out of it!! Unfortunately,the memory of "Harry Potter and the half-blood poo"-is one that just refuses to go away. Also enjoyed the presentation on Fresnaye ...as a visitor to Cape Town-it was both informativeand amusing.

Didn't know what to expect and very pleasantly surprised! Expect us again some time soon.

Hi, I really like the concept of Play things, its a wonderful platform. I thought that the first two performances were very weak and disappointingly amateur. I understand though that this kind of event will hold all kinds of content. I really hope Play Things continues and grows!

Excellent as always.

Play Things is a very important platform for artists, writers, poets, occasional drunk ranting and all the awesome things cape town has to offer. It is a awesome space to share and learn from everyone.

Really awesome event, please keep it coming! Ever expanding, love seeing all these hidden gems of Cape Town in such an awesome venue. Great vibe, awesome talent and stunning venue.

Tape hiss and sparkle are awesome; the poetry was lovely but should've been a smaller selection poems read slower and with some time to soak it in; Get krakken is HILARIOUS. The zombie thing was hard to appreciate without more context and the Black Lung were a bit too aggro for my taste.

PLAYTHINGS is a great idea as a teaser. Last nite there was just that something missing! Monologue was brilliant, wanted more! The end singer a superb talent! Not sure about the burlesque - too teen girlie movie? The movies were kind of out of sinc last nite and I do enjoy any visual art form. I just enjoyed Carrie the movie, but the vampire was over the top - the audience reaction was non-plussed! Here's to the next Playthings.

Last night was possibly one of the best shows I've seen at Alexander Bar. I really enjoyed the relaxed and interactive environment that was created. It was so evident that the audience was having a great time, and the quality of the performances was outstanding! Considering the cheap ticket price the acts were unbelievably impressive. Thank you!

Absolutely loved it!! Great mix. We want to buy the last singers cd!!! First time at Alexander Bar- nearly stayed at home but delighted to find a gem in the city on a cold winters night. We will be back.

Fantastic LineUp! Maybe the evening went on a bit too long.

Just amazing!!

Don't allow comedians to perform in such a small venue - it's awkward. For them. :)

Very well-balanced program - only wished for more!

As always Play Things provides a smorgasbord of delights. The highlight of this week's offering was without a doubt Lady Aria Gray .

Really enjoyed the acts. I will be coming again.

T'was a great one.

Really great, and varied. I hope to see more like this.

Like "Apocalypse Now" but with pretty girls in polka dot dresses and Keevy as Colonel Kurtz.

So fuuuuuun!

I really enjoyed the performances. I am hopeful that with more exposure your venue will grow to become better than Ted Talk. For now I can only honestly give you a 3star rating but I will definitely be visiting your venue more often.

Hi, I enjoyed the diversity and creativity of the artist. We have such talented performers and creators. Keep up the Play Things nights, you will definitely get my support again. Thank you to all

Very enjoyable- great variety and well chosen (and for the most part, very talented) acts - thank you!

Really enjoyed the little titbits, and if something was not to my liking I knew it would only last a short while. Great show.

My husband and i visited the Alexander Bar for the first time last night. 'Playthings' was a thoroughly absorbing show. Great variety, very smoothly run, very appealing format. All the performers gave of their best. They were uniformly courageous. We will definitely attend another show like it.

Callum Tillbury is fabulous. So fabulous. Dirty Laundry was really impressive, couldn't believe they only just got the scripts. Great times were had, a really fun atmosphere.

5 out of 5! such great variety in the acts an all were top notch!

It was very cool. It was my first time there and I was supremely impressed. I thoroughly enjoyed all the acts, especially the bands. I will definitely come again, hopefully even to the next one. I find it is the perfect environment for artists to come and cut their teeth.

PLAYTHINGS is a great idea as a teaser. Last nite there was just that something missing! Monologue was brilliant, wanted more! The end singer a superb talent! Not sure about the burlesque - too teen girlie movie? The movies were kind of out of sinc last nite and I do enjoy any visual art form. I just enjoyed Carrie the movie, but the vampire was over the top - the audience reaction was non-plussed! Here's to the next Playthings.

The Proboscis Prophecies, and Christopher McArthur & Donna Cormack-Thomson were my favourite. But really great selection overall!

PLAYTHINGS is a great idea as a teaser. Last nite there was just that something missing! Monologue was brilliant, wanted more! The end singer a superb talent! Not sure about the burlesque - too teen girlie movie? The movies were kind of out of sinc last nite and I do enjoy any visual art form. I just enjoyed Carrie the movie, but the vampire was over the top - the audience reaction was non-plussed! Here's to the next Playthings.

get those safety wires put round your spot lights !!!!

Loved the variety, professionalism and originality. Totally awesome.

Absolutely loved it!! Great mix. We want to buy the last singers cd!!! First time at Alexander Bar- nearly satyed at home but delighted to find a gem in the city on a cold winters night. We will be back.

The venue is awesome, the Gluevine hot and spicy, the company I was with even hotter and spicier and the shows were all very good. Two stand out, the black lady (sorry, really am, to have describe someone by their skin colour but I have no other reference besides to say maybe the beautiful young and very well spoken woman who revealed to us the story of her (ex)lover, his dispise of MacDonald's and the lack of any after-shave - yes, fuck him for that!) and the other the guy who read back quite a disturbing story of the middle-aged white woman in a psych ward. The rape scene disturbed us both a little and the lady sitting just two chairs down from me was visibly upset, her friend consoling her. This is however what theatre is, it is there to stir emotions and in both these performers this was executed very well. Thank you for the show, am sure we will be back again.

I loved the variety of music and theatre represented in the show. The Stone Jets were absolutely incredible, was very moved by their performance.

I found great and inspiring. Refreshing approach. Being from overseas we are pretty spoiled when it comes to theater. You could ask for a little bit more money either or (think that could be a better idea) let people download the pieces on youtube or vimeo. For the last one you can ask people to donate to the project. Pitty I havent / could not remember any of the names of the participants. I talked to one of them and exchanged some ideas. But who was she? In short, at least put in the website afterwoods. You guys are smart enough to do that. You have all the emailaddresse. Send everyone a.link. Want me to go on? alex.sijmonsma@gmail.com lots of success

BSa and ?Gavin? and team were good. Gavin's voice is great and he has a wonderful/natural stage personality. I loved the Metrorail skit, my type of humour. I could not hear/understand Liam clearly, so I lost a lot. ABSheba and Dirty Words were not quite to my taste - but then that's my taste's fault. Malcolm

great diverse sunday entertainment

Thoroughly enjoyed it -- depending on how many acts there are, perhaps there could be an interval?

Such a fun night. Love the concept and the atmosphere.

It was incredible

I loved absolutely everything and will be back for more.