Show Archive

Palmer and Pauling perform in this gritty, rich and entirely gripping noir tale of two Chicago police officers whose inner need to serve and protect both consumes them and rips them apartKeith Huff's award-winning hit Broadway play “A Steady Rain” takes the audience on a gripping, relentless journey. Using razor-sharp story-telling, writer Keith Huff weaves the perspectives of two Chicago

Three writers, two actors, make an anthology of short plays on the theme 'A Change in the Weather'.Jon Keevy's Bullet Point an enigmatic package throws two con artists into a tight spot.In Nicholas Spagnoletti's Drowned Bride, a best man and a bride find themselves at the bottom of the Atlantic, dead, after the wedding went horribly wrong.And there's Louis Viljoen's

Fresh from a colonic, drag star Lilly Slaptsilli celebrates an extended run of her hit solo show Shenanigans. She's hauling her heels upstairs along with lipstick, trilogy, tiaras, parody and pantyhose from the top drawer. Whether you’re an avid fan of drag shows or have yet to experience one, the hostess of humour with a licence to lip-sync will pull

From famous to homeless to fearless! The musical memoir of Jervis Pennington is a truly original performance from a superb storyteller and world class songwriter with razor-sharp wit. “It’s a hellofa story!....and powerful songwriting.”  - David Kramer at the Cape Town Fringe“Emotionally overwhelming… and Jervis should be in stand-up comedy!” - Robyn Cohen, The Cape Times“Brilliant Leonard Cohen-esque style folk songs!”

POPArt Productions proudly present from the writer of The Epicene Butcher & El Blanco: Tales of the Mariachi UNFAIR LADY  12 hysterical new stories in a hilarious and sometimes scathing attack on the women's magazine industry with all its fallacies, inconsistencies and general nonsense.   

“Cohen – A Tribute” is an exploration of the life and works of the late Leonard Cohen. It features his music and poetry interspersed with anecdotes from his life and other literary writings. You can expect early hits such as Suzanne and So long Maryanne, the haunting Famous Blue Raincoat and Who By Fire?, lighter works such as Tower of

Annetjie de Vries sit op die lughawe en wag vir haar vlug na Amsterdam. Langs haar slaap/“trip” haar enigste vertroosting, ‘n troetelmarmot “Joachim,” op ‘n oordosis Rescue Remedy. Na jare se verwaarlosing deur haar gesin besluit Annetjie om van voor af te begin en vir ‘n slag op haar eie terme te leef. Die vlug is vertraag en Annetjie het

A musical comedy of devilish delight.Poor Jonny? BANG! Recently deceased Jonny finds himself in limbo… his own game show where scenes from his life are replayed with purgatorial relish. Has Jonny been a good boy? Not from the looks of things…“A funny story about an ‘80’s TV reality game show in purgatory. Great original songs performed by three hugely talented

Winner of a 2018 Standard Bank Ovation Award, Contagious Theatre’s newest production, Silkworm, is an evocative exploration of the ordinary things that make life extraordinary. The story is told to us through the eyes of the at once gregarious and socially awkward Georgina. Georgina is about to have the single most important day of her life. On this day, she

Two small-town sisters, Cobalize and Jacomine, "klap the sokkietreffers" and discuss the finer points of braai etiquette and casual alcoholism as they navigate the harsh realities of flame-grilling, hard chilling and finding a guy whose first name is not also a surname. While navigating their way through life – without getting bogged down by constraints such as rules and common

A man and a woman sit opposite each other in the detached intimacy of a train compartment. They have never met. He is a world famous author; she is the ardent admirer of his work. She carries his latest book in her bag. Silence...This play is a literary masterpiece, written by the Tony Award-winning Yasmina Reza. Touching, funny and poignant,

50 Shades of Fairytales: the non-political(ly correct) Song Revue (No Zuma, no Trump, no kids….unless you want 'em to grow up to be gun-wielding, lace-wearing feminists. The girls too!”)We start learning about fairytales and happily-ever-after before we can even walk. Then we grow up. Some of us wonder what ever happened to the fairytales and some of us, well... never believed

WHITE ELEPHANT is a study of contemporary South African malaise, framed by the story of Issy and Ma: a mother and daughter who each seek, in their own peculiar way, to do the impossible and kindle a future from the dying embers of their past.

Read the 5 star review from Cape Argus July 8th 2014 here.The Story...Marion Taylor, a forty-nine year old academic, attends the National Arts Festival every year to give her talk on creative writing. Her lecture, The Road Trip, focusing on journeys and their symbols in fiction, is particularly popular, and the reason she keeps getting invited back onto the Thinkfest.

Come sparkle into 2016 with Ed & Nick and the gang at Alex Bar's New Year's Eve party. Tickets are limited to avoid discomfort. Your entrance fee gets you an expanded aperitivo buffet and the parlour room will be transformed into a boutique dance floor with sparkly tunes from mystery DJ Stockings. The MCC will be flowing and the bar

This one man play is a stage adaptation of Athol Fugard's riveting short story 'To whom it MUST concern'. It portrays the quest of a Karoo train driver, after his life is derailed by a tragic event. The play was awarded the Patrick Mynhardt prize for best production at the Fugard Festival (Richmond).

Ottoman Slap brings you melodies from the mountains of Al-Andalus, rhythms from the Middle East and dance from the sands of the Sahara… right to the foothills of Table Mountain. Come enjoy this feast of flavours ranging from sultry to sublime as this unlikely troupe takes you on a trip down the road less travelled!

Come and revel in award winning wonder as Stuart Lightbody shares some of his favorite pieces from his last seven one-man shows (and a couple of brand new ideas). He promises that you're pretty much bound to like something from them. I mean these shows have been nominated for the Australian Fringe World Festival's Theatre Award three times, and their

One of Athol Fugard's most profound works, a powerful and moving family drama.Set in the 1960s against a gritty Port Elizabeth, Hello and Goodbye tells the story of two dirt poor white South Africans, an estranged brother and sister who meet again after twelve years. Johnny's older sister Hester hears news of their father's failing health and returns home to

Within a two year period that coincided with his thirtieth birthday, Lebogang Mogashoa moved countries, lost a parent, and changed careers. He insisted that he was fine; all he needed was chardonnay, an entire carrot cake and a good night’s sleep - every single day. Until he was mugged at gun point just before his thirty-first birthday. He suddenly found

Kafka’s Ape is a solo performance adaptation of Franz Kafka’s ‘A Report To An Academy’ about a primate’s struggle to overcome the confines of captivity. The play engages in an allegorical observation of the South African society through the eyes of other; the ape Red Peter. In 2015 it won a Silver Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival.A

In a secure suburb in the South, in the early morning hours a woman suffocating from status anxiety sits enclosed by electric fences, surrounded by roll on lawn, tucked behind a Trellidoor and protected by private security. In a street lulled by lavender and deaf to her warnings of pot plant syndicates, bin day conspiracies and stranger danger, she reveals

Brought to you by the creators of the cult hit "Father, Father. Father!", Robaby Productions proudly presents KIDCASINO! This award-winning team take you on a surreal and satirical exploration of the underbelly of Casino Culture, the obsession with winning and the endless indulgence of compulsive gambling. Described by The Critter as a ‘glitter horror show’, this dark comedy promises to

The Kingmakers follows a group of opposition-party strategists as they attempt to place a neutral party member in contention for leadership. After an internal power struggle leaves them out in the cold and on the fringes of the party, they come up with a plan to shape a seemingly ambition-less, but well-respected politician into a leader. With the help of

A popular sports hero accused of murdering her partner, must give the performance of her life to secure her freedom, and YOU the public will decide if she walks or if she hangs. The NETWORK presents Public City, the legal game show that gives justice back to the people. Set in the future when the legal system has become an afterthought,

“Do you remember? Under the tree, just the two of us? Our feet in the sun? Solange?”Jean Genet’s classic text is brought to life in this intimate, seductive, contemporary staging. Two sisters and maids, two lowly outcasts (Pretorius and Viviers), perform a daily sacred ceremony in which they turn the tables on their Madame (Haiden) in an attempt to become

"Last Rounds". The return.It's still 2am. The final bell for last orders has been rung. The Hopeless / Modern Romantic sits in the dark bar, swilling her whiskey, watching the door for him. She’s just a girl, sitting in a bar, waiting for a boy...Back Upstairs after a sell out season in May, "Last Rounds" is a biting look at

All’s Well That Ends Well is a hilarious new comedy panel-show that takes a sideways look at world history. Join host, MJ Phillip, as he guides two teams of comedians on a journey into the many weird and humorous chapters of history.From the dancing plague of 1518, to John F Kennedy’s coconut, to Peter the Great’s trained bear waiters, we

Five very different bridesmaids find themselves hiding together in an upstairs bedroom, hoping to escape the wedding reception of a bride that, they soon realize, none of them actually like! There's Meredith, the rebellious little sister of the bride; Frances, the very religious cousin; Mindy, the groom's blunt and clumsy sister; Georgeanne, an old  friend with problems of her own;

Bette Midler started off singing in bathhouses and went on to fill stadiums. Her charm, talent and humility raise her above other divas and secure her place in many people's hearts which is exactly why we are selling tickets to a tribute show. Join Lucy Tops as a luckless and desperate diva discovering the reasons why Bette's music has the

It's 2am. The barman has called last rounds. The Romantic sits in the corner, stirring her whiskey with a straw, watching the door, waiting for him to arrive... "Half Leeg" features Cintaine Schutte, who's just a girl, waiting in a bar, for.... well, that's the question. It is an Afrikaans translation of "Last Rounds", originally created with Rebecca Makin-Taylor. 

The ‘Virgin’ and the ‘Whore’. Two waitresses prepare themselves for another nauseating night on the battlefields of Horrifying Hospitalica! Armed with toothpick, their razor-sharp wit, and ripe, suck-able tits, they don their aprons, hoist their fishnets and limber up to perform In Whorefish Bloomers! An adaptation of Pam-Grant and Stannard's underground 1980s feminist ‘cabaret’. Two young Cape Town actresses take on

Ménage à Trois is a new, boundary pushing, performance event celebrating everything that is risque and taboo about burlesque. From the erotic to the political, Menage a Trois provides a space for performers and audiences to revel in the provocative, the piquante and the progressive. Three of Cape Town’s favorite burlesque babes (with a few extra special guest stars) bring

Gary Thomas returns to Alexander Upstairs for TWO NIGHTS ONLY.Ground- breaking Math Folk musician Gary Thomas returns to the Alexander Bar Theatre in December! Currently planning a new European tour and working on a new record, this one man band is something truly remarkable to witness live. He is unlike any guitarist/ singer in South Africa. Don't miss out!

The play is set in Frankie’s cramped Hell’s Kitchen apartment, here Frankie and Johnny have repaired after a satisfactory first date. But after satisfying their mutual desires, they’re soon saddled with violently diverging ones. Frankie is ready to withdraw back into her comfortable cocoon of emotional reticence; she wants him out, five minutes ago. Johnny is ready to sing an

Lebogang tells hilarious stories. He survived North Korean bomb threats. He’s the one to call when you need help recovering from secret jaw-shaving cosmetic surgery. He knows which celebrity endorsed (urgh, Gwyneth) detox diet causes Martha Stewart hallucinations. And he knows what it's like to live inside a political campaign. Bring friends and all of your emotions to this show.

ImproGuise, Cape Town’s oldest and award winning improv troupe present their sixth, annual improv festival at their favourite theatre, The Alexander Theatre, upstairs. Five nights of completely different formats, some brand new and some old audience favourites. They are thrilled to be debuting their brand new format “The Big...” A sizzling hot Improvised Film Noir. They will also be bringing back

The Kreutzer Sonata adapted from the 1889 novella by Leo Tolstoy, which was inspired by Beethoven's sonata for piano and violin. On a train journey from the country to Moscow, Posdnicheff, a former court official of the Zemstvo, tells a gripping tale of love, lust, debauchery, marriage, jealousy and murder. The show premiered on the main at the 2014 National

She’s a bad bitch with snakes for hair and a glance that turns men to stone, but literally only gets two lines in most mythology textbooks. Basically, her Wikipedia needs a serious update.Ovation Award-winning Medusa Incarnate is a contemporary retelling of the Greek Medusa myth. Except, Medusa’s dead now and (spoiler alert!) so are you. Don’t panic - Medusa’s got

Niqabi Ninja is an avenging Superhero, born on the streets of Cairo, who is ready to seek out and avenge every single act of harassment she has experienced at the hands of men. She has a list, a record of injuries and a variety of punishments to mete out. Watch out men of Cairo. Niqabi Ninja has a score to

2 Fleur du Cap nominations -  Best SA script and Best Director!Brent Palmer’s hilarious comedy-drama “Bench” premièred at the Kalk Bay Theatre where it received consistently glowing reviews.“Bench” is directed by Michael Kirch; starring Adrian Collins and Brent Palmer as Hendry and Denver, two local petty thieves. Seated on a park bench, they are on the brink of their most

Extended by popular demand!In the competitive world of property development, two men go to extreme lengths to secure a lucrative real estate deal and to dig themselves out of a financial hole. As they wait for darkness to fall, the paranoia sets in and they find their ideals challenged, their morality shaken and their blood-lust slowly increasing. “The Frontiersmen” is

Come in. Sit down. Don't be boring. The Spinster has some stories for you. She's mad and wild and outrageously rude but, if you promise not to interrupt, she'll probably let you stay for a drink. Or seven. Drawing inspiration from the political satire of Franca Rame, Lecoq's 'Buffoon' and female archetypes, 'The Spinster' is a rowdy new play written

The ‘Virgin’ and the ‘Whore’. Two waitresses prepare themselves for another nauseating night on the battlefields of Horrifying Hospitalica! Armed with toothpick, their razor-sharp wit, and ripe, suck-able tits, they don their aprons, hoist their fishnets and limber up to perform In Whorefish Bloomers! An adaptation of Pam-Grant and Stannard's underground 1980s feminist ‘cabaret’. Two young Cape Town actresses take on

The Cenotaph of Dan Wa Moriri is a sensitive, finely crafted biographic play about Daniel Rasenga Miyambo. A unique, collaborative journey about adolescence, love, loss, grief, memory, and intimacy which unfolds through a personal narrative about a father-son relationship cut too short. Exploring an intimate father-son relationship recalled and reconstructed through memory, remembered moments from the past, fading images captured

Three writers, two actors, and one director come together to create an anthology of three new short plays on the theme 'After the End'.Alexander Upstairs loves new writing and Anthology is a platform for writers to play with style and material. For 'After the End' Spagnoletti lifts the lid on a vicious rivalry in 'abreast', Keevy makes politics personal in

Sarah and Richard lead a perfectly balanced married life in the suburbs. Richard leaves for work every day as a respectable businessman. He agrees not to return before six so that Sarah can enjoy her lover after lunch. He visits a prostitute in this time. But there is a flaw. When Richard suggests the four of them meet, the role

Part of POPUpstairs 2017POPUpstairs is  partnership between POPArt and The Alexander Bar aimed at facilitating the touring and exchange of awesome productions between Joburg and Cape Town. In the officious letter from the SA government, Zara learns that documents once sealed and implicating her father in an act which was committed against the anti-apartheid movement decades earlier, will soon be released