Show Archive
Browse and search the archive of shows and events presented at Alexander Bar from Oct 2012 (when the theatre opened) to August 2019.
Stuart Lightbody - Burn My Hands
When a spectator stares at a magicians hands and won't look away, magicians say that "he was burning my hands". Well now you're invited to gaze unblinkingly on the hands of sleight of hand artist Stuart Lightbody, as he takes you on a surreal journey into wonder and magic. This Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award winning magician just got a
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Bal-Oog en Brommel | Moord In Ixiastraat
Based on the Graphic Novel "Bal-Oog en Brommel: Moord In Ixiastraat", this hilarious detective story is told in comic book style that will take you on an exciting roller-coaster journey with the lovable duo of Bal-Oog and Brommel.Who murdered Kobus? What lies behind the murder? Bal-Oog and Brommel decide to investigate. When Boltjie – Bal-Oog's dog – gets a sniff
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Escape: The Ingrid Jonker Suite
A much-loved figure in South African poetry, Ingrid Jonker’s body of work, though small, continues to speak volumes decades after her death. She delicately and beautifully captured lust, love, heartbreak, anger and the fabric of everyday life in her poems. Composer and vocalist Nicky Schrire sets André Brink and Antjie Krog's English translations of a selection of Jonker’s works to
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The Woman with a Baby on her Back
This adaptation of Athol Fugard's riveting short story 'To whom it must concern' portrays the impact a tragic event has on the life and psyche of a Karoo train driver, Roelf Visagie. During the hour long one man play, Roelf and other characters share with the audience their unique perceptions of the same incident. The play is presented in a
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Deceptive Delights with Stuart Lightbody
Winner of the Standard Bank Ovation Award at the National Arts Festival in South Africa (2018), Stuart brings his deceptive delights to Cape Town for three nights only. In this fascinating performance of sleight of hand magic Stuart Lightbody delves into a world of impossible wonders and unexpected adventures, inspired by his travels around the world. From the winner of
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Mandragora Circus
Mandragora circus is a wordless theatre performance where two clowns tell a story of comedy and love in which dialogue is visible without words. Circus stunts, music and unconventional instruments weave the acts of this play together where gestures are the only thing that allows the audience to imagine situations, conflicts and solutions in a delicate story for all audiences.
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James Grace’s Guitar Hero 2
Acclaimed guitarist and two-time SAMA nominee James Grace makes a welcome return to the Alexander Bar with his debut production of Guitar Hero 2. Following on from Grace’s nationwide sold-out Guitar Hero shows in 2016, Guitar Hero 2 continues to showcase the most popular guitar-based songs and melodies from the 20th Century, drawing on a variety of playing techniques from
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ImproGuise presents: The 7th Annual Improv Fest
The ImproGuise guys, Cape Town’s best-loved and longest running improv troupe, are delighted and excited to bring their 7th annual improv festival to their favourite theatre, the Alexander Bar. This year ImproGuise will be performing a mix of improv formats from the most popular, TheatreSports, to outrageous musical mayhem in Tribute. Every show is totally different, guaranteeing an hour of
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Over There
“I found you. You’re here. And I was over there. But now I’m over here. I’m here. You are my brother. I love you.” When Franz’s mother escaped to the West Berlin with one of her identical twin boys, she left the other behind. Now, 25 years later, Karl crosses the border in search of his other half. As history
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A (Sorta) Love Story
The award-winning ROLSKA Productions presents the romantic comedy cabaret sensation: A (Sorta) Love Story. Studded with musical theatre favourites by the likes of Cole Porter, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim, the show will have your toes tapping as it looks at love from all angles. Timeless classics include I Get A Kick Out of You, Some Enchanted Evening, A
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Every Beautiful Thing
From the team behind the acclaimed ‘A Girl Called Owl’ comes a story about two sisters. A play about silence and noise. About waiting. About old habits, blood bonds, miracles and spare parts. A play about the strange, powerful moments that carve into memory like water through sand. Susan is adopted. Katelyn is her younger sister – the miracle baby.
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London-Paris-Roam!
She's jived in Japan, indulged in Italy, feasted in France… and suddenly woken up to find she's now a woman of a certain age. When you have to sit down to put your tights on, it's obviously time to take stock. So what's the next move, Sarah?Gay Paree has been magnifique but maybe it's time for a change?In this funny and
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The Heroin Diaries
Craig is a heroin dealer. At 34 he’s been a using drug addict for 20 years and finally his lifestyle is catching up to him. He is planning to check out quietly, the way he always knew he would, by overdose. But when young Leila arrives at his flat searching for her own oblivion, he is given one last chance
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I LOVE YOU SALLY FIELD
Evan doesn't care much about anything, Beverly cares a lot about herself and Stefan just needs someone to care about him. A bittersweet comedy about three friends in their twenties navigating the 'scene' in Cape Town, growing up and growing a conscience. Also there is considerable mention of Sally Field.Wessel Pretorius debuts with his first full length English production I
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Let's Get Quizzical
Who? What? When? How? Why are you shouting answers at me? Oh, it's because I'm the quiz master and have all kinds of drinkable prizes for the rightest of the righteous. Am I using those words right? Actually, don't answer that question. There will be others soon. And they will be a lot harder. So strap your smarty-pants on over your
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The Pitch
When the Afropol Corporation decides to commission a new musical about Africa, they make the mistake of employing the “talents” of Aria Grey and Gary Gershwin, two washed-up theatrical has-beens desperate to make a quick buck. Forget Lion King, forget Sarafina 1, 2 and 3! THE PITCH is a new pseudo-musical-super-comedy about corruption, greed, and what happens when capitalism meets
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An Audience with Miss Hobhouse
Director Christopher Weare's production of Tony Jackman's one-hander with Lynita Crofford in her Fleur du Cap Award-nominated role as Emily Hobhouse, whose efforts to make the British establishment grasp the injustices of their concentration camps during the Anglo-Boer War ring familiar alarm bells today. Crofford, in a performance that has won her many standing ovations, embodies both the stern passion
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XX
XX. Kiss kiss… Part dance, part cabaret, part revue, XX is a naughty little rendezvous about our most intimate of acts: the kiss. Sister team Tara and Cleo Notcutt bring together four of Cape Town’s sassiest performers to Cape Town’s most intimate venue for your viewing pleasure. Pour yourself a drink, and join us in the dark for a little glitz, a
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Ashes
Presented by the award-winning Rust Co-Operative, Ashes is a hard-hitting two-hander chronicling the life of a young gay man through the eyes of six characters. It explores his small-town upbringing, his entrance into adulthood and the excitement and thrill of first love. A sudden, violent event ruptures the world of the characters, forcing them to pick up the pieces in
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Laced
A case too intriguing to pass up. He desperately tries to keep himself detached from her... “Don’t believe. Don’t trust. Always maintain a high index of suspicion". But soon he's unable to discern truth from manipulation, foresight from delusion and gift from illness. Fact, laced with fiction…?Jared Musiker and Lee van der Merwe dance the line of real and imagined
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Sweet Phoebe by Michael Gow
Written by award-winning Australian playwright Michael Gow, Sweet Phoebe is a superb dark comedy in which sensible priorities are forgotten, marriage is laid bare and a well adjusted suburban lifestyle lurches out of control.From the director Paul Griffiths comes an award winning play - Sweet Phoebe by Michael Gow. Most notable as the play that launched the international career of
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Marsha: The Beginning of the End
There is only an hour left until the Taking, where life as we know it will end for Marshini and Marshinini. They will be taken to Mars to meet their master, Marsha. As David Bowie says, “Is there Life on Mars?” They say “yes, yes there is”. A satirical comedy about an extra-terrestrial cult.
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ZOMBIE ATTACK
The TERROR! … the terror of being called in front of the class. Hypercreative Gaëtan stretches this all too familiar moment-in-time into an apocalyptic zombie nightmare. Schmid is back at his best; furiously miming to a thrilling soundtrack of 101 movies… all without leaving his little chair.To all movie fans out there: this one is for you!To all non-movie fans:
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The Open Couple
The Open Couple is a comedy about sexual politics in marriage. The play is centred on an extended argument between a husband who enjoys an array of partners and his wife who wants him for herself. Despite reaching a mutual agreement about living in an open relationship, they find themselves faced with unexpected complications when their passion for each other
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Blues in the Night - On Broadway
Following their recent sold out success at Suidoosterfees – songstress Louise Howlett returns to the Alexander Bar with a new set of Blues in the Night – this time from Broadway - taking a sultry journey through the 30’s era of Harold Arlen to staples from Legrand and Lloyd Webber to the new era of Jason Robert Brown and Alice
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David Bowie Reworked
The 2018 Cape Town Baroque Festival presents ‘David Bowie Reworked’, featuring works from David Bowie’s heyday, conceptually reimagined as baroque compositions. The music is arranged by Stellenbosch based composer Jan-Hendrik Harley and performed by Ensemble Je Ne Comprends Pas on original baroque instruments.Having been dubbed the “Chameleon of Rock” and a master of reinvention, it felt that the only natural approach
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The Mating Game
The Mating Game returns to Alexander Bar, where it had its first run under the title BODY LANGUAGE 2: The Mating game.Everything. Everything we think. Everything we do, we do it with one sole purpose in mind: Mating. Getting laid. SEX. Socially correct it might be not, but procreation is our ultimate goal. Says who? We do. And more specifically:
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Vacancy
Gavin and Eleanor live on the fourth floor, across the street from a park. Eleanor likes French music, her Ginseng Ficus bonsai tree, "Ginny" and re-reading her favourite books in the park. She lives with a girl she found on Gumtree. Gavin likes Nik-Naks and listening to his neighbour's music through the walls. He lives with his best friend -
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Gruesome Playground Injuries
Presented by arrangement with DALRO (Pty) Limited, Rajiv Joseph’s Gruesome Playground Injuries makes it’s South African debut! Directed by Tara Notcutt, Gruesome Playground Injuries will run at The Alexander Bar for a limited run of 9 performances. Over the course of 30 years, the lives of Kayleen (Candice Bernstein) and Doug (Matt Newman) intersect at the most bizarre intervals, leading the
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Lady Sings the Blues
Back by popular demand!Enjoy some old school standards as this Trio of well-known musicians celebrate the songs of the legendary women of Blues & Jazz: from golden era performers like Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Holiday, Nina Simone and Sarah Vaughan, to modern songbrids Eva Cassidy, Norah Jones & Adelle. These women have all shared their stories, uniting women around the world
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THE SISTERS UGLY
From the creator of the critically acclaimed, ‘Rose Red’, comes the sequel – The Sisters Ugly – The other Side of the Cinderella Story from the perspective of the Ugly Sisters. It debuted at the 2017 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown 2017, it also featured at the Cape Town Fringe Festival in September 2017. Dramatic, witty and thought provoking, we
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C'est Bizarre
C’est Bizarre Cabaret is an hour of pure entertainment. Delicious characters bring magic, music and silliness in this soiree of dysfunctional delight. Comedy magician and actor Charles Tertiens, of Karl Ahari and cabaret hit show Madame Zingara fame, has teamed up with Ghia Koch-Human, songstress and cabaret character wiz, for this new show of surprises, thrills and laughter.
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Johnny Boskak is Feeling Funny
Where does Johnny Boskak fit in the ‘new South Africa’? Is he a white trash dinosaur? Or is he the last cowboy hero in boots and blue jeans? What we know is that he’s on the road, looking for love, redemption, an AK47 and the quickest way out of Secunda…“Johnny Boskak evokes the seemingly-effortless perfection you find in works such
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Stuart Lightbody's Little Lies
Just back from Fringe World Australia. This show contains some of his very favorite wonders from his performances at Amsterdam Fringe, Prague Fringe, Brighton Fringe, Cape Town Fringe, Grahamstown Fringe and Adelaide Fringe. Plus some brand new impossibilities!
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Vittorio's Secret
Vittorio Leonardi has taken it upon himself to reveal the immortal secret of relationships... as soon as he finds a lady to tell him what it is.After 15 years in stand-up comedy, few of them knowing the love of a woman, he has had plenty time to build up desperation, loneliness and depression.He's also fixated on the relationships between the
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Improv Comedy with The Long Shots
Long Form Improv Comedy performed by The Long Shots!They’ll be making it up on the spot…come see a series of Improvised scenes and stories inspired by audience suggestions.The Long Shots will be performing two specific formats over the 4 nights at the Alexander Bar, see below for more details.Everything is improvised - no planning, no script - just the comedy
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Around the World in 60 minutes with James Grace - Guitar
Acclaimed guitarist and two-time SAMA nominee James Grace makes a welcome return to the Alexander Bar with his award-winning production Around the World in 60 minutes. Following on from his sold-out Guitar Hero shows last year, Around the World in 60 Minutes explores the variety of styles in which the guitar is featured. From classical to flamenco, acoustic to blues
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HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr
Women in Tech Cape Town & Heather Massie Present the Return of the Hit Show HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr A True Story of Hollywood Glamour & Scientific Genius The Award-Winning, Critically-Acclaimed NYC Solo Show Written & Performed by Heather Massie "Captivating!" -- The Huffington Post "Hedy Lamarr, glamorous siren of the silver screen, was more than
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Inherent End
A cheeky, tender, mixed-up play about misplaced affection. How do our early experiences define us forever? Part confession, part comedy, and part scientific treatise, Inherent End questions how we affect each other, how we alter each other and how we pass on the experiences we received at the hands of others. Stacey is only 11 but she is learning about
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Rose Red
Rose Red is the well-known fairy tale of Snow White turned on its head, as told through the eyes of the Evil Queen. Aimed at adults, this musical production is a wickedly fun, original and moving take on her story. It is cleverly woven together with light-hearted comedy and popular songs from Tori Amos, Annie Lennox and Brandi Carlile to
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Shimmy Isaacs: Untitled
Life has changed tremendously for Shimmy, from casting-going actress comedian to REQUEST ACTRESS COMEDIAN. She has overcome models, commercials and even bread-eating to become South Africa's most beloved Comedian Actress. "Shimmy Isaacs: Untitled" explores Shimmy Isaacs' journey to a new body with an old face.
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Adapt or Fly
Pieter-Dirk Uys started his career of one-man shows with Adapt or Dye in 1981. Now thirty-five years later adapting is still a necessity, while flying is a choice. This a one-man show in which the master of political satire sends up political figures of the past and present. He will take you on a familiar long walk to freedom, through
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You Had Me At Sabbatical
The Long Shots take audience suggestions to play out hilarious on the spot comedy improv - scene after scene blowing you away with their quick, witty scenes, characters and convoluted plots.
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Blurred Lines
Deception Artist Greg Gelb is an experienced magician and sleight-of-hand artist, performing his magic all across Cape Town. His new show Blurred Lines takes the audience on a magical and mysterious experience where the lines of reality and magic are woven together. Greg uses his experience, psychology and his bubbly personality to entertain and amaze his audiences. Be prepared to
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The Long Shots Improv Comedy
Long Form Improv Comedy performed by The Long Shots!We'll be making it up on the spot... all of it! No Scripts!Improvised scenes and stories inspired by a specific theme or format.Two different formats will be performed over the 4 nights at the Alexander Bar. Please check our facebook group for more details on which formats will be performed on which
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Crossing the Line
Do you hate your job? Ever fantasise about doing something different, maybe something exotic or even xxx? Crossing the Line invites you to meet Shayne, a greying 40-something Londoner whose job has most of the attributes of any other,- long hours, tiring work, varying levels of satisfaction and sometimes interesting (though mostly annoying) clientele. By allowing the audience to follow
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One Man and a Pack of Cards
Stuart's been working on some cutting edge "just might be crazy enough to work" card magic, and needs a spot to try out his latest inventions. But don't worry, these new demonstrations of sleight of hand and psychology will be mixed in with some of his favourite pieces from his last 6 one man shows. The result will be an
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Body Language II: the Mating Game
After ‘Body Language’ SOLD OUT 5 years ago, Gaëtan Schmid is back with more fascinating revelations in this high octane physical comedy. A journey spanning 400˙000 years of human evolution, exploring our (sometimes very confusing) mating rituals and hidden non-verbal messaging. A must see for the sake of the survival of our species!Press for Body Language: “solo tour de force”“Strange …
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