Litnet

"Hier is ’n Nuwejaarsgeskenk aan alle LitNet-lesers. Klik hier om vier gratis toneelstukke af te laai en te lees. Die tekste van hierdie vier eenmanvertonings ('one man shows') sal jou aan vroeëre tye herinner, jou laat wonder en jou hoop gee. Ons is hier, ten spyte van alles!"

Following a record-breaking run in Johannesburg, The Nutcracker comes to Cape Town in February 2026 for seven performances only.

"In the end, I hoped to create a show that honours Andersen’s emotional truth while offering a version of the story that feels honest, contemporary and welcoming to a 2025 South African audience."

For November’s play reading, we’re delving into Love in the time of Labarang Hajj by Tasneem Daniels.  The evening will include a table read of the play by actors, followed by a discussion of the work. The discussion will be led by Melanie O’Connor Horn and a panel of experts. Input from the audience is most welcome! 

"What would Nick Cave do?" Conrad Jamneck, beloved festival director and sound engineer, delves into his lifelong relationship with Nick Cave’s music and writing. A Nick Cave affair – produced by Jamneck and featuring James Smith, Jake Gunn, Anjulie Nock and a special appearance by Andra – will be performed at the PJ Olivier Art Centre in Stellenbosch on 21 November 2025.

"The world of Cats is truly immersive, and the illusion of talented humans portraying these delightful feline characters will hopefully be more than enough to hold the audiences’ attention for a few hours of theatrical magic."

"What an interesting and peaceful place. There is a strange quiet about this city that caught me off guard. It almost feels as if one is walking in an old movie set in a studio mimicking a city."

"The rural Western Cape town of Porterville came alive on 23 and 24 September with the second iteration of the Purple Mountain Heritage Day Festival, a free, 36-hour celebration of heritage through art, poetry, storytelling, traditional food, music, photography and astronomy."

"As associations representing writers who contribute to and are dependent on the arts and culture eco-system that these festivals serve, we see the arbitrary and sudden withdrawal of government support as damaging and ill advised."

"The moment it starts feeling like a lecture, you’ve lost the audience. The key is to create compelling characters who want something and who drive the story forward. If the drama is truthful and the characters are engaging, the history or the message comes through naturally."

"It is always evident when directors have properly supported their cast in realising and portraying fully formed characters. This production is one in which it shows."

After a triumphant national tour, SboNdaba Dance returns to the Western Cape with its acclaimed production In search of our humanity. This homecoming performance at the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees offers local audiences a rare chance to experience the company’s powerful artistry and storytelling. Praised for its striking choreography and evocative soundscapes, the production showcases the raw physicality of SboNdaba’s dancers.

For those drawn to storytelling through song, this promises an evocative, enriching night of lyrical exploration with some wonderful poetic voices. Listen to a recording of Brett Bailey, elaborating on the fascinating performances coming up at Spier. 

The second installment of last year’s hugely popular Purple Mountain Heritage Festival (PMHF), which seeks to "open hearts, minds, and the doors to the humanity in each of us", takes place in the rural Western Cape town of Porterville on 23 and 24 September 2025. Entry to all events and the food offerings are free.

Lisba Vosloo’s biopic In search of Olive Schreiner will be screened at the Amazwi Auditorium on Wednesday 24 September at 14:00.

"Should a student be expelled from a college, a page is torn from that book. That page loses its place, but the entire book loses part of its story. It was a wonderful metaphor that needs to be explored even more."

"Their dynamic was hugely entertaining. Both actresses pulled off their character arcs in a way that made the fast-paced drama feel as though it had months’ worth of emotions and events packed into minutes on stage."

"We are still looking for singers, therefore the recruitment goes on."

"Feeling overwhelmed with all the shows on offer? Here is a list of highly rated shows to watch, covering varying genres."

"The dangers of the queer hook-up scene are at the heart of this psychological thriller, and as it unravels, the audience bears witness to how a case of sexual assault inspires a Grindr serial killer."