Litnet

Unlike traditional speech contests, Nou Praat Jy! challenges teams of two learners to deliver a unified, engaging speech on the theme "Afrikaans – ’n taal van kleure en klank".

The panel of judges for the 60th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards, sponsored by Heineken Beverages, has announced the recipients of the 2025 special awards ahead of the highly anticipated ceremony at Cape Town Stadium on Sunday, 23 March.

Eclectica Contemporary presents In Afterland, a solo show by Lien Botha from 6 to 28 March 2025. Karen Press writes, "The compositions of In Afterland enact a form of scrutiny that confronts many pasts with a generous clarity of vision and an invitation to recompose them for a redressed future."

Life and times of Michael K is a literary masterpiece by JM Coetzee. The stage adaptation, created by Lara Foot and the Baxter Theatre in collaboration with the Handspring Puppet Company, will have a run at the Market Theatre from 27 March to 13 April 2025.

"Jane Mpholo-Mehlape’s solo performance Fragmented left a deep imprint on audiences at Pacofs on 23 February 2025. ... A bold fusion of storytelling, poetry and immersive audiovisual projections, Fragmented blurred the lines between theatre and film, creating an emotionally charged atmosphere."

"Winehouse was a tiny person, but larger than life. Her unbelievable musical career was eclipsed only by the scandals that followed her wherever she went. Wednesday night’s show certainly alluded to the scandals, but it remained a musical tribute."

The run-away success of Simon’s Town’s two previous literary festivals has inspired a knockout line-up for 2025. The town is set to host some of South Africa’s most celebrated writers on 14, 15 and 16 March. The festival’s 24 diverse events range from readings, panel discussions and a poetry soirée with more than 30 South African and international writers, and winners of all major literary prizes in South Africa.

"Should one follow the tyrant, or should one follow one’s conscience? Is our conscience the worst tyrant of all? Or might the lack of a moral backbone be the real tyrant?"

Thirty years after its premiere and following on from its resounding success, William Kentridge and Handspring Puppet Company re-unite to present Faustus in Africa! at The Baxter from 26 February to 22 March 2025. This collaboration is a re-working of their multi-award-winning 1995 production of the same name, directed by Kentridge, with design and puppet-mastery by Handspring Puppet Company and Lara Foot as associate director.

Celebrating six decades of recognising excellence in theatre, the panel of judges and sponsor Heineken Beverages are proud to announce the nominees for the 60th Fleur du Cap Theatre Awards. The winners will be revealed at a dazzling ceremony on Sunday, 23 March at the iconic Cape Town Stadium.

Africa’s first AI-generated opera is set to disrupt traditional performance art with a bold and immersive production that blends choreography, generative soundscapes and machine learning. Due to be performed at Flipside at the Baxter Theatre from 26 to 29 March 2025, autoplay by acclaimed choreographer and director Louise Coetzer interrogates the intersection between identity, autonomy and the digital landscapes that define modern existence.

"What this team accomplishes is the practice of engagement; everyone in the theatre was laughing, commenting, gasping – An unromantic comedy is, at its centre, loaded with comedy. Taking a look at the inner narratives of the play, I am posed questions that have my eyebrow muscle in a flex."

"Dis ’n lekker manier om te besef jy is nie alleen in jou stryd as middeljarige vrou nie; jy kan ’n verskil in ander se lewens maak as jy jouself reg inspan, en geen gebeurtenis in jou lewe is noodwendig die einde nie – dis dikwels ’n nuwe begin."

South African producer Luc Lavigne has turned his passion for music into an impressive career in the heart of Hollywood. At just 22, his production, mixing and mastering expertise has earned him opportunities and accolades that have set him on a path as one of the most exciting young talents in the global music industry. In 2025, Lavigne already has numerous credits released, including “Any other way” by South African pop/pop punk artist Anica Kiana.

Both comedic and tender, ’n Begin is a sharp and astute two-hander that takes an intimate look at the first fragile moments of risking your heart and taking a chance on love. The Market Theatre in association with the Toyota Stellenbosch Woordfees, supported by NATi, is proud to bring this acclaimed Afrikaans production to Johannesburg from 30 January to 16 February 2025. 

Following its critical success in Johannesburg, the Market Theatre’s production The cry of Winnie Mandela, based on Njabulo Ndebele’s celebrated novel of the same name, makes its Cape Town debut at the Baxter Flipside from 29 January to 15 February.

"I’d like to think that she is a sympathetic character with whom many women may resonate, on the one hand, and on the other hand, that the piece challenges men to think a little more, or a little differently, about relationships and gender roles and to be more mindful of our behaviour and attitudes."

"In the context of South Africa in 2025, a production like My fair lady prompts contemporary audiences to reflect on issues of language, identity and gender roles. These are all universal themes that hold relevance and offer valuable insights in a diverse and evolving society like South Africa. We are excited that our graduates get to work in productions with such rich themes and complex characters, where they can hone their craft and also engage with narratives that provoke thought and inspire meaningful dialogue within the African cultural landscape."

Erika Breytenbach will perform the premiere of I can buy myself flowers by multiple award-winning writer, Mike van Graan, at the Drama Factory from 5 to 15 February 2025.

"The arts are alive and well in the Eastern Cape, and if you have not done so yet, now is the time to book tickets for the Mandela Bay Arts Festival, which will run from 21 February to 2 March 2025. We also have beautiful beaches and adorable baby elephants to visit when you are not in theatre!"