Show Archive
The Book Detectives
A crime happened in fairytale land. The frog of Princess and the frog has been murdered. The details are vague and the murdered is a mastermind. It will take Fairly tale land’s top detectives to figure out the motive. With impossible witnesses and high speed car chases, these cops have a bad day ahead of them.This is Stuart Cairns and
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Currently (G)OLD
Devised & Performed by Kwasha Drama CompanyDirected by: Sinenhlanhla Mgeyi & Aalliyah Matintela Mentored by Prince Lamla Following the success of their run at the Ramolao Makhene Theatre during Human Rights week, the Kwasha Theatre Company bring their brand new work to the POPArt Theatre in Maboneng. Does the youth of South Africa know what they Human Rights are, furthermore, how to exercise
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NEW MATERIAL NIGHT
New Material Night is an evening at the theatre dedicated to showcasing and interrogating new work. Performers are invited to present up to 20min of a piece in development, with a number of possible outcomes. Whether it's to gauge feedback from your peers or audience, or to invite someone to see new work with the hope of gainful employment, the
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Pockets of Knowledge
POCKETS OF KNOWLEDGE is an earth-shattering, timeless example of the power of storytelling presented through the language of theatre. Using high level slap stick humour, immense vocal control and seamless character transformations; the simplicity of actor, story, audience and sound come together to tackle issues that shape modern South African daily life and politics. POCKETS AND KNOWLEDGE leads audiences into a
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A Gift from God
From the team that brought you the multi-award winning play "The System", comes a new production : A Gift from God. Two men travel to the Holy Mountain - and encounter obstacles that will challenge their religious views. Their journey quickly becomes an adventure filled with horror and hardships. The play puts faith, friendship, tolerance and humanity to test in
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Pop i Cherri
From the ensemble cast that brought you the 2017 Standard Bank Golden Ovation Award winning HANI: The Legacy, the Market Theatre Laboratory presents: Pop i Cherri : "Love, lust, beliefs and perceptions, emotion and devotion, religion and culture all come crashing together in this production. This devised play explores themes surrounding virginity- what does it mean to be a virgin, is it real, where
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Abantu : The People present An African Christmas Carol
For those who have been around for the festive seasons at POPArt, you know we like to do things a little different while honouring some festive traditions... Part one of our very secular Xmas celebrations brings you the fabulous new music ensemble ABANTU : The People with an African Xmas Carol. Join us as as we pay musical homage to
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Nice to Meet You (Now Let’s Take Off Our Pants)
Relationships come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Wild ones, sweet ones, short ones, some that don’t even get off the ground… Nice to Meet You (Now Let’s Take Off Our Pants) explores all the weird and wonderful ways we find ourselves in and out of love, from the fleeting romance, to the permanent commitment, and all the other various bits and bobs in between. Definitions
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The Champion
Highly acclaimed, The Champion is an award-winning production that tells the story of a young man who grapples with the legacy of an absent father and a mother who is a grass widow. Much of the play centres on the conflicts and contradictions inherent in and the insights delivered about his mother's life choices.Winner for Fleur du Cap Best Performance
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The Summoning of Everyman
The dynamic theatre-making duo is back with another accessible adaptation of a well-known classical text (The Summoning of Everyman) recreated for young audiences and performed by an all-female cast. The Summoning of Everyman uses allegorical characters to examine the question of Christian salvation and what Man must do to attain it. The premise is that the good and evil deeds of
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Farryl Roth : The World Show
Farryl Roth presents The World Show. This self reflective one man show explores Farryl’s world through his music and uniquely witty storytelling. Come and experience an evening of original acoustic songs and tales that are both deep, deeply funky and deeply funny !What the critics are saying :“ Wear proper shoes “ Farryl’s podiatrist “ Don’t slouch “ Farryl’s 3rd grade piano
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Thabang
“A lot of people would be free if they only knew they were not”.Thabang addresses pertinent issues on violence and the ideology of freedom. It captures moments which have greater significance in the transformation of Katleho as a young black man and interrogates if his thoughts were ever his. The piece does not tell an obvious story with a linear
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LIGHTING WORKSHOP 2.0: A Brief Introduction to Stage Lighting with Jade Manicom
A workshop that gives insight into stage lighting: the basics. Perfect for directors who want to know more about lighting.The 5 hour workshop will cover some of the following aspects of lighting: - Functions of stage lighting & why it has become important - The psychology of light- Controllable properties of light - Power & DMX - Fixture types - Approaching the design - Practical exercisesJade
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Human Pieces II
2017 Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award WinnerAn oddly related brother (Calvin Ratladi) and sister (Mimi Mamabolo) are locked in a room. Enjoying her brother’s company in an unnatural way, the sister has no intentions of leaving the room. The brother, however, is trying desperately to find the missing key in order to leave - his life may depend on it. Written
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Incubator 7 : An international Virtual Storytelling Festival
7 writers 7 directors 7 casts 7 + regions around the world7 days to prepare7 theatrically styled virtual storytelling pieces Premiering on 7 May at 8pm on all POPArt Virtual Theatre Channels (Website, FB, IGTV) A chance for professional theatre and live arts makers from around the world to come together and partake in an experiment in virtual storytelling in
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DARK CELL : The Charter
Dark Cell (Duet) features two Standard Bank Young Artist Award recipients for Dance, Themba Mbuli and Fana Tshabalala with Thulani Chauke, who join forces to reimagine Mbuli’s Dark Cell (Solo) which has already toured 10 countries and 15 cities.While the work is celebrating and commemorating the rich history of Kliptown where the adaptation of Freedom Charter was made 64 years
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A night with our artist in residence
POPArt is very proud to present, for one night only, an evening with resident artist Zethu Maseko and friends. Zethu Zizwe Ruby Maseko: Cornish and Swazi, born in Tottenham, London. Currently working in the medium of, but not limited to, short film. Other mediums; performance, photography, painting, sculpture, sound artJoin her as she shares the stage with musician Nongoma and poet
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A FARSENATING BLACKFARSE
Imagine, if you will, that it is a time of Kings and Queens and prodigious battles of grandeur- in the Victorian era. Dream even further, if it pleases, that it is these times, in this one (the 21st century) in South Africa’s ghetto residential locale. Two Lords are at the height of an epic war, with each other. To surpass
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Collective Amnesia Under African Skies
Collective Amnesia Under African Skies is a creative collaboration between award-winning poet & author Koleka Putuma and the Mkizwana Ensemble. Featuring readings from Putuma's collection of poems, Collective Amnesia, and accompanied by the music from the Mkizwana Ensemble's debut album, African Skies, Collective Amnesia Under African Skies promises to deliver the product of a creative cocktail. The production includes an opening performance
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JITTERY CITIZENS : THE LOADSHED
JITTERY CITIZENS present "The Loadshed": an all new long form improv format inspired by the country's rolling blackouts. Totally unscripted, and unprepared. You never know when Loadshedding will hit again.
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The Incident
“Why do I have to represent a whole race when I just want to represent me?”The Incident is an award-winning play by Joakim Daun that tackles belonging, migration, racism and power through an intimate love story spanning Sweden and Zimbabwe How ‘progressive’ are people really, when they’re confronted with difficult choices? How far are people willing to go to understand those
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DYING TO LEARN. LEARNING TO DIE
Actor, playwright and scholar, Simon Fortin has studied the representation of death and dying in Western literature, particularly in the theatre of Shakespeare and his contemporaries. In the dramatic literature of the Elizabethan and Jacobean ages, the voices of dying individuals took center stage, exposing the pain, pathos and humor that accompany the dying experience.Simon has developed a performance that
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Mensstukke
Menstukke, directly translated: Human pieces, is an Afrikaans two-hander political satire about a brother and a sister who has lived in a flat in Sunnyside all their life without ever going into the outside world. They lived there with their mother, who took care of them and instilled fear for the outside world into their hearts. Their mother was the
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Fifty Thousand Word's 'Confession'
Based on the Suicide note of a South African Gangster. His note details his confessions of his deeds, falling in love with his victims and addresses social issues faced by many South Africans. One night only.
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iMBOKODO
“Who wants to be a f***ing Feminist!?!”Zama, whose name means “Try”, has tried and tried to join the upsurge of the latest feminist wave. She- a young woman- ideologically understands the reasoning behind the Feminist Theory and the Feminist Movement at large, but she cannot settle herself into the title of being a “feminist”. Her ancestry tells her that she should
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WORKSHOP : Introduction to Immersive theatre
Immersive and interactive theatre have become massive trends in the arts and entertainment industry world over. With companies such as Punch Drunk and You Me Bum Bum Train in the UK and US creating huge budget wonderlands submerging audience members in a theatrical space, they have paved the way for artists, performers, directors , filmmakers and even corporate businesses to
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MYOFASCIAL ACTIVATED POSTURE WORKSHOP
MAP is a process of fascial release and hydration. The release of the fascial system (refers to a band or sheet of connective tissue, primarily collagen, beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs) allows for improved posture and thus assists in optimal breathing techniques.Fascial release also:-Improves flexibility.-Hydrates the pliable connective tissue around the
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The Crucifixion Of Amagqwirha
The MovementRSA presents The Crucifixion Of Amagqwirha : Inspired by Arther Miller's "The Crucible" "This is a tale about how gossip and superstition can fiercely capture the mind of a people. Looking at how myth can still live in the imagination , and for some the reality of life , this tale follows a community forced to look at its own
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Exhibition
"EXHIBITION" A story of an old man who has painted his rough past through murals. The play talks to issues of the lasting effects of abuse of a child by a mother, impact of violence from a man to aspirant lover and the rejection of a child by his father. Exhibition is about a vicious cycle, of abuse and the impact that it
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Be a Better Dog
“Be A Better Dog” tells a tale of Dog’s life while at the same time we get to see the world we live in through the eyes of a dog. The play uses humour and light commentary to speak to otherwise sensitive issues of class, care and abandonment as applied and taken up by the human being in an attempt
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Live Music : Ryno Theron and the Name on The Drum
For one night only, catch some Live Music with virtuoso guitarist Ryno Theron and indie folk music from The Name on the Drum.
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Ju-Lius
In the streets of Jozi there is always a Ju-lius, a boy with few words or non at all. A boy you may not see or even hear. Even though the odds may be against him he is not a victim. In Jozi the streets are cold and dark with very few birds tweeting. When no words are spoken what
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Phillip Dikotla "STAGETIME" tour
This festive season, for one day only, Phillip Dikotla visits POPArt with his new One man Stand-up Comedy Show; STAGETIME- A term often used in comedy by comic’s, to kind-of-define the fun, funny, challenging, authentic, dead, and crazy process that comics often go through in search of their voice and craft.Here, Dikotla intimately takes us in and out of the
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Good Life
"When you've fought all the fight that's within you, you get up fight some more, and bask in the beauty of life's goodness."Bongani Dube can and does atest to this statement. Through all his challenges of; dealing with his bad eyesight and thick ass coke bottle glasses, getting robbed every term of his adolescent years, being mistaken for Lazola Gola
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BOYKIE AND GIRLIE: THE POLITICS OF A PARTNERSHIP
Meet the eponymous characters: he’s a writer waiting for work, for inspiration, for something to give his life a level of cohesion. Dressed in a ‘Time of the Writer’ t-shirt which has been rather self-consciously made holey, he’s hungry, starving for something to give meaning to it all. She’s a self-made lawyer, holding the relationship together financially, pragmatically. Their almost
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NOMZAMO
A day starts with a sunrise... the golden happiness of eGongolweni Village illuminates the summer flowing river like the cries of the gods. Nomzamo dances, moves and plays in the dust...up...up the dust fills up until covered. I can’t breathe; I need to move out... help... She cries yet the trees; rocks, birds and rivers do not hear her dances,
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WORKSHOP : Ensemble acting and creation
An introduction to the art of ensemble work. A 3 hours workshop conducted by multi award-winning theatreduo (Billy Langa and Mahlatsi Mokgonyana) This Introductory workshop will focus on ensemble work with elements of physical storytelling, text and song. The following will be covered together with a 15 minutes preview of our latest work. - Intensive physical and vocal approach to ensemble work. - Detailed
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young@home
Young ones dream of a future…the more advanced in age reflect on paths ventured. The Hillbrow Theatre Project and C:NTACT, in partnership with Tswelopele Frail Care Centre, presents young@home, an inter-generational production that brings together the youth and elderly residents of Hillbrow. young@home is a presentation of personal stories of Hillbrow as home - an exploration of notions of home and
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MEISNER WORKSHOPS
Performers, start your year off with some self investment... 2016 Meisner Intensive with Raymond T Williams (Meisner teacher at Studio 4 : James Franco's NY acting school) Acting Credits include: Performing and studying theater, under Oscar Nominee Jeff Goldblum at Playhouse West."Their Eyes Were Watching God" starring Academy Award winner Halle Berry. "Phat Girlz" with Academy winner Monique. "Sal", "The Long Home", "The Aderall
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IMPROV PLAY OFF: ROUND 1
What better way to start the year than to improv(e) your mood with some awesome improv brought to you by Causing a Scene at POPArt! Join us for our second ever improv off! It's fun, it's madness and its all in the name of improv. Watch as two teams battle it out to make it to the next round of playoffs complete with all the
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VIRTUAL THEATRE : Umsebenzi Ka Bra Shakes
Made and filmed in August 2019 as part of the Centre for the Less Good Idea's FOR ONCE programme, this exploration was only shared once with a live audience. But luckily, an amazing film is available. On the one year anniversary of the making of the work, we are sharing this work live with a wider audience with a special celebratory
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Selma, Shirley and Dolly Parcan's Xmas Improv Extravaganza
Part 2 of POPArt's very secular Xmas (and our final show for 2019) brings you an awesome improv extravaganza to entertain all of us poor folks left in Jozi. For 2 shows only, catch some of POPArt's funniest improvisers as we end the year on a high note. Tony Bentel aka Selma Nella on keys!Improvisors include Vanessa Cooke, Dintshitile Mashile, Phillippa Yaa,
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Improv Weekend at POPArt
This May, we are excited to present a full weekend of celebrating things made up on the spot with the brilliant improvisors of POPArt Improv! Make sure you catch one or more of these pure entertainment events from 10 - 12 May at 8pm at the POPArt theatre... Every event is unique which means that the audience gets to see everything for
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2 Lovers : A comedy about Heartbreak
Annabel fell in love with Dave. Dave fell in love with Annabel. Annabel fell out of love with Dave. Dave fell out of love with Annabel. What happened in-between will make you laugh while it breaks your heart. A tragi-comedy about love, Captain America and the texture on the inside of a tap.With Michèle Levin & Ter Hollmann Written by Ter HollmannDirected by Craig
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Rock Paper Scissors: Loyiso Gola telling stories
Top SA comic Loyiso Gola LIVE at POPArt. One Night Only.
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The saga of a city hermit
In the fourth year of our increasingly successful collaboration with the prestigious Market Theatre Lab, we present a season of off the wall adaptations from directors Monageng 'Vice' Motshabi and Nondumiso Msimanga at POPArtInspired by Dambudzo Marechera’s Pub Stories: Tony Fights Tonight, The saga of a city hermit explores a writer’s discordant landscape as he tragicomically walks the tightrope of
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YOUTH COMEDY SPLASH
Welcome to the first annual youth comedy show! For the first time, all under one roof, we offer SA's best young talent all for your laughing pleasure. It's set to be a cracker with performances by Panch Gasela, Tebogo Ntlhalane and Peter-Wings, joined by their friends in comedy. Don't miss out on this epic showdown happening on the 16th and
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