Must-see performances on Cape Town stages this week

Vannie Wal, Af (From the Wall, Down)

Adam and Jethro’s story unfolds in the kind of shadowed corners many queer couples still know too well.  Set in Stellenbosch (Stellies), their stolen kisses and quiet embraces speak to a world that hasn’t fully caught up with them.

Actors Angelo Bergh and Dean John Smith bring these two characters to life with a softness that feels like real, lived moments. It’s the only place where a first-year student and a master’s student can stand close without feeling the world’s eyes on their backs.

Mikyall Harris built this story from his own scars, growing up as a brown gay boy in a small town, and then being thrown into a “liberal” campus where you still have to juggle family, identity and longing.

That rawness sits at the heart of the piece.

The play taps into modern conversations about identity, belonging, and the emotional labour queer people still carry.

The phrase "Vannie wal, af"  signals that the play comes straight from a personal place, from the “wall” where our people often feel pushed up against, stepping off it to tell a story with heart, hurt, and truth.

Where: The Artscape Theatre.

When: Runs until Saturday, November 22, at 8pm.

Animal Farm

Magnet Theatre brings a South African twist to George Orwell’s classic "Animal Farm", a story we all remember from high school that examines how power can corrupt even the noblest ideals.

Adapted and directed by Morapeleng Molekoa with first-year trainees, the production uses text, song, and movement to explore the shift from hope to oppression.

Set against a local lens, it highlights the universal struggle between freedom and control while giving emerging performers a platform to shine. This adaptation turns Orwell’s timeless tale into a vivid reflection on society, leadership, and the human condition.

Where: The Magnet Theatre.

When: Runs until Saturday, November 29, at 7pm.

Giselle

"Giselle," choreographed by the acclaimed Maina Gielgud, is a timeless romantic ballet of love, betrayal and redemption.

It follows Giselle, a peasant girl betrayed by her noble lover, whose spirit joins the vengeful Wiles in a hauntingly beautiful tale that blends heartbreak, forgiveness, and ethereal dance in the moonlit afterlife.

Where: The Baxter Theatre. 

When: Runs until Saturday, November 22, at 7.30pm.