Cape Town theatre week brings festive magic with ballet and holiday stories

Alice in Wonderland

This festive season, Cape Town audiences are invited to tumble down the rabbit hole with Cape Town City Ballet’s magical new production of "Alice in Wonderland," choreographed by the internationally acclaimed Gerard Charles.

Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s timeless stories, the ballet is bursting with colour, imagination and the kind of whimsy that makes you forget the real world for a while.

At its heart, "Alice in Wonderland" is all about curiosity, wonder, and stepping into the unexpected. It celebrates adventure, asking audiences to embrace the strange, the silly, and the spectacular themes that fit perfectly with the festive season.

There’s something joyful about losing yourself in a world of talking flowers, mischievous cats and tea parties gone delightfully wrong. For kids and adults alike, it’s a reminder that magic and imagination are everywhere if you just let yourself explore.

Cape Town City Ballet, now in its 92nd year, has mastered the art of storytelling through dance. In this production, vibrant sets, playful choreography, and whimsical characters bring Carroll’s fantastical world to life, making it a feast for the senses.

It’s a show that encourages laughter, curiosity and a sense of wonder, all the qualities we hope to carry into the festive season.

Where: The Artscape Theatre.

When: From Saturday, December 13 to Saturday, December 27. Times vary between 2pm and 7pm.

The Very Merry Tribute Show

Cape Town’s improv troupe, "Improguise", brings a one-night festive musical celebration with the very merry tribute show. 

Exploring themes of creativity, chaos, and community, the unscripted performance turns audience suggestions into improvised holiday stories and songs.

Through laughter, music, and unexpected twists, it captures the joy, messiness, and magic of the season, celebrating connection, spontaneity, and the playful spirit of Christmas.

Where: The Galloway Theatre.

When: Friday, December 12, at 7.30pm.

Xmas Eve Dinner in Gugs

In Gugulethu, four friends (two Christians, a Muslim, and their Xhosa host) reunite for a Christmas Eve dinner filled with laughter, music and memories.

Childhood stories, old tensions and absent loved ones surface, blending humour and heart. “Xmas Eve Dinner in Gugs” celebrates friendship, culture and the joy of coming home.

Where: The Artscape Arena.

When: Runs until Thursday, December 18, at 7.30pm.