Cape Town Theatre Week shines a spotlight on young performers and school productions
Macbeth-Hoerskool Jan Van Riebeeck.
Image: Supplied.
The Shakespeare Schools Festival South Africa
This festival is returning for its 16th season, continuing its role as a key platform for introducing young learners to theatre through creative interpretations of Shakespeare’s work.
At its core, the festival focuses on making Shakespeare more accessible and engaging for modern audiences. School learners adapt full-length plays into fast-paced 30 to 45-minute productions, encouraging storytelling that is energetic, imaginative and shaped by their own perspectives.
The festival brings together schools from diverse backgrounds, each offering unique interpretations of Shakespeare’s stories.
This results in a mix of styles and voices, with performances ranging from dramatic tragedies to light-hearted comedies, all reimagined through a youthful lens.
Since its early years, the festival has aimed to open up theatre to more learners and prove that Shakespeare can still feel relevant, relatable and exciting.
Its return marks the continuation of a strong tradition in youth theatre, offering new and returning schools the opportunity to share their creativity, connect through performance and bring fresh life to Shakespeare’s timeless stories.
Where: The Baxter Theatre.
When: From Wednesday, May 6, to Saturday, May 23, at 7pm.
Annie JR
This play follows Annie, a spirited orphan determined to find her parents after being left in a harsh orphanage under Miss Hannigan.
Her life changes when billionaire Oliver Warbucks invites her to stay for Christmas. Her optimism transforms his outlook and he helps search for her family. The production will be performed by school learners from Table View Primary School, featuring songs like “Tomorrow” and “Hard Knock Life."
Where: Table View Primary School.
When: From Friday, May 8 and Saturday to Saturday, May 16 at 7pm.
Footloose: The Musical
This production follows a teenager who moves to a small town where dancing is banned, challenging strict rules and pushing for freedom of expression.
As he connects with local youth, tensions rise between tradition and change. Elkanah House High School proudly presents this high-energy production filled with music, dance and youthful rebellion.
Where: Elkanah House High School.
When: Runs until Saturday, May 9, with all shows at 7pm.